Broody Hen Thread!

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macaroonisbroody said:
we have one with a hernia and two diedšŸ˜„šŸ˜„ so not including the one with the hernia we have 6
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So sorry; always disappointing to have chicks die and have problems. Look to the six and be happy. Of 16 eggs to hatch this weekend, 13 died in the shell, one hatched, and two more trying to hatch. Very disappointing-one tiny serama and maybe, just maybe, two cochin bantams. Between storms, power outages, and predators, this has been a poor hatch spring.
 
Hi All,

After going broody for the sixth time since March, I have finally succumbed to my Ameraucana.

I went out to my local friend/breeder who gave me 8 fertilized Swedish Flower eggs. Wizzygig, my broody hen, has been doing her motherly duty thus far (2 weeks now) and because of the nest box she has chosen, I will eventually have to move her and her clutch into a safer environment. She has chosen the middlebox on the lower row but that row is 14 inches from the bottom of the coop floor and really not large enough for her and the impending hatch. I will not be moving her and her clutch until I hear pips coming from the eggs - around Day 19ish and I make the move at night when she's in a dazed sleep.

I want to keep her and any potential chicks in with the rest of the flock so the integration won't be too difficult so I need some advice.

Should I NOT put her and her eggs into a separate pen? Some posters have said they don't and all turns out well. However, I am concerned for the safety of the chicks; I don't know how the other girls will behave (I have 10 girls total, including Wizzygig).

If it is recommended to put Wizzygig and her clutch into a separate pen, should the pen be placed inside of the coop which can get very hot now (meaning hotter inside the coop than outside and can spike inside +90 degrees and will get even hotter when we get triple-digits - we have installed a shop fan to draw out as much hot air as possible) or outside in the protected, covered run where the temps will be the same?

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I keep getting conflicting information and really need to know how to handle this. There is only about 1 week before the eggs are supposed to hatch so I really need guidance.

I have posted pictures of Wizzygig in her chosen nestbox, the secured run, and the girl's coop. I also posted a picture of the pen my husband has made.

This is my first rodeo with hatching eggs naturally...all of my girls were ordered on-line and came in live.

Thank you, everyone....:)
 
I really like the way you asked you questions and provided wonderful photos to show square feet and geographic location relative to the rest of the flock....

This will easily allow for folks with much more experience offer sage advice. As I too and in my "first rodeo" with hatching..... I'll patiently await wisdom updates.
 
Hi All,

After going broody for the sixth time since March, I have finally succumbed to my Ameraucana.

I went out to my local friend/breeder who gave me 8 fertilized Swedish Flower eggs. Wizzygig, my broody hen, has been doing her motherly duty thus far (2 weeks now) and because of the nest box she has chosen, I will eventually have to move her and her clutch into a safer environment. She has chosen the middlebox on the lower row but that row is 14 inches from the bottom of the coop floor and really not large enough for her and the impending hatch. I will not be moving her and her clutch until I hear pips coming from the eggs - around Day 19ish and I make the move at night when she's in a dazed sleep. I would advise against moving a broody on the 19th day as it could easily end in disaster. It is much safer to move her when the chicks have hatched.

I want to keep her and any potential chicks in with the rest of the flock so the integration won't be too difficult so I need some advice.

Should I NOT put her and her eggs into a separate pen? Some posters have said they don't and all turns out well. However, I am concerned for the safety of the chicks; I don't know how the other girls will behave (I have 10 girls total, including Wizzygig).When dealing with an unknown it is better to play it safe. Put her inn a separate pen.

If it is recommended to put Wizzygig and her clutch into a separate pen, should the pen be placed inside of the coop which can get very hot now (meaning hotter inside the coop than outside and can spike inside +90 degrees and will get even hotter when we get triple-digits - we have installed a shop fan to draw out as much hot air as possible) or outside in the protected, covered run where the temps will be the same? I almost always bring new moms and their chicks into the house for the first week then back to the coop when the chicks are more agile, quick, and better able to cope with life outside. With my last two hens I did not do this and yesterday I found two chicks dead and eleven in bad shape; casualties of extreme heat and humidity. The eleven are now in the kitchen and doing much better. I have never had a problem reintroducing hens and chicks back to the coop.

I keep getting conflicting information and really need to know how to handle this. There is only about 1 week before the eggs are supposed to hatch so I really need guidance.

I have posted pictures of Wizzygig in her chosen nestbox, the secured run, and the girl's coop. I also posted a picture of the pen my husband has made.

This is my first rodeo with hatching eggs naturally...all of my girls were ordered on-line and came in live.

Thank you, everyone....You have a wonderful set up.
 
Candling the eggs will tell you how it's going. If there is few or no DIS eggs these two hens are likely to succeed in hatching chicks together. Should there be damaged eggs or a number that have died in the shell-go to plan B.
 
nchls school said:
Candling the eggs will tell you how it's going. If there is few or no DIS eggs these two hens are likely to succeed in hatching chicks together. Should there be damaged eggs or a number that have died in the shell-go to plan B.
Click to expand...


I don't touch my Pheonix nests. The only interactions I have with them are feeding and watering. If they hatch, they hatch. I was just more concerned about one hen possibly attacking chicks under the other hen. The eggs are all the same age. I'm able to seperate the mean hen away if that's what needs to happen but I don't want to if I don't have to
 
Last edited:

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