Broody Hen Thread!

[LadyCluck77]

I goofed and let a silkie go broody even though it's the wrong time of year up North. After a 30's 40's cold snap, my Silkie has still been doing well out in the hutch with her four little Olive Egger chicks. So far, so good. I might take them all inside when it really starts getting cold.

 

[fisherlady]

I goofed and let a silkie go broody even though it's the wrong time of year up North. After a 30's 40's cold snap, my Silkie has still been doing well out in the hutch with her four little Olive Egger chicks. So far, so good. I might take them all inside when it really starts getting cold.

Ours hatch year round in Pennsylvania....maybe a bit colder for you but not too much. Just make sure they have a secure and draft free area to live and they will probably surprise you. Keeping waterers unfrozen is usually our biggest hassle and since we got the heated waterers and our hens are in with the flock after day 3 or 4 that really isn't too much of a pain anymore.

 

[redsix]

I had 3 hatch here in VA two weeks ago. It's been in the 30's and 40's at night. I think they will be fine as long as they feather out before it gets really cold.

 

[WVduckchick]

Been getting cold here in WV at night too, but going to get warm again this weekend. It's weather roller coaster time!

I'm afraid one of my Seramas will go broody before the end of the year. She just started laying a month ago, and they are notoriously broody, so I'm hoping she will hold off till spring.

 

[chickwalla]

Hey guys, got a question for you. My broody has been siting on her eggs for 12 days now, about 5 days ago she stopped leaving the nest all together so I leave food within pecking reach. Well, this morning I went to let the girls out, and one of her eggs was in the middle of coop, about 4 ft away from her, and completely cold.
Since I haven't seen her leave the nest in some time, how would that even happen? Just in case I put the egg back by her, and she quickly tucked in under her. It probably won't hatch though right?

 

[microchick]

Hey guys, got a question for you. My broody has been siting on her eggs for 12 days now, about 5 days ago she stopped leaving the nest all together so I leave food within pecking reach. Well, this morning I went to let the girls out, and one of her eggs was in the middle of coop, about 4 ft away from her, and completely cold.
Since I haven't seen her leave the nest in some time, how would that even happen? Just in case I put the egg back by her, and she quickly tucked in under her. It probably won't hatch though right?

Well, your girl has to be pooping somewhere, nobody can hold it for 7 days after all

If you don't have broody poo all over the nest and eggs, she is sneaking out when you have your back turned. These hens aren't as dumb as they let on.

Now I'm a firm believer in making the hen get off the nest at least once a day if you have to. They can be very single minded about their obsession. I had the same problem with my last broody and wound up with dead chicks in the shell so next time around I know I have to make this particular hen get off the nest at least once a day so she doesn't do her business in the nest.

As for your abandoned egg. Depends on what your daytime temps are. Eggs can tolerate a cool down period. There are several good treads on the forum about candling eggs. If you can remember which egg it is, I would candle it for viability and take a wait and see attitude about it.

Hens have been doing this since they walked this earth as dinosaurs so don't fret too much. For the most part they do know what they are doing.

 

[rebrascora]

@chickwalla

I agree that your hen cannot last more than a couple of days without pooping so, she is either getting off without you knowing or soiling the nest. It is important for her own health that she stretches her legs and wings and has the opportunity to take a dust bath every day as well as a poop. Broody hens and their nests can be real mite magnates, as they create a 24/7 banquet opportunity for mites, so having access to a dust bath is quite important and something many people overlook. If she really is not getting off, then lift her off. Also, if you haven't already, make a higher lip around the nest so that eggs cannot get knocked/rolled out or worse still chicks fall out after they hatch. Nothing worse that finding a cold, dead chick that has fallen out of the nest and been unable to get back in. It very much depends how long the egg was out of the nest as to whether it will still be viable. I'm a wait and see sort of person.... it has two chances!

Good luck with your hatch.

 

[Suky]

I have a little bantam that is very broody. She sits in the nesting box all day and there isn't even an egg under her.
I initially had a fake egg to show my new girls where to lay (they free range and I had eggs everywhere!)
Any ideas how to get her to stop?

 

[microchick]

Hi Suky and welcome to the forum.

It is possible to break your broody. The trick is to cool off their bellies. You will have to put her in a cage such as a wire dog pen/crate. No bedding. Just water, food and a perch is all she gets. It usually takes about 3 days. You will have to keep her out of drafts, naturally but the trick is to let air flow 'under' her.

Unfortunately from my experience, I've discovered that breaking them is only temporary and those hormones will kick in again. A lot of people who have dealt with this usually finally decide that it is better to give them a few eggs to drool over and let them brood them then repeatedly having to deal with breaking them over and over.

Bantams are marvelous broodies and mothers. Sometimes a dependable broody is worth her weight in gold for chicken lovers.

Hope things work out for you and your broody.

 

[rebrascora]

It is important to chock the wire bottomed crate up off the ground a few inches so that there is air flow underneath her in order to break her more quickly and allowing her to brood eggs may also just a temporary means of breaking her broodiness.
Many broody bantams will try to brood 2 or 3 clutches a year, so as soon as she casts of her first lot of chicks, she will often start laying for a couple of weeks and then go broody again.

It is important to consider all the aspects of raising chicks within your flock, including space and management, but particularly what you are going to do with the excess cockerels that will result, before you decide that allowing her to raise chicks is a good idea. That said it is an amazing experience to witness a broody hen raising chicks.

Good luck whatever you decide to do with your broody girl.