Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

Thanks Fisherlady. It's been so long since I've dealt with a broody that I'm having to relearn everything. My little Bantam hen, Maxine was a dependable little brooder. Since this is Aggie's first clutch and my first in over 50 years I'm biting my nails here and just praying that everything goes well for her. She has been such a good little broody girl.

You're welcome, I am glad to see hens get up the last day, it means less chance of a broody poo in the nest after the chicks hatch, since the hens really don't want to get up until the fluffy butts are mobile. (usually 2-3 days). Every hen is different and they constantly keep us guessing.

 

[snlconner]

My hen had been sitting on her nest for two days only getting up for water. Day 3 and she's been up for most of this morning. Did she give up? Do I leave the eggs and see if she goes back to them?

 

[Greg88]

I had a Buff Orp hen (Just under a year old) go broody on me Wednesday.

She pecked at me the first time I reached in with her but has not since.

I think I have a local source for Jubilee Orp hatching eggs to put under her.
I am thinking 8-10 ish eggs might be a good number?
Thoughts?

 

[microchick]

Greg 88, our Buff O hen is sitting on 10 eggs that are due to hatch this weekend. She started out with 7 and the other hens donated to her cause behind my back. I removed three. She is a smaller hen but seems to be handling the 10 very well at this point in time. She is sitting on Buff O eggs and Welsummer eggs the latter being what the grocery stores would categorize as Jumbo in size. Daddies are 2 Welsummer and 1 Buff O roosters.

 

[fisherlady]

I give our large fowl hens 10-12 and our smaller hens 5-8 depending on egg size... remember that it isn't just what a hen can cover, you need to consider if weather, housing and hen size will allow her to keep all the littles warm after hatch, not just as day olds, but as 2-3 week olds when they are much bigger but still very vulnerable.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

My hen had been sitting on her nest for two days only getting up for water. Day 3 and she's been up for most of this morning. Did she give up? Do I leave the eggs and see if she goes back to them?

If she isn't back on the nest by now, she might have changed her mind. Sometimes they stay off longer than others, esp. If the weather is nice.

 

[snlconner]

If she isn't back on the nest by now, she might have changed her mind. Sometimes they stay off longer than others, esp. If the weather is nice.

It's 48 right now, was cooler this morning. I'll check again in a bit and see if she went back to it.

 

[Greg88]

Thanks for the answers on my broody BO!!

 

[snlconner]

Just checked and she's back on the nest!

 

[microchick]

I was just out cleaning up in the coop, trying to get the 'present ' Aggie left me this morning out of the way. About half way through the nasty job I stepped back and just stood there staring at Aguila and trying to mentally guess at what is going on under her when suddenly I heard a very soft 'peeppeeppeep......peep come from the direction of her nesting box. I wish I had a picture of the grin that blossomed on my face at that moment. The torture of waiting and worrying about that little hen and her eggs has just turned into the agony of I WANT TO SEE!!!! I literally went dancing out of the run and coop in order to find my hubby and spread the good news.

Gotta remember to get the rest of the 'present' cleaned up! LOL!