Broody Hen Thread!

[WildHens]

They were just 1 year and that was April 23, 2015 so very young mothers but such a strong instinct with them.  One actually start at the beginning of April.  The second one stole hers so the first one had to start a new nest.  They are so good at mother hood(or at least mine are).  The other strange thing is that they are hatchery stock.  Like wow.  I would have never expected it.  Not only are they not suppose to but they were hatchery stock.  I guess maybe it is how they are raised or how many other broodies there are.  I never thought any of them would go broody.  One gave me a hint.  A month before she went while she would lay eggs she would puff out big and mean just like a broody.  This seems to be a positive sign for motherhood.  

That's awesome.. can't ever have too many broodies, well in my opinion ..guess people that prefer eggs over chicks wouldn't feel the same..lol..

 

[ChickieMamaSara]

Heres my broody girl, i feel bad for everytime I take the eggs shes sitting on, we collect everyday but she still just sits there.

 

[the poppster]

Keep in mind that serama eggs may hatch in less than 21 days. Mine consistently hatch in 19 days under a broody.

Thank you for the heads up on the shorter incubation period! I actually ended up with a pair of broody sisters! They are perfect twins...the first hen I tried went ballistic when I placed her in the broody cage...replaced her with one of the Silkie mix hens....I picked her up and moved her to the broody cage and set her down....she might as well have been a stuffed animal...all she did was the "Broody Twitch" the gathering motion they do with their wings and body...other then that she just settled into the broody trance...so I put her sister in with her...(they have been sharing the nest box since they went broody, even if they choose a different one, they were together)...so I separated the 14 eggs between them....one alone would have had a problem covering all of the eggs....as I offered the eggs to the girls, they reached out and pulled each egg in under themselves....perfect!! Now I'm crossing my fingers, and the count down starts! The girls auntie shared broody duties with a Cochin hen last spring...so I'm pretty hopeful that they will be ok. I will keep you posted.

 

[WildHens]

Thank you for the heads up on the shorter incubation period! I actually ended up with a pair of broody sisters! They are perfect twins...the first hen I tried went ballistic when I placed her in the broody cage...replaced her with one of the Silkie mix hens....I picked her up and moved her to the broody cage and set her down....she might as well have been a stuffed animal...all she did was the "Broody Twitch" the gathering motion they do with their wings and body...other then that she just settled into the broody trance...so I put her sister in with her...(they have been sharing the nest box since they went broody, even if they choose a different one, they were together)...so I separated the 14 eggs between them....one alone would have had a problem covering all of the eggs....as I offered the eggs to the girls, they reached out and pulled each egg in under themselves....perfect!! Now I'm crossing my fingers, and the count down starts! The girls auntie shared broody duties with a Cochin hen last spring...so I'm pretty hopeful that they will be ok. I will keep you posted.

Yay♡♡ I believe I'll always have a silkie or 30 around for broodies...they really are the best

 

[16 paws]

Thank you for the heads up on the shorter incubation period! I actually ended up with a pair of broody sisters! They are perfect twins...the first hen I tried went ballistic when I placed her in the broody cage...replaced her with one of the Silkie mix hens....I picked her up and moved her to the broody cage and set her down....she might as well have been a stuffed animal...all she did was the "Broody Twitch" the gathering motion they do with their wings and body...other then that she just settled into the broody trance...so I put her sister in with her...(they have been sharing the nest box since they went broody, even if they choose a different one, they were together)...so I separated the 14 eggs between them....one alone would have had a problem covering all of the eggs....as I offered the eggs to the girls, they reached out and pulled each egg in under themselves....perfect!! Now I'm crossing my fingers, and the count down starts! The girls auntie shared broody duties with a Cochin hen last spring...so I'm pretty hopeful that they will be ok. I will keep you posted.

Where did you get your serama eggs?
I would like to hatch some but people tell me they have a very low hatch rate. Anyone with seramas have any thoughts on this? I am wondering if I should get a breeding pair and start that way.
Marie

 

[sharol]

I now have 5 broodies on nests. These girls aren't supposed to go broody, but I swear it is a catching disease.

I have 8 English Orpington hens (and a rooster and my 2 perennial Marans broodies) in an 8x8 coop with 5 nesting spaces. 3 of them now are full of broodies.

I built 4 more nest boxes for them and put them out this morning. golf balls in each and one of today's Marans eggs in on of them just to show they are safe for eggs.

In the other coop, my silly little Araucana is broody again, so I gave her 4 Breda Fowl eggs. I was going to throw away the "unfertilized" egg my barred rock was setting on, but when I candled it, it is developing -- looks like about half way there.

When will this end, and does anyone in Eastern Kansas need some mixed color English Orpington chicks from good lines? The roo is a Jubilee as are 2 of the hens, the other hens are lavender, white, mottled black ad white, and black. LOL

I wish I could just raise them to about 3 weeks and sell them. Sigh.

 

[kendallb12]

HELP!! I was outisde with my chickens and I look down at one of my hens (I think she is a Rhode Island Red) Anyways she is walking very slow, she also just stood there and kept falling asleep.. she is eating but not much at all, she is again, walking VERY slow!! This isn't like her she is usually running around scratching!! She isn't scratching or anything! I also want to mention her comb and face are normal they are the usual color!! Anyone know what this is??

 

[WildHens]

Where did you get your serama eggs?
I would like to hatch some but people tell me they have a very low hatch rate. Anyone with seramas have any thoughts on this? I am wondering if I should get a breeding pair and start that way. 
Marie

I got very lucky and was given all 3 of mine in on different purchases.. it took me a while to even get fertile eggs (roo is a frizzle and had to trim his vent area before he could get the job done).. first 2 fertile eggs made it to lock down and quit..have several more going in over next week or so..so far, they've done way better under a hen than in the incu tho.. I've never had the breeds eggs shipped in, but I'd say given their size, they'd be hard to hatch shipped for sure. I only get an egg about every other day (one hen not laying yet), but if you covered shipping I'd be happy to send some and let u try them, if u can't find any local.. adults would definitely be the best choice tho

 

[WildHens]

HELP!! I was outisde with my chickens and I look down at one of my hens (I think she is a Rhode Island Red) Anyways she is walking very slow, she also just stood there and kept falling asleep.. she is eating but not much at all, she is again, walking VERY slow!! This isn't like her she is usually running around scratching!! She isn't scratching or anything! I also want to mention her comb and face are normal they are the usual color!! Anyone know what this is??

I would post in the emergency section..it could be a number of things

 

[PD-Riverman]

HELP!! I was outisde with my chickens and I look down at one of my hens (I think she is a Rhode Island Red) Anyways she is walking very slow, she also just stood there and kept falling asleep.. she is eating but not much at all, she is again, walking VERY slow!! This isn't like her she is usually running around scratching!! She isn't scratching or anything! I also want to mention her comb and face are normal they are the usual color!! Anyone know what this is??

When is the last time you wormed her?