Broody Hen Thread!

[Puddin Fluff]

With her being my first broody I thought I better separate her whilst I learnt what I was doing, otherwise she would've been left with them.
I've let her out this afternoon and she seems to be ok with them, parading them around and showing them what's what. One of my other chickens had a peck at one of them, but nothing too sinister. Other than that there's been no trouble. She seems to want to stay around her coop so that's fine, I'll let her go at her own pace

As long as they don't draw blood or hold the chicks down and continue to peck them, they should be ok. The chicks should learn proper respect for the elders in the flock. Occassionally you might have an older hen who hates chicks, but most likely they will be fine.

BTW: chickens don't count babies. The only way they know if one was left behind is if it is cheeping loudly enough for mom to notice. Otherwise, at 3-4 weeks, it is kind of on the chicks to keep up with mom.
If they are seperated, I look at it as my opportunity to catch and hold a fluffy butt!

 

[Gge23]

As long as they don't draw blood or hold the chicks down and continue to peck them, they should be ok.  The chicks should learn proper respect for the elders in the flock.  Occassionally you might have an older hen who hates chicks, but most likely they will be fine.  

BTW:  chickens don't count babies.  The only way they know if one was left behind is if it is cheeping loudly enough for mom to notice.  Otherwise, at 3-4 weeks, it is kind of on the chicks to keep up with mom.
If they are seperated, I look at it as my opportunity to catch and hold a fluffy butt!

Yeh I think it was more of an inquisitive peck as if to say "what is this?". Didn't seem to be any malice in it so I wasn't too worried. Other than that the other hens and my cockerel don't seem too bothered...in fact my cockerel ran and tried to hide from them earlier, as if fathering duties were too much for him to handle!
Well that's a good bit of information to know...I will keep an eye out then to make sure they don't get left behind when she goes to bed. I haven't had the opportunity to try and handle one yet, they are rather quick and mum is never too far away!

 

[chikdukturkmom]

These are the 2 babies my young barred rock hatched out. My husband and i were very surprised she was broody so soon. They werent her eggs, but she is a really good mom and not as mean as any of my other ones. Very proud of her. I only gave her 4 eggs and these 2 hatched 4 days before they were supposed to. Crossing my fingers the other 2 hatch still....

 

[Huggerlady]

After that last huge failed clutch I have a happy follow up!
BCM sat on 12 day 10 I threw out 4 with great success. Being dark eggs and new to candling, this is scary!
I did not separate her right away, next time I will! The flock kept adding eggs when she would get up, so on day 3-4 I closed her up.
4 chicks hatched over 48 hours and 1 was crushed in the shell. It was a really big random egg and there was some blood. I have an awesome pic of the poor guy.
She left her nest on day three. She seemed to have forgotten them until I appeared and reached in to feel cold eggs. I started candling but she was in a panic to get on them. She may have been off for as long as 4 hours but I have no way of knowing. Really trying not to fuss over her and scared to see what waits this morning in those 3.

 

[Huggerlady]

Bright Eyes looks like she's seen a ghost! I belive this is her first look at her first chick!

 

[rssnbabybear]

I'm so proud of this Buff Orpington. This is her second brood of chicks this summer. She hatched 4 and accepted 4 others dying her first batch. When she went broody again a few months later I thought I'd give her a few of the Cornish X's I had ordered. But since I didn't seperate her from the other babies in the brooder house she has now taken them all! Here is Good Mama with 25 Cornish X babies and 4 Guineas. Way to go Mama! (Check out the cute lavender guinea at the top right of the feeder tray. I'm in love! <3 )

 

[Klay]

How long will eggs that are a week before hatching stay viable without the hen sitting on them. My silkie got off of her three eggs for about 8 hours she switched nests. I just placed her back on the original eggs but I'm worried that they won't hatch because of how long she has been off.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

If it is very warm where you are, it might just delay the hatch. No way to really know until hatch time. Good luck.

 

[LoveOfChickens1]

OK, I have a question for seasoned members. I have a black sex-link (Joan Jett) that went broody so I popped 12 eggs under her 15 days ago. She has been a good mommy and has diligently sat on those eggs for 15 days now and is still sitting today. She has gone from 12 eggs down to 8, as of yesterday once I weeded out and discarded the bad eggs. She only has 6 days to go. But, when I got home from work tonight I noticed that 4 of the good eggs were outside the nest and it looked like she was unable to get them back up the small lip on the box edge. I have no idea how long they were out from under her and they weren't as warm as the ones under her tush. It is very hot here so they didn't get "cold" but they were cool. Does that mean those eggs are goners? Or, is it possible they may still be OK? I slide them back under her and she was so happy to have them back. I had numbered them all while candling so I know exactly which eggs they were. 2 of which had movement in them prior to this. Thanks for any info you can offer.

 

[katatonic123]

OK, I have a question for seasoned members. I have a black sex-link (Joan Jett) that went broody so I popped 12 eggs under her 15 days ago. She has been a good mommy and has diligently sat on those eggs for 15 days now and is still sitting today. She has gone from 12 eggs down to 8, as of yesterday once I weeded out and discarded the bad eggs. She only has 6 days to go. But, when I got home from work tonight I noticed that 4 of the good eggs were outside the nest and it looked like she was unable to get them back up the small lip on the box edge. I have no idea how long they were out from under her and they weren't as warm as the ones under her tush. It is very hot here so they didn't get "cold" but they were cool. Does that mean those eggs are goners? Or, is it possible they may still be OK? I slide them back under her and she was so happy to have them back. I had numbered them all while candling so I know exactly which eggs they were. 2 of which had movement in them prior to this.   Thanks for any info you can offer.

They could be all right. They might hatch a little later so be prepared if she leaves the nest before they all hatch.