Broody Hen Thread!

[16 paws]

My Polish hen went broody for the second time, i let her sit on 3 Americana eggs they hatched the 14th.

Very cute!!!

 

[16 paws]

beautiful babies and home and heck getting to spend a week watching chicks in that weather IS a vacation here in KC its been nice for the last week but now we are having spitting snow and ice with below freezing weather all weekend thankfully I have my new chicks from Danz in my house

Thanks Dani,
I love having them in the house...you get to see a lot more cuteness. Mine are down in the coop so I think I have made at least 468 trips down to the coop today, just too cute when they are learning all mama has to teach them. I watched them peck her eyes and use her as a trampoline, ski slope or whatever. Never get tired of watching them do we?

 

[microchick]

I know I don't get tired of watching them. Aggie is so patient with her 3 week old chicks. If I give them a crust of whole wheat bread she scolds me for not breaking it up for them. If I break it up for them she stops her fussing and calls them over to eat. Hey, I figure if they are big enough to sprout feathers, they are big enough to break up their owned danged bread! I can hardly wait for them to be old enough to join the flock. I figure another 5 weeks hopefully. Today I set up a little roost for them. Primo is running and jumping on momma's back as is Dos his brother/sister so hopefully it will give them something new to crawl on.

Still no second hen going broody. GRRRRRR when you want them to go broody, they won't. When you don't want them to, they do.

 

[16 paws]

I know I don't get tired of watching them. Aggie is so patient with her 3 week old chicks. If I give them a crust of whole wheat bread she scolds me for not breaking it up for them. If I break it up for them she stops her fussing and calls them over to eat. Hey, I figure if they are big enough to sprout feathers, they are big enough to break up their owned danged bread! I can hardly wait for them to be old enough to join the flock. I figure another 5 weeks hopefully. Today I set up a little roost for them. Primo is running and jumping on momma's back as is Dos his brother/sister so hopefully it will give them something new to crawl on.

Still no second hen going broody. GRRRRRR when you want them to go broody, they won't. When you don't want them to, they do.

For sure on that....
You need to add some bantam cochins or silkies to your flock, you will always have broodies then. I have 2 in the broody buster cage right now, they are both bantam cochins....

 

[microchick]

Bantams are on my 'want' short list. When I got my flock last year the breeder didn't have any Bantam chicks yet. It's one of the breeds I've been wanting to add at some point back to #1 being that I need a broody hen now that the breeding seasons is here so I can stuff some hatching eggs under one of them. I really don't want to brood any more chicks. I was hoping the Buff O's would take over that job. Little ingrates. Looks like poor Aggie is the only hen willing to take the job.

 

[Winter1]

I have a silkie hen now who is broody. Her name is Frost. Also I have a bantam Wyandotte, Elanor, who has been refusing to roost, but instead sleeping in a nest box.she won't sit in there during the day though. What's going on with her?

Sunny the rooster watching over Frost

Here are all three of them in the same box. Sunny is a rooster who likes to cuddle lol

 

[16 paws]

I have a silkie hen now who is broody. Her name is Frost. Also I have a bantam Wyandotte, Elanor, who has been refusing to roost, but instead sleeping in a nest box.she won't sit in there during the day though. What's going on with her?

Sunny the rooster watching over Frost


Here are all three of them in the same box. Sunny is a rooster who likes to cuddle lol

Aw thats so cute. All that fuzzy feather business is adorable. I love silkies!

 

[16 paws]

Bantams are on my 'want' short list. When I got my flock last year the breeder didn't have any Bantam chicks yet. It's one of the breeds I've been wanting to add at some point back to #1 being that I need a broody hen now that the breeding seasons is here so I can stuff some hatching eggs under one of them. I really don't want to brood any more chicks. I was hoping the Buff O's would take over that job. Little ingrates. Looks like poor Aggie is the only hen willing to take the job.

Little ingrates is right. How dare them!

Wish you lived closer I would let you have one of my bantam cochins for sure.

 

[chickmeme]

Have any of you had roos that went in the coop when the hens were in laying? I have two 6 month old silkies roos that follow the hens into the coop when they go to lay. he will stay there until she lays and then mount her. and sit on the egg after she leaves. And YES they are roos with large rose combs and they crow all night long. I just want to get rid of them but hate to kill them as they are small. Anyone in central Louisiana want them?

 

[Justplainchickn]

If she has thick nesting material and a draft free area then she will be fine...we live on a ridge in middle Pennsylvania and our birds brood year round, we have had good hatches in January weather and last year it was often below zero for extended periods and the hens still did well. The hens usually take shorter breaks during cold weather and longer when temps are higher...we let them decide. Don't add heat to the brooding area unless your hen is a breed which would normally need supplemental heat in the winter. Make sure she has good quality food and treats and fresh water and let her do the rest.

She is a silkie, but seem pretty hardy! Only when it gets to single digits do I add some extra heat. It has been very cold this winter, making them a tough bunch