Broody Hen Thread!

[chicksurreal]

Blue is serious. She's not only pulling chest feathers, but back feathers as well. That's kind of strange. I haven't put eggs under her yet, but she's stopped laying and keeps running to her little nest in the woods as soon as I let her out of the coop in the mornings. I'm going to have to put her inside the broody apartment, I can't have her staying overnight in the woods for three weeks. I hope she takes to it, I was thinking I would dress it up a bit to look like her nest here.

She's the chick I saved last year from the homicidal broody hen, I raised her in the house until she was old enough to be integrated into the flock, she would sit on my shoulder at night and watch me read, when she got tired she's just tunnel into my hair and fall asleep. They grow up so fast.

Edited to add - She's a Blue Andalusian/ Cuckoo Marans mix.

 

[16 paws]

Jessor2 a movie of 2 hens with 70 chicks would be worth the price of whatever you wanted to charge for admission, LOL

 

[microchick]

I can see your POV with the smaller breeds. Luckily Buff Orpingtons are one of the feathered Pez Dispenser breeds when it comes to laying. My girls don't seem to struggle to much to lay an egg. With the exception of my broody who just returned to the flock, they are all fat and sassy.

Returning Aggie to the flock has been hardest on her. She has her 'BFFs' among the other hens but she is stressed and wary around the roosters. Out in the run today I saw her just become frantic when the flock master (really a nice rooster who is good to the girls) walked towards the hens. She is fine with the other hens but just as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs right now and I hope she settles back in and relaxes soon.

Is this common with broodies post weening?

 

[16 paws]

Hi all,
I just found out one of Puffs new chicks has five toes. So I am thinking I must of grabbed one of Powders eggs. Powder is my Sultan that was supposed to be a silkie. I picked her up out of the silkie bin and for a long time just thought she was a funny looking Silkie. She is a great chicken and I am happy one of her eggs hatched. Here is a picture of her dusting and I think the suspect roo is guarding her. He was hatched here and frankly I dont know what kind of chicken he is. I suspect he is a Cochin cross. I think he has a double pea comb.
Here is a picture of the new chick. Anyone know about genetics? What is this chick going to look like being a Sultan mix?

Thanks for any responses.....
Marie

 

[16 paws]

I can see your POV with the smaller breeds. Luckily Buff Orpingtons are one of the feathered Pez Dispenser breeds when it comes to laying. My girls don't seem to struggle to much to lay an egg. With the exception of my broody who just returned to the flock, they are all fat and sassy.

Returning Aggie to the flock has been hardest on her. She has her 'BFFs' among the other hens but she is stressed and wary around the roosters. Out in the run today I saw her just become frantic when the flock master (really a nice rooster who is good to the girls) walked towards the hens. She is fine with the other hens but just as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs right now and I hope she settles back in and relaxes soon.

Is this common with broodies post weening?

I have noticed that in my girls going back to the flock, they dont want to be bother by the roo for a while.

 

[nchls school]

I can see your POV with the smaller breeds. Luckily Buff Orpingtons are one of the feathered Pez Dispenser breeds when it comes to laying. My girls don't seem to struggle to much to lay an egg. With the exception of my broody who just returned to the flock, they are all fat and sassy. 

Returning Aggie to the flock has been hardest on her. She has her 'BFFs' among the other hens but she is stressed and wary around the roosters. Out in the run today I saw her just become frantic when the flock master (really a nice rooster who is good to the girls) walked towards the hens. She is fine with the other hens but just as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs right now and I hope she settles back in and relaxes soon.

Is this common with broodies post weening? Yes. It is normal behavior and will change when she is ready to lay eggs again.

 

[nchls school]

Hi all, I just found out one of Puffs new chicks has five toes. So I am thinking I must of grabbed one of Powders eggs. Powder is my Sultan that was supposed to be a silkie. I picked her up out of the silkie bin and for a long time just thought she was a funny looking Silkie. She is a great chicken and I am happy one of her eggs hatched. Here is a picture of her dusting and I think the suspect roo is guarding her. He was hatched here and frankly I dont know what kind of chicken he is. I suspect he is a Cochin cross. I think he has a double pea comb. Other than the comb the rooster looks much like my black tailed white Japanese bantam roosters. Here is a picture of the new chick. Anyone know about genetics? The chick also seems to have the stance and coloration of a black tailed Japanese bantam.What is this chick going to look like being a Sultan mix? Thanks for any responses..... Marie

Is the rooster and chick white or buff? Japanese come in both colors.

 

[nchls school]

Blue is serious. She's not only pulling chest feathers, but back feathers as well. That's kind of strange. I haven't put eggs under her yet, but she's stopped laying and keeps running to her little nest in the woods as soon as I let her out of the coop in the mornings. I'm going to have to put her inside the broody apartment, I can't have her staying overnight in the woods for three weeks. I hope she takes to it, I was thinking I would dress it up a bit to look like her nest here. A good idea. If you can, scoop out the nest in the woods and put it in a safe location. Moving her after dark will also help with her accepting a new nest site.[ She's the chick I saved last year from the homicidal broody hen, I raised her in the house until she was old enough to be integrated into the flock, she would sit on my shoulder at night and watch me read, when she got tired she's just tunnel into my hair and fall asleep. They grow up so fast. Edited to add - She's a Blue Andalusian/ Cuckoo Marans mix.

 

[microchick]

16 paws, I'd be scared to wager a guess but that is one cute little chick. With that upright stance, I will bet real money that it's a little cockerel, though.

nchls school, Aggie has been laying for three days now. which is why she is back with the flock. She started almost 4 weeks to the day after her first chick hatched Right now the roosters are treating her like a new girl. Good to know that it will settle back down for her.

Tonight the chicks had a new treat. Spaghetti. Too funny.

 

[chicksurreal]

This is a great idea! I can take her whole nest up in a scoop shovel, I think. It's just a bunch of leaves that she made into a nest under a fallen tree with some dead branches around it. If I can just get the whole thing in one scoop she might go for it. She found this spot before she started laying a few months ago and it's the only place she's ever laid an egg, she's really attached to it. Thanks!