Broody Hen Thread!

[mymilliefleur]

About a week and a half ago one of my broodies got off her nest to eat, etc and got into the nest next door by mistake. I didn't think letting her sit in a coop with multiple nests would be a problem if only one nest had eggs in it, but it was. Anyway, when I discovered her off the eggs, it was 9:00PM and the eggs were freezing cold. I'm guessing she was off them for around 6 hours. I grabbed her and stuck her back on the eggs. They are due to hatch tomorrow. Last night I candled them (just to see if I could see any movement) and I definitely saw movement in at least one egg! Today I could hear a faint cheeping in one of the eggs. We will see how many survived. So for all those that have experienced the same thing, don't give up hope! Those little embryos are tough!

Well, I checked tonight and 2/6 of the eggs were pipping! We'll see how many she has tomorrow.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

PD-Riverman - This is Ramin's 3rd clutch in 4 years, 2 years ago, she only came out from under the deck twice, and I have always kept food and water close by. I am very familiar with the stinky broody poop, she has not moved since going into the container 8 days ago. I am home all day, so if she did get up to move around, I would give her the chance to go out into the yard and stretch her legs. 4 years ago, two of my Buff Orph went broody, they had a 2 x 2 ft broody house I made out of pallets. Neither left their house till after the chicks hatched, and I left the door open for them during the day. They were fenced off from my other hens, so the girls would not bother them. Mama #1 hatched 5 out of 6 eggs, and Mama #2 hatched 4 out of 5 eggs. Ramin is my rooster Hank's favorite hen, so I would have to wait till they all went to bed, before I could let Ramin out. I think that is why she only went out twice the last time she set. The two times she ventured off the nest, 2 years ago, she was chased by our rooster, Hank's father.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have a broody that is on three eggs and I am afraid that when the eggs hatch the other hens will kill them, so I wanted to know when the best time to move the hen and the eggs would be. The eggs are estimated to hatch on May 3rd and I am thinking of moving the eggs on the 27th. Is that a good time to move them?

x2 with Fisherlady

Just put up a barrier if you are concerned that the other hens will bother the chick.

Chances are they won't, if they are generally a mellow flock, but what I have had happened is they try to lay in the nest while the hatching is happening which disrupts things...I've had a new chick squashed in the process.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Okay...so I've been having some interesting brooding experiments lately.

Normally I hatch only with my bantams in the broody hutch which is carefully monitored and controlled with hens properly separated by wire screen so nobody is disturbed.

Those banty mommas and babies are safe and secure behind wire and bird netting, gates and locks. They free range in the grow out run able to see the main flock through the wire fence. But that does mean I have to transition grow out pullets into the main flock, usually by 10 to 12 weeks, depending upon crowding conditions, which leaves a few days to a couple of weeks of confusion for the transitioned birds.

Which brings me to my new experiments.

In attempt to have easier flock integration, I've been re-attempting flock brooding which was a disaster my first attempt years ago. That was why I went to the broody hutch, but I've got a pretty mellow flock now with one very attentive and sweet Barnevelder rooster....I thought I'd see if I could make flock hatching work as I read so many of you all @fisherlady have had good success once you get the right flock dynamics.

With my broody hutch full from the recent bantam efforts, I've had the good fortune to have 2 very stubborn gals (Marans and Marans/Isbar...half sisters) go broody in the main coop. I saw an opportunity to give it a try..so I let eggs sit under them.

Olive (my Marans/Isbar olive egger) hatched her 1 and only egg (she laid it, first of the new season, and then sat on it). She was so good about defending that nest, I let her sit in it. Unfortunately that little chick got squashed during hatch when others tried to hoard in to lay eggs. Bummer, but that is why I generally isolate. Apparently I will need to block at the crucial day. Olive is still wanting to stubbornly sit (that whole line of Marans has been stubborn broodies), so I set 2 more eggs under her...there's good development and she's got 10 more days and sitting tight....keep that in mind...she is sitting tight.

The Splash Marans (Olive's half sister) hatched her egg (I'm only setting 1 or 2 with these experiments in case it goes south in the main coop)...I caught her before hatch day and blockaded her chosen nest for that day, which was the larger nest box, then after hatch day moved her and the newly hatched chick to my small coop forcing the rest of the flock into the main coop. This little chick is a darling CCL/Barnevelder, and I think male as it has a faint whisp of white streaking on its head...we'll see.

Now here's where the story gets interesting. Splash momma is, well, just an okay momma. She was pretty good that first week, not always the fastest to attend to the chick's needs, but I kept her locked in the small coop for the first 5 days so that baby could get big enough to not squeeze through chicken wire so easily (and thus out of the run). Then, I let momma and baby into the inner run, shut in, for another few days as the weather has been gloriously warm and baby could learn to follow and scratch in safety with the main flock locked outside the run. (I've got lots of gate systems to segregate flow when I need to).

This week, I opened up all the gates and let the flock integrate with Splash momma and a now almost 2 week old chick, crossing my fingers that the chick didn't get lost or trampled.

Amazingly my Barnevelder rooster has been an absolute darling and will quickly run interference with any hen that even looks twice at Splash momma and chick making sure momma and her baby are left in peace.

As the week has progressed, baby has made the rounds of the yard closest to the run with momma. However, momma, who several times wanted to roost leaving sqawking baby in the enclosed coop during that first week, but fortunately heeded to its care, is now fully roosting with the flock leaving baby on the coop floor at night. I found it last night under the care of one of my non-broody California Greys who is low on totem pole and chooses to sleep in a nest box....but she often shifts during the night to the roost....I know as I usually disturb her on my final night time check up and lock up and she flies up to her roost after the others have settled.

Worried that baby would be left to the cold during the night, I picked up baby and gave it to Olive who is sitting tight thinking I'd figure things out in the morning. I put food and water in that main coop near that nest in case baby needed to figure out food for itself come daylight as Olive would probably still be sitting tight. (Olive clucked and chirped at baby and eagerly welcomed it into her feathers).

Sure enough, as morning came, Olive was sitting tight with baby warmly tucked in but I doubt being fed or watered. While wondering what to do to get it back into the flock I watched momma come out of the yard where she was foraging with the main flock, go into the main coop, find baby, and come out with it. They foraged the day together.

So, tonight, I wondered if baby would be with Olive or back in the small coop on the floor with the Cal Grey. It was back on the floor with the Cal Grey, who though not broody, was standing with it under her wing clearly choosing to warm it. Same scenario....night will be cooler and not confident the Cal Grey will stay down for the whole night, I picked baby up and put it back with Olive, who is still sitting tight (day 11 on those eggs now). Food and water are just around the corner for the chick, and the main coop is sparsely inhabited as my rooster prefers the smaller coop and most of the hens follow him there (making for a bit of a cozy situation).

I'll watch to see if Splash momma goes to get her baby again from child care tomorrow morning. Apparently she is not into night time baby care.

I'll keep you all posted as to how chick does....I keep expecting it to be lost or dead rattling around in that big flock but so far so good...except for night time care. Perhaps Splash momma would jump down when baby squawked loudly enough when it got cold, but I haven't gotten that much confidence in her yet.

Apparently it takes a village to raise a chick. Anyone dealt with this? @fisherlady

LofMc

 

[nchls school]

I wouldn't move a hen that close to hatch....unless she is being bothered enough to put the hatch at risk I would just place a wire barrier in front of the nest the day before she is due and move her, chicks and remaining eggs to a new nest 24-36 hours after the first chick hatches.

X2.

 

[fisherlady]

Okay...so I've been having some interesting brooding experiments lately.

Normally I hatch only with my bantams in the broody hutch which is carefully monitored and controlled with hens properly separated by wire screen so nobody is disturbed.

Those banty mommas and babies are safe and secure behind wire and bird netting, gates and locks. They free range in the grow out run able to see the main flock through the wire fence.  But that does mean I have to transition grow out pullets into the main flock, usually by 10 to 12 weeks, depending upon crowding conditions, which leaves a few days to a couple of weeks of confusion for the transitioned birds.

Which brings me to my new experiments.

In attempt to have easier flock integration, I've been re-attempting flock brooding which was a disaster my first attempt years ago. That was why I went to the broody hutch, but I've got a pretty mellow flock now with one very attentive and sweet Barnevelder rooster....I thought I'd see if I could make flock hatching work as I read so many of you all @fisherlady
 have had good success once you get the right flock dynamics.

With my broody hutch full from the recent bantam efforts, I've had the good fortune to have 2 very stubborn gals (Marans and Marans/Isbar...half sisters) go broody in the main coop. I saw an opportunity to give it a try..so I let eggs sit under them.

Olive (my Marans/Isbar olive egger) hatched her 1 and only egg (she laid it, first of the new season, and then sat on it). She was so good about defending that nest, I let her sit in it. Unfortunately that little chick got squashed during hatch when others tried to hoard in to lay eggs. Bummer, but that is why I generally isolate. Apparently I will need to block at the crucial day. Olive is still wanting to stubbornly sit (that whole line of Marans has been stubborn broodies), so I set 2 more eggs under her...there's good development and she's got 10 more days and sitting tight....keep that in mind...she is sitting tight.

The Splash Marans (Olive's half sister) hatched her egg (I'm only setting 1 or 2 with these experiments in case it goes south in the main coop)...I caught her before hatch day and blockaded her chosen nest for that day, which was the larger nest box, then after hatch day moved her and the newly hatched chick to my small coop forcing the rest of the flock into the main coop. This little chick is a darling CCL/Barnevelder, and I think male as it has a faint whisp of white streaking on its head...we'll see.

Now here's where the story gets interesting. Splash momma is, well, just an okay momma. She was pretty good that first week, not always the fastest to attend to the chick's needs, but I kept her locked in the small coop for the first 5 days so that baby could get big enough to not squeeze through chicken wire so easily (and thus out of the run). Then, I let momma and baby into the inner run, shut in, for another few days as the weather has been gloriously warm and baby could learn to follow and scratch in safety with the main flock locked outside the run. (I've got lots of gate systems to segregate flow when I need to).

This week, I opened up all the gates and let the flock integrate with Splash momma and a now almost 2 week old chick, crossing my fingers that the chick didn't get lost or trampled.

Amazingly my Barnevelder rooster has been an absolute darling and will quickly run interference with any hen that even looks twice at Splash momma and chick making sure momma and her baby are left in peace.

As the week has progressed, baby has made the rounds of the yard closest to the run with momma. However, momma, who several times wanted to roost leaving sqawking baby in the enclosed coop during that first week, but fortunately heeded to its care, is now fully roosting with the flock leaving baby on the coop floor at night. I found it last night under the care of one of my non-broody California Greys who is low on totem pole and chooses to sleep in a nest box....but she often shifts during the night to the roost....I know as I usually disturb her on my final night time check up and lock up and she flies up to her roost after the others have settled.

Worried that baby would be left to the cold during the night, I picked up baby and gave it to Olive who is sitting tight thinking I'd figure things out in the morning. I put food and water in that main coop near that nest in case baby needed to figure out food for itself come daylight as Olive would probably still be sitting tight. (Olive clucked and chirped at baby and eagerly welcomed it into her feathers).

Sure enough, as morning came, Olive was sitting tight with baby warmly tucked in but I doubt being fed or watered. While wondering what to do to get it back into the flock I watched momma come out of the yard where she was foraging with the main flock, go into the main coop, find baby, and come out with it. They foraged the day together.

So, tonight, I wondered if baby would be with Olive or back in the small coop on the floor with the Cal Grey.  It was back on the floor with the Cal Grey, who though not broody, was standing with it under her wing clearly choosing to warm it. Same scenario....night will be cooler and not confident the Cal Grey will stay down for the whole night, I picked baby up and put it back with Olive, who is still sitting tight (day 11 on those eggs now).  Food and water are just around the corner for the chick, and the main coop is sparsely inhabited as my rooster prefers the smaller coop and most of the hens follow him there (making for a bit of a cozy situation).

I'll watch to see if Splash momma goes to get her baby again from child care tomorrow morning.  Apparently she is not into night time baby care.

I'll keep you all posted as to how chick does....I keep expecting it to be lost or dead rattling around in that big flock but so far so good...except for night time care. Perhaps Splash momma would jump down when baby squawked loudly enough when it got cold, but I haven't gotten that much confidence in her yet.

Apparently it takes a village to raise a chick. Anyone dealt with this? @fisherlady


LofMc

Brooding within the flock certainly creates some unexpected scenarios...I have had similar situations, usually it is with co-broodies...one stays on the floor with the chicks at night and the other roosts and rejoins the chicks in the morning. I have had other hens lea their chicks tucked in a low nest box while they go for the roost and then gather the chicks at first light and head out.
These events have happened after the hen tried to get the chicks to follow her up onto the roost boards but they didn't manage it for some reason...we know this because we are able to review our coop cameras.
Most times this has gone on it takes about a week for the chicks to start following the hen up to roost. Many of our hens will start moving them up at 2-3 weeks old. Nothing cuter than seeing the Littles up on the shelf trying to be 'big' chickens!

It does sound like your dynamics in the flock are getting very broody friendly and should soon allow some much more stress free brooding.

 

[fisherlady]

Our hen Brownie really has her wings full! Her 'dirty dozen' are 4 weeks old and quite the group of hooligans! They are roaming further and further away from her (much to her consternation) and really a bunch of characters. One spends more time hanging out in the yard with my husband or I than he does with his mama....she is forever tracking him down!

She does have them up onto a lower roost board rather than a floor box, she will probably be back on the top shelf within a few days though to establish a spot for her chicks.

 

[FaerieChicken]

My Light Brown Leghorn, Nubs, she is sitting on a clutch of 10 eggs. I was able to candle them yesterday, had to pull 1 as it was not viable. She wanted out of the cage, so I let her out to run about for a few while I candled, she had the worst smelling liquid poo, and it seemed to just drip or leak from her. She was standing way too upright for a few minutes, but then she evened out. Should I be concerned? The eggs are also all at different stages of development as well. There is one that has veins and is dark inside, and another that has veins and has a small to medium black speck in it, I am guessing the baby chick developing. My silkie momma has 6 under her, I haven't candled since the 11th, I probably should candle hers, but if I need to, is it possible for her to finish off the clutch of my Leghorn? It might be too much with another 9.....

 

[PD-Riverman]

My Light Brown Leghorn, Nubs, she is sitting on a clutch of 10 eggs. The eggs are also all at different stages of development as well.

Were all these eggs set under her at the same time/day---fresh layed??

She wanted out of the cage, so I let her out to run about for a few while I candled, she had the worst smelling liquid poo, and it seemed to just drip or leak from her.

That's Broody Poop, is she pooping in her cage. You are NOT putting food next her nest where she can eat/drink while on the eggs are you??? She needs to get off the eggs to eat. poop, dust bath, etc.

 

[nchls school]

Were all these eggs set under her at the same time/day---fresh layed??
That's Broody Poop, is she pooping in her cage. You are NOT putting food next her nest where she can eat/drink while on the eggs are you??? She needs to get off the eggs to eat. poop, dust bath, etc.

X2.