Broody Hen Thread!

[slordaz]

We finally made the move to Tennessee. It took us four days of travel from Wisconsin due to illness, getting lost while going though Chicago, severe storms, sudden braking to avoid accidents, etc. All the birds made the trip safely. Some in wire cages and a few that were with chicks or brooding eggs in plastic tubs. The hen above stuck to her nest through it all; even 100+ temperatures. A few days after arriving at our new home these four chicks hatched. A real surprise considering all that happened during the move. I had really though it hopeless to expect the eggs to hatch; the eggs were from my wife's nine year old pet that had been killed by a hawk a week before our move. My wife is thrilled to have the chicks. The old hen had been a treasured pet.

Glad to hear everyone made it and you got new babies

 

[microchick]

Congratulations ncls school, on both the move and the new chicks. Just proves that these birds are a lot tougher than we give them credit for being and a lot more adaptable.

How wonderful that your wife has little ones to carry on for her dead pet. I felt the same way when my much loved Buff O rooster died and I discovered that he had left me three sons, one of them being carbon copy of dear old dad.

 

[ceceuu]

We finally made the move to Tennessee. It took us four days of travel from Wisconsin due to illness, getting lost while going though Chicago, severe storms, sudden braking to avoid accidents, etc. All the birds made the trip safely. Some in wire cages and a few that were with chicks or brooding eggs in plastic tubs. The hen above stuck to her nest through it all; even 100+ temperatures. A few days after arriving at our new home these four chicks hatched. A real surprise considering all that happened during the move. I had really though it hopeless to expect the eggs to hatch; the eggs were from my wife's nine year old pet that had been killed by a hawk a week before our move. My wife is thrilled to have the chicks. The old hen had been a treasured pet.

What a great story. Thanks for posting.

 

[fisherlady]

We finally made the move to Tennessee. It took us four days of travel from Wisconsin due to illness, getting lost while going though Chicago, severe storms, sudden braking to avoid accidents, etc. All the birds made the trip safely. Some in wire cages and a few that were with chicks or brooding eggs in plastic tubs. The hen above stuck to her nest through it all; even 100+ temperatures. A few days after arriving at our new home these four chicks hatched. A real surprise considering all that happened during the move. I had really though it hopeless to expect the eggs to hatch; the eggs were from my wife's nine year old pet that had been killed by a hawk a week before our move. My wife is thrilled to have the chicks. The old hen had been a treasured pet.

It was obviously meant to be! So glad the hen was such a dedicated broody and I hope the chicks grows up to provide as much joy to your wife as their mother did!

 

[MayhemMarr]

my first broody she started with 1 her own egg, and a fake one that I couldn't get away from her so I added 3 more to her just to see what will happen oct 11 is our EHD (Estimated Hatch date)

 

[fisherlady]

my first broody she started with 1 her own egg, and a fake one that I couldn't get away from her so I added 3 more to her just to see what will happen oct 11 is our EHD (Estimated Hatch date)

Congrats on the first broody! She certainly looks determined!

 

[wannahomestead]

I have another broody australorp (shocker, right?) and i placed 4 duck eggs under her last night. I'll place a couple chicken eggs under her in about a week and hope for a somewhat in sync hatch.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

So I have a question as a newbie having a broody mama and I "may" be getting like 4 chicks on Sat and I was wondering if they are the same age as my current chicks can I slip them in under my broody mama in with her and her 4 chicks or is that a bad idea? Thanks

 

[lpyrbby]

I haven't read through the *whole* thread, but I've been with many of you for much of it.

Last week, I noticed weird behavior with my Australorp. Mentioned it to a coworker and she suggested that she was probably trying to go broody. I'm all "Yay! Really???!" Started researching, etc. Then a friend of ours let me know he would be ready to take our head roo (since we had two roosters) and a couple of ladies. We did that move on Sunday. This week has been calmer in the chicken yard, but the second roo is still not "there" with taking up position as head roo. I think he's still wary of being jumped.

Anyway, Betty, the BA, is kinda acting the same, but less so. I may have inadvertently "broken" her with removing the roo and a couple of hens, changing the dynamics. I would LOVE for her to really put her mind to it. I have a pen ready to put into the coop if she starts showing seriousness. I've also put a pile of fake eggs in the nest box that's easiest to get to. Last week when I came home early and caught her in the nest box, I took the eggs she was on and gave her a fake. She tucked it under her. With me working, I can't see what she's doing during the day.

At this rate, I know that she may not go broody. I just hope she will.

As far as I know, all of my birds are hatchery stock. I know I have fertilized eggs from the previous roo still. I'm trying not to invade much.

Have you guys had hatchery BA go broody and hatch successfully? I wish I could just ask her to go broody and she comply! Ugh! I want babies so badly LOL

Are there behaviors any of you have noticed the hens make before actually squatting on the nest? With Betty, what tipped me off to a change is that she was fluffing up in the yard, especially when other birds approached her. She was also constantly clucking, softly. As of now, she's still fluffing up when she's approached, but not nearly as dramatically. I guess if she wants to, she will, eh?

Wanting a broody feels maddening for the human, I suspect. Thanks for letting me "vent" lol

 

[nchls school]

So I have a question as a newbie having a broody mama and I "may" be getting like 4 chicks on Sat and I was wondering if they are the same age as my current chicks can I slip them in under my broody mama in with her and her 4 chicks or is that a bad idea? Thanks

If the chicks are newly hatched (a few days old or less) and look similar, the hen should accept them. Give the new chicks to the hen at night and check on them early in the morning to be sure all is going well. I have done this many time successfully; even when the chicks were older and did look different.