Broody Hen Thread!

[Puddin Fluff]

If you have the space and can do it, I am sure she will enjoy not being hassled. Just know that at a certain point she will shun the chicks and at times moms are a bit rough with that. At that point she might kinda be a loner.

Be careful feeding her on the nest. With some birds this encourages them to poop in the nest and can make a mess. It is best if she gets off the nest to eat, drink and stretch her wings and legs.

Good luck!

 

[ShanandGem]

If you have the space and can do it, I am sure she will enjoy not being hassled. Just know that at a certain point she will shun the chicks and at times moms are a bit rough with that. At that point she might kinda be a loner.

Be careful feeding her on the nest. With some birds this encourages them to poop in the nest and can make a mess. It is best if she gets off the nest to eat, drink and stretch her wings and legs.

Good luck!

Thanks very much for the sound advice. I suppose if she shuns them she can go back to her tractor with her rooster and two buddy hens. They are all very gentle birds and I'm pretty sure they would accept her back.
This broody experience has been interesting, to be sure. I need more chickens like I need a root canal (and barnyard mix mutts at that) but nature was clearly telling her this was something she just had to do!

 

[thunderbird]

 

[BullChick]

LOL! Love the look!

 

[16 paws]

Pretty bird!

 

[microchick]

Really makes you glad that chickens didn't evolve from T-Rex dinosaurs. Then again, with that look. Maybe they did, LOL.

 

[addarr]

Broody Ducks anyone?

I have only had one broody hen in the past with no male in the flock so I always went out with my marker and poked them with dots one two and three and would rotate out eggs as I would take them.

But I'm hoping for some help. I have two new girls that went broody a khaki Campbell and my Cyuga female. I've only got one male my khaki Campbell. Anyhow, my Cyuga has been sitting for about 4 weeks and I'm a little excited for the new babe's to get here. She's got only 3 eggs. I snuck one away and candled it. It's got to be around 22 days ishor more.I really thought it had been over a month. The egg was completely dark except for the little air pocket. I was in a hurry because i didnt want her to catch me messing with her nest, but didn't feel or see any movement while holding it. So I'm thinking they should hatch in about 5 days or less I'm thinking.
My Khaki Campbell female has 8 eggs that I can count but her nest is pretty dang deep so there could be more.I guess she took a que from her female buddy and was like ya let's make babies!
I've heard of 1st time mom's killing babies and drakes also killing sometimes as well. Does he need to be pulled out of the flock for now? What can I do to keep them from being killed?
They are in a pen roughly 22×8 1/2ft with two houses in it. They come out to graze for a few hours twice a day. Any advice will help?

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

She's been isolated since day one when I discovered she was broody. She is in the coop with a dozen 8 week old Ameraucana chicks, but separated from them by a fence. I hate integrating birds so whoever she hatches will get their own little tractor to live in, and she can stay with them forever if she wants to. I know chickens are social animals and I just wondered if she would miss being around other adult birds if she's confined to the nursery.
This is my first broody and she is one of my favorite hens, so I want her to be happy and healthy. She has been very determined so far; I have only seen evidence of her getting off her eggs once! I make her a little plate of fresh food and put it right in front of her twice a day.

I do the same thing with mine, I had 2 broody houses, but over the years they got a bit worn down. So now I just bring Mama in the house. Once the chicks hatch, they get moved to a large black water trough. My issue right now is, my chicks from the first week of May hatch, still use that at night. Their broody Mama usually leaves them at 2 1/2 weeks and goes back to the flock, they will be 2 months the first week of July & Mama is still with them. I think it is because, a week after the chicks hatched, Mama wanted out. So my hubby let her out, my roosters saw her, and gave chase, she is their favorite hen. Half of her face feathers were pulled out, because they were so happy to see her. She has not wanted back out with the others since.
Mine get food and water in front of them all the time, once they move to the nursery box, the food and water are in one corner. That way everyone can move around, and not knock over the food or water. It may be the end of August before the first hatch move into the outside coop. I want them big enough that a snake can not suffocate them. Am thinking about installing a step rail in the smaller coop, instead of the one I have that is lower to the ground.
Good Luck with your hatch!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Whooohoo! Day 21. Opened up the coop and checked on mama and saw 3 fluffy little faces peeking out. She is sitting on 8 eggs. Can't wait to see/hear some more babies!

 

[BullChick]