Broody Hen Thread!

[jenniferlamar70]

So so so gorgeous!  I have a little Silkie sitting on some eggs right now and I am so hoping she hatches at least one or two! Congrats!

Thanks and I'm sure she will. Silkies were made to be broody lol

Hi all,
I have a quick qu.
My broody silkie is sitting on 9 shipped eggs and tomorrow marks Day 7. I am almost certain only 3 of them are viable. I will candle again tomorrow and then my plan it to remove the non-developing eggs.  My question is, will it freak her out for me to take her from 9 eggs down to only 3?  My worry is her abandoning her next or just giving up.  I got her broody in the first place using golf balls, and I'd happily throw a few of those back in her nest, but I am also not certain if that will just complicate things further and mess up the remaining three eggs.  Basically, I want these 3 babies to make it, so please give me some great advice!  She is typically a very very broody hen, and appears to be deeply devoted to the cause, but I am still nervous about upsetting her by taking so many eggs.

It will be fine. Remove the eggs you need to. She wont stop sitting as long as she has some left.

Congratulations. They are beautiful!

Thanks.

 

[mysterychick]

It will be fine. Remove the eggs you need to. She wont stop sitting as long as she has some left.

Thanks. I just got home, recandled and did the deed. I couldn't even bring myself to break open the eggs, so I wrapped them up and placed them gently in the trash can lol. I am too soft for this stuff! Anyway, she pecked me as I stole 6 of her 9 eggs, but she is still sitting, so hopefully all is well!

Here is my gorgeous girl telling me not to swipe any more eggs from her!




I didn't recandle the three that were good at last candling and will wait until Day 10. I am so so so hoping they are still developing well though. I really want her to have some babies!

And yes, she is just a hatchery Silkie. The eggs she is sitting on should be gorgeous quality birds though.

 

[microchick]

Yeah, I know, it's hard. I usually bury my infertile eggs, early and late quitters under one of our apple trees. I'm a softy also, LOL.

She almost looks like she is begging you in the top pic. What a pretty little girl. I don't have Silkies. It gets too muddy here for them but I do have a young Welsummer pullet with 8 babies that are two weeks old (almost) and she is being the best mom I could ever hope for. In fact, she is putting my two broodies from last year, both Buff Orpingtons, to shame. I'm sure your girl will do fine.

 

[mysterychick]

Yeah, I know, it's hard. I usually bury my infertile eggs, early and late quitters under one of our apple trees. I'm a softy also, LOL.

She almost looks like she is begging you in the top pic. What a pretty little girl. I don't have Silkies. It gets too muddy here for them but I do have a young Welsummer pullet with 8 babies that are two weeks old (almost) and she is being the best mom I could ever hope for. In fact, she is putting my two broodies from last year, both Buff Orpingtons, to shame. I'm sure your girl will do fine.

Burying them is a nicer idea for sure! Wish I had thought of that!

 

[Mylied]

Is it unusual that my broody hen sitting on eggs lets the other hen’s chicks rest under her? I really thought one disappeared yesterday when I couldn’t find it. Then it showed up again a few hours later. Today she’s got three under her while the other 4 are following around their mama.

 

[draag80]

A very urgent question. One of my hens was sitting on eggs. I also had some eggs in the incubator, dates matching with the hen. The bator chicks hatched yday whereas the mamas eggs have just started hatching. As soon as the first of her eggs hatched, I transferred the bator chicks to her in the dark. She is feeling uncomfortable with the chicks. At first she pecked them, but after a few seconds they she let them under her. But i am not sure whats gonna happen. She is fluffed up like some danger is there. I am constantly standing at the window to observe as I dont want the bator chicks to get hurt by her.

The pic below seems one of the adopted chicks sitting under her. What shd I do. Stand guard all night or leave the bator chicks to their fate

 

[fisherlady]

Is it unusual that my broody hen sitting on eggs lets the other hen’s chicks rest under her? I really thought one disappeared yesterday when I couldn’t find it. Then it showed up again a few hours later. Today she’s got three under her while the other 4 are following around their mama.

some broodies are very tolerant of other hens' chicks. Just watch her behavior to make sure she doesn't transition to 'mama mode' and abandon the eggs to go full time with chick rearing duties. If you see her out with the chicks feeding them or walking around with them you will probably need to rescue the eggs and finish them in an incubator.

 

[fisherlady]

A very urgent question. One of my hens was sitting on eggs. I also had some eggs in the incubator, dates matching with the hen. The bator chicks hatched yday whereas the mamas eggs have just started hatching. As soon as the first of her eggs hatched, I transferred the bator chicks to her in the dark. She is feeling uncomfortable with the chicks. At first she pecked them, but after a few seconds they she let them under her. But i am not sure whats gonna happen. She is fluffed up like some danger is there. I am constantly standing at the window to observe as I dont want the bator chicks to get hurt by her.

The pic below seems one of the adopted chicks sitting under her. What shd I do. Stand guard all night or leave the bator chicks to their fate

They are most likely going to be OK. If she seems settled down and they are being quiet under her I would leave her be for a couple of hours. Get some rest and set an alarm to recheck her in a couple of hours and then again in early morning. If it is dark and quiet in her coop she should remain calm overnight and will adjust to the feel of the chicks. Most hens are good about the transition from setting to mothering but some seem to take a bit longer.


Edit to add: be careful to not overcrowd her, if she has a lot of eggs to hatch the bator chicks could make it a bit too crowded.

 

[draag80]

They are most likely going to be OK. If she seems settled down and they are being quiet under her I would leave her be for a couple of hours. Get some rest and set an alarm to recheck her in a couple of hours and then again in early morning. If it is dark and quiet in her coop she should remain calm overnight and will adjust to the feel of the chicks. Most hens are good about the transition from setting to mothering but some seem to take a bit longer.


Edit to add: be careful to not overcrowd her, if she has a lot of eggs to hatch the bator chicks could make it a bit too crowded.

Ok thanks for the reply. I added only three chicks and she had one of her own.

Please tell me should I turn the light off. I kept out on so that she can see the chicks. In dark she can get confused and stressed. But that's my thought and it's my first time doing such a venture. I lack experience. Should I turn the lights off????

 

[fisherlady]

We usually have the coop dark or very dimly lit...the hens seem to be more relaxed without bright lights.