Broody Hen Thread!

[Dani4Hedgies]

Becky,
Great news, can't wait to see pics of your new little peepers

 

[Puddin Fluff]

My first broody hen just hatched her first chick, super cute.

 

[RubyNala97]

Different times for different birds.  Babies don't need food or water for the first couple of days so I wouldn't be too worried for another day or so if she just hatched Monday.  What I usually do is place a small dish of feed (crumbles) and a small waterer of a shallow dish with pebbles and water either in the nest if you have room or very near the nest depending on your set up.  Mom will usually nibble and drink and then the babies see how it's done as they should be running all over her if they are two days old.  If the nest is off the ground, I make sure there is a soft landing for them to drop off on to and also stay around to see how the other birds (if there are any in the pen) treat the babies.  I do lots of coop checks around hatch time.  

Hope this is some help!  

Thank you! Of course just as I was worrying and made my post, I went to check on her and she was up and drinking!! I moved her and the babies outside to a big cage for some fresh air and sun (I had her in my laundry room downstairs) and it's so amazing and cute watching the babies peck and scratch around with her. I can't stop watching! They seem so much tinier then when I hatch them in the incubator, not sure why, probably because they are next to mom! I'm in love!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Thank you! Of course just as I was worrying and made my post, I went to check on her and she was up and drinking!! I moved her and the babies outside to a big cage for some fresh air and sun (I had her in my laundry room downstairs) and it's so amazing and cute watching the babies peck and scratch around with her. I can't stop watching! They seem so much tinier then when I hatch them in the incubator, not sure why, probably because they are next to mom! I'm in love!

 

[16 paws]

Ophelia and the babies

Very, very cute!!!!

 

[Halloweengirl13]

Ophelia got kinda confused with the babies so her co- broody chicken took over....

 

[microchick]

Our chicks are almost two weeks old already and getting ready to have their first outing with mom in their own pen. Can't believe it's been that long since they hatched.

Since the nursery coop is on the ground level, the other hens parade by the window and peer inside. Aggie doesn't seem to mind. Yesterday I was working in the coop and one of the other hens casually strolled into the nursery. Mom could care less but the babies were upset, scattering in every direction. The visitor looked around at them and quickly left.

I've been trying to give the other hens pep talks when they are watching the babies like: "Aren't they cute? Wouldn't you like some of your own?" So far they are ignoring me.

It's probably the haggard stressed look on Aggie's face putting them off.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

[/quote] It's probably the haggard stressed look on Aggie's face putting them off.
[/quote]


lol am dying sitting here imaging that look and the whispers by your other hen "omg have you seen Aggie that RIGHT THERE is why you gotta be smart and lay your eggs and JUST walk away O mean really she is making herself older then her time doing that crazy thing of sitting/ raising chicks

 

[Puddin Fluff]

It's probably the haggard stressed look on Aggie's face putting them off.
[/quote]

lol am dying sitting here imaging that look and the whispers by your other hen "omg have you seen Aggie that RIGHT THERE is why you gotta be smart and lay your eggs and JUST walk away O mean really she is making herself older then her time doing that crazy thing of sitting/ raising chicks[/QUOTE]

 

[Honora]

One of my hens has been sitting on her egg for a couple of hours after she lays it. Does this mean she is getting ready to go broody?