Broody Hen Thread!

[thunderbird]

I set 20 eggs total under my 2 broodies, an orpington and a cochin bantam. After candling only 6 were Fertile, I took those 6 and gave them to my cochin because the orpington has broken 3 eggs in the past 5 days.

She looks a little pale Idk if I should be concerned or not

 

[microchick]

I don't think it's too unusual for a hen to go pale during brooding. My last hen did. Within 48 hours after her chicks hatched she was back being bright red and bossy.

 

[mysterychick]

I don't think it's too unusual for a hen to go pale during brooding. My last hen did. Within 48 hours after her chicks hatched she was back being bright red and bossy.

Yes. Mine didn't go pale but honestly she mustn't have pooped for the last 2 weeks, so I'm sure they are just feeling uncomfortable and/or nutritionally deprived. Good luck with the 6!

 

[mysterychick]

This is my last group of photos I promise, but here are our two sweet babies. They are healthy and mama hen sure is a mother hen! She guards them fiercely. She has now done the two most enormous poops that I can't imagine how that even all was fitting in her body!!!

Introducing Buffy...


And Yeti (daughter named this one)
Depp parenting conversation going on here already!

 

[MuffMom]

I set 20 eggs total under my 2 broodies, an orpington and a cochin bantam. After candling only 6 were Fertile, I took those 6 and gave them to my cochin because the orpington has broken 3 eggs in the past 5 days.

She looks a little pale Idk if I should be concerned or not

I have a broody speckled sussex that is pale too. On our warm afternoons, I actually pull her off those eggs to get a drink and some food. She is feeling really thin already and still has two weeks to go! So, I understand your concern. I'm guessing nature just works this way and she will make it through. This is my first experience encouraging a broody.

 

[sharol]

How far along were the eggs? I might put her in a broody breaker for a few days (it takes about 3) and let here build up her health before giving her more eggs or if she is at least 2 weeks in, try getting her some chicks. My 2 broodies (a barred rock and a true Araucana) were on eggs for 3 weeks with no fertile eggs, so I found some chicks for them. They are happy with the babies. They were about 1 day old and I put them under the girls after dark. The next morning I moved them from the elevated nest boxes to ones on the floor, and they have been trading chicks back and forth for 2 days. I don't know if I still have 11 or not. The little rascals are good hiders.
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[rage7299]

I've got 3 broody bantam hens all trying to share one nesting box with 5 eggs. Can/should I separate them each into their own nesting box? Can I safely move them to the other side of my coop that I usually put any new chicks I buy in (it has nesting boxes and currently is home to one hen with 9 chicks that are 3 weeks old)?

 

[microchick]

My first hen that went broody really dragged herself down into really poor condition. Next time she went broody I had a plan. Along with her Game Bird Finisher I made certain I had a container of her favorites in front of her. Scrambled eggs, sunflower seeds and a helping of scratch grains. I also made sure she had probiotics and vitamins in her water. She came through it like a trooper the second time. She got off the nest daily but I made it a point to hand feed her the scrambled eggs and sunflower seeds once a day to make sure she was taking in extra protein and fat.

Now I make it a point to at least get a quick feel of the keel bone on a broody when I pull eggs out from under her to candle them. If they start to feel a bit bony, out come the scrambled eggs sunflower seeds and doctored water. In fact, I make sure they are getting the Rooster Booster vitamins and probiotics from day one.

Sometimes ya just gotta do what cha gotta do to get them through 21 days.

@rage7299, how far along are they in their incubation? I've never had a team broody going. Lots of people have though and the hens also will share caring for the chicks after they hatch.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I move all mine but I move them completely away and by theirself. . Might work----just set them up a nest with some fake eggs and move them at early night----if they accept the move---give them some real eggs.

 

[PD-Riverman]

My first hen that went broody really dragged herself down into really poor condition. Next time she went broody I had a plan. Along with her Game Bird Finisher I made certain I had a container of her favorites in front of her. Scrambled eggs, sunflower seeds and a helping of scratch grains. I also made sure she had probiotics and vitamins in her water. She came through it like a trooper the second time. She got off the nest daily but I made it a point to hand feed her the scrambled eggs and sunflower seeds once a day to make sure she was taking in extra protein and fat.

Now I make it a point to at least get a quick feel of the keel bone on a broody when I pull eggs out from under her to candle them. If they start to feel a bit bony, out come the scrambled eggs sunflower seeds and doctored water. In fact, I make sure they are getting the Rooster Booster vitamins and probiotics from day one.

Sometimes ya just gotta do what cha gotta do to get them through 21 days.

I think you know I have set many----I always check them before I set them. If they are under weight I break them. I never have a problem with them for the 21 days starting with "healthy" hens. I never feed them in the nest. BUT you do "what cha gotta do".