Broody Hen Thread!

[16 paws]

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?

Once she stays on overnight then you will know she is broody. There are other signs as well, she will growl at you and puff up like a blowfish. She will most often try and peck you if you mess with her eggs.
Hope that helps...
Marie

 

[JaeG]

Had to share - they are just so darn cute. Having hatched eggs under a broody I'm never buying an incubator. The girls have done such a good job. And I think it's hilarious that, even when eggs were pipping they were still rearranging them (banging them together!) and getting off for a stretch, a snack and a toilet break. It was nice and humid in our laundry which they must've known to be getting off them at such a crucial time - they both did it. The Mums are Old English Game Bantams and their chicks are Pekin/Cochin Bantams. Pixie on the bottom has one more egg to go which has pipped.

Also to Honora - not sure if it's all broodies but I've noticed that mine start saying "chook, chook, chook" constantly whenever they are about to go broody.

 

[Wendy High]

...

Those are good photos. U should enter some of the contests on here if u haven't already.

 

[16 paws]

JaeG
So glad you shared your pictures with us. Yes, I agree, having a good broody is worth their weight in gold. They are so fun to watch. Your pictures are really sweet. Did they hatch in your laundry room?

In my experience bantams sure make good broody mamas....

I have one week to go with Puff my broody white silkie. She has been a real good sitter thus far. We shall see how many of the nine eggs hatch. I have not candled any so hoping they are fertile. I have 3 roos with 30 hens.

 

[DinaKay]

I have two broody girls..each one has 12 eggs of their own. One will start hatching 16th the other the 28th!

 

[microchick]

Are we all just pathologically crazy or just plain nutz?

I mean seriously. Most of us have more chickens than we know what to do with. The price of feed, treats, bedding and medicines means that we don't even break even with the cost of eggs at the local grocery. (Yes, I know, we know where our eggs and for some of us meat comes from and that makes up for the expense and work)

Yet we all get ecstatically giddy when we realize that we have 1, 2, 6, or more hens that are contentedly sitting on anywhere from 4 to 12 eggs meaning that 80-100% of those eggs are going to hatch and we are going to have more mouths to feed and house because if you are anything like me, you cannot part with any of these downy darlings once you watch them break free of their egg and join the living world.

Last year I wanted 12 chickens. Ok, things happen and chicken math kicks in. Now we have 16. No wait, a hen just hatched out 8 healthy babies in an early spring broody frenzy. What am I doing? I'm wishing another hen would go broody because it was so much fun the first time around. AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH. I'm sorry. I'm a retired nurse and I know what nutz is and frankly I am NUTZ.....in a good way of course. But I wanna 'nuther broody hen!

Sorry, I needed a laugh. Back went out yesterday, I'm missing out on a cycling get together because of it. I tend to get into mischief when left to my own devices.
But seriously guys, does that describe you like it does me?

 

[Greg88]

Are we all just pathologically crazy or just plain nutz?

I mean seriously. Most of us have more chickens than we know what to do with. The price of feed, treats, bedding and medicines means that we don't even break even with the cost of eggs at the local grocery. (Yes, I know, we know where our eggs and for some of us meat comes from and that makes up for the expense and work)

Yet we all get ecstatically giddy when we realize that we have 1, 2, 6, or more hens that are contentedly sitting on anywhere from 4 to 12 eggs meaning that 80-100% of those eggs are going to hatch and we are going to have more mouths to feed and house because if you are anything like me, you cannot part with any of these downy darlings once you watch them break free of their egg and join the living world.

Last year I wanted 12 chickens. Ok, things happen and chicken math kicks in. Now we have 16. No wait, a hen just hatched out 8 healthy babies in an early spring broody frenzy. What am I doing? I'm wishing another hen would go broody because it was so much fun the first time around. AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH. I'm sorry. I'm a retired nurse and I know what nutz is and frankly I am NUTZ.....in a good way of course. But I wanna 'nuther broody hen!

Sorry, I needed a laugh. Back went out yesterday, I'm missing out on a cycling get together because of it. I tend to get into mischief when left to my own devices.
But seriously guys, does that describe you like it does me?

LOL,

I have one broody sitting, due in 9 days and wishing I had another broody, when I really only have room for 4 more birds,,,,
I am working on plans to enlarge my coop,,,,,
SO,,,, YES!!

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Yep sure does I got 16 chicks first time ever having anything to do with living chickens and when nature kicked in and I lost one and most likey have 5 roosters and my neighbor came shopping my flock so now im heading to Danz tomorrow to go shopping for more and hoping that at least one goes Broody this summer

 

[microchick]

Whew! Glad to know I'm not alone!

 

[fisherlady]

Are we all just pathologically crazy or just plain nutz?

I mean seriously. Most of us have more chickens than we know what to do with. The price of feed, treats, bedding and medicines means that we don't even break even with the cost of eggs at the local grocery. (Yes, I know, we know where our eggs and for some of us meat comes from and that makes up for the expense and work)

Yet we all get ecstatically giddy when we realize that we have 1, 2, 6, or more hens that are contentedly sitting on anywhere from 4 to 12 eggs meaning that 80-100% of those eggs are going to hatch and we are going to have more mouths to feed and house because if you are anything like me, you cannot part with any of these downy darlings once you watch them break free of their egg and join the living world.

Last year I wanted 12 chickens. Ok, things happen and chicken math kicks in. Now we have 16. No wait, a hen just hatched out 8 healthy babies in an early spring broody frenzy. What am I doing? I'm wishing another hen would go broody because it was so much fun the first time around. AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH. I'm sorry. I'm a retired nurse and I know what nutz is and frankly I am NUTZ.....in a good way of course. But I wanna 'nuther broody hen!

Sorry, I needed a laugh. Back went out yesterday, I'm missing out on a cycling get together because of it. I tend to get into mischief when left to my own devices.
But seriously guys, does that describe you like it does me?

Describes us to a T!! But I am lucky, my DH is as enthralled by broodies and babies as I am, so I can have company in the craziness!

Thankfully I am able to sell and send to freezer camp, so have been able to keep numbers in check...barely...