Broody Hen Thread!

[Selsley]

Hen been broody for 2 weeks and I'm putting eggs under her today. Will 5 weeks in the nest be too much?

then add at least 1 week sitting in the nest keeping the hatchlings warm

 

[gator75]

Yeah. I'm getting a rabbit cage. Poor thing already looks a bit rough. I'll get eggs early next time.

 

[ShanandGem]

Does anyone have experience with a broody in an elevated location? My broody is upstairs in a basic triangular tractor. It has a nice broad ramp but it is still a 24" drop to the ground if the babies fall off. She's only been sitting a couple of days but I moved her buddies out of that tractor and she has the whole thing to herself.

 

[Selsley]

Does anyone have experience with a broody in an elevated location? My broody is upstairs in a basic triangular tractor. It has a nice broad ramp but it is still a 24" drop to the ground if the babies fall off. She's only been sitting a couple of days but I moved her buddies out of that tractor and she has the whole thing to herself.

we moved ours from a waist high nest box to an area under them, with no real problem, im not sure a chick falling from 2 foot will actually be damaged as they jumped out of the childrens hands from about that high, and like human babies, seem to bounce.. the only problem i see is them getting back to the nest after a fall to get under mum to keep warm. they will most likely not even leave the nest for 2 days anyway

 

[Honora]

Do not let the other birds sleep with the broodies....just create a barrier to place in front of the nest box, it can be removed each morning and replaced each afternoon before the other birds come in to roost. You can make a simple picture frame out of scrap wood and staple chicken wire to it or with hardware cloth you can just cut a piece to the size you need , put small screws 3/4 of the way in at the top corners of the nest box and hook the wire over it.
A blockade doesn't need to be fancy to be effective and it will greatly reduce the chance of eggs being broken or contaminated with chicken poo from the other birds.

Ok, thanks. Do you think a curtain would work or would it have to be something stronger?

 

[luvmypets]

Some more pics of chicky cuteness!

 

[fisherlady]

Ok, thanks. Do you think a curtain would work or would it have to be something stronger?

Something stronger, and it should not block light or air, it would get stuffy too quickly. We have used old wire fridge or freezer shelves or small window screens...but easiest to just cut a piece of hardware cloth and fold it to stand as a barrier.

 

[fisherlady]

Some more pics of chicky cuteness!

Adorable family!

 

[Honora]

Some more pics of chicky cuteness!

That yellow one is so cute!

 

[Honora]

Something stronger, and it should not block light or air, it would get stuffy too quickly. We have used old wire fridge or freezer shelves or small window screens...but easiest to just cut a piece of hardware cloth and fold it to stand as a barrier.

Thanks @fisherlady , we ended up using some plastic netting my husband bought for gardening. Did the trick! The broodies are left alone now & hopefully we'll have chicks safely hatching in 2 more days.