Broody Hen Thread!

[gpeters3]

Irishsilkie, a few days ago you asked if golf balls would encourage a broody, then you asked about placing them into a bucket.... and now you are claiming a variety of very odd sounding methods which are 'proven' to work....
I will ask that you provide a list of your sources.
Have you personally used any of these methods?

We try to be as helpful as possible on this thread, but are careful to provide information based on personal experience or well researched materials.

I only tried to hatch some with my bantams but broodyness came naturally to the ones i had. If they all want the same box, try plastic eggs. They really do work. I put an x on mine so i could tell them appart. I also put an x on eggs i wanted to hatch and the hens automatically took turns keeping them warm. One lady i know uses a heat lamp hatchery insted of brood hens but my favorite method was to separate any brood mom with her chicks in a large brood pen, that way i didnt need a heat lamp because she kept them under her. When it was time to integrate them she also protected them from aggressive hens.

 

[WildHens]

One of my hens went broody but won't stay sitting she did for like half a day then got up but won't stay on the eggs what can I do?

She may not be ready yet...don't know of anything that's 100 % effective to keep her broody tho.. maybe take the eggs and fill the nest with ones that aren't important and then if she does stick to it in a few days, slip the eggs you want to hatch back under her

 

[WildHens]

She's figuring it out slowly but surely ♡♡

 

[RachaelR32]

The move last night didn't work. After a week of having one or the other hen on the nest I've now got neither on the nest. First thing this morning I thought it might have worked as she was still on the eggs in the kennel and growled at the other girls when she heard them outside. But then the others started bashing on her door and disturbed her too much and she wanted out and hasn't gone back.

The only one who has been in there this morning is one thats not broody but thought it looked a good place to lay an egg! I've left the door open and a load of non-fertilised eggs in there and I'll see if anyone decides to go sit on them. The eggs I picked up yesterday will be ok for a few days waiting in the house anyway.

 

[WildHens]

Is there a place you can move the crate where she will be completely alone? I set my broodies on the other side of the barn as the regular pens..they can still hear the normal activities but no one can disturb them..

 

[nchls school]

One of my hens went broody but won't stay sitting she did for like half a day then got up but won't stay on the eggs what can I do?

If she brooded for just a half day she isn't broody, yet. It is a sign that she may be going broody. There is very little that can be done to "make" a hen brood. You can encourage her by leaving a few dummy eggs in her nest. Some broody hens just won't stay to the nest. A while back I had a serama bantam go broody. She showed all the signs; walked around all fluffed with wings down, growled, clucked, BUT she spent more time off the nest than on. Not all hens make a good broody-even if the "breed" is known for brooding.

 

[RachaelR32]

Is there a place you can move the crate where she will be completely alone? I set my broodies on the other side of the barn as the regular pens..they can still hear the normal activities but no one can disturb them..

I could bring her up to the coop by the house. The others are all in the orchard. But then she would be totally out of sight of the others so more of a potential problem introducing her back again later. I can't really put her anywhere out of the way too much in the orchard as I want to keep her within the electric fence area. Since some of the young oned are good at flying, all their little coops are in the middle of the area so they can't use the roof as a launch pad.

 

[James Beller]

My polish hen is on a nest and has hurt one of her babies that could have survived but she jump to her death(something came out of her back area like intestines). How do i break her of broody when i collect all viable babies. I also have another polish and she is broody do you think i should let her have them i am a little worried about her too. Thanks! 2/5 polish hens went broody.

I have no clue what happened more hatched and she is thew best mother ever. It must have been a different hen that hurt the baby.

 

[gpeters3]

I have no clue what happened more hatched and she is thew best mother ever.  It must have been a different hen that hurt the baby.  

My best brood mom didnt care where the eggs came from, she just liked to sit and later care for the chicks.

I think there may be some jealousy in some of the hens. I had 2 that would atttack any chicks, even their own. They also picked on the brood mom. Interestingly, she would let them pick on her except when she was protecting the chicks. Then she could kick some butt

 

[WildHens]

I could bring her up to the coop by the house. The others are all in the orchard. But then she would be totally out of sight of the others so more of a potential problem introducing her back again later. I can't really put her anywhere out of the way too much in the orchard as I want to keep her within the electric fence area. Since some of the young oned are good at flying, all their little coops are in the middle of the area so they can't use the roof as a launch pad.

Maybe even attempting to cover the crate with a blanket or sheet and then laying a piece of plywood or something over the top would help, something that resembles a cave and wpuld give her a sense of security, and at the same time keep the other hens from upsetting her but still being close enough that you arent worried about reintroducing her to the main flock. I forget how important that is sometimes because I have so many pens and separate by breed anyways..sorry I couldn't be more help But at least you have several odeas for next time ♡