Broody Hen Thread!

[msbreez]

I'm really excited about this one. Golden Pencilled Hamburg went broody and is sitting on the 9 guinea eggs I put in there for my cochins to hatch. We have 3 cochins and 2 brahmas and I really expected one of them would take a liking to the eggs we left. Surprise! Anyone know if Hamburgs are good mommas?

 

[rarely bored]

Quote:
Pretty momma!

 

[Zaxby's2]

I just found this thread and so far it's been a blast! I have a first time BO broody sitting on six eggs. She's got three silver ameraucanas, two RIR/broiler crosses, and one OEGB egg. It's day ten and I tried candling last night but when I did I had my flashlight on the lowest setting like an idiot and saw nothing.

I'm going to try again tonight. Wish me luck!

Oh, and how do you guys think the RIR/broiler crosses will turn out? Can't wait to see the outcome!

 

[mammat]

I dont know where else to ask this.....My silkie has 8 red/black sex link chicks that are 3 weeks old today. She hatched them out from donated eggs. Problem is now they are getting so big not all of them will fit in the nest box at night with her. Should I take the nest box out? Should I put a bigger one in?
Thanks,
Tracy

 

[Judy]

Quote:
In my coop I'd take the nest out and sling some hay around and let her make her own nest -- because if I put a bigger one in, you can bet she wouldn't use it! But you could always try....

 

[mammat]

Thanks-that is what I will do. Last night she sat beside the nest box and they all slept there but tonight she cooped up in the box and it looks like a clown car with all the chicks falling out! One will push under and another one pops out! Poor hen is hanging 1/2 out of the box trying to accomodate her babies

 

[debilorrah]

Does anyone else have a changing of the guard thing going on??? I had a turken, cochin and barred rock in there. Now there is a turken, cochin and TWO BO's. No barred rock. Three are in one nest.

 

[jordanhaspinkhair]

Hi there! I only have two hens right now, a welsummer and a black sex-link. My black sex-link went broody (my very first broody, exciting!) and a friend gave me three fertile eggs for her to sit on and she is very content.
I know this has been asked before, but I'm still curious about it. am still confused as to whether or not I should separate her. What kind of set up do most people have for separating their broodies? I have a small coop, would I just fence her off? Should I allow room for her to be able to leave the coop and go into the run if she wants? I normally have one nest box set up (because I only have two hens), but since she went broody I put another one in the coop for my welsummer to lay in.
I am also hesitant to separate because my welsummer is very attached to her and seems kind of upset that her friend isn't "playing" with her anymore... I don't want to upset her any more by taking her away completely!

Am I just overthinking all of this?

 

[Jferlisi]

Quote:
I would leave her in there. Make sure you mark the eggs so you know which ones she is hatching. My hens like to give my broodies more eggs to sit one and half the time i lose them all cause i dont know which eggs she had if i dont mark them. The babies will be fine with the other hen as long as they are hatched there, and your wel will be happy again. Mine do that when there pair goes broodie.

 

[Zaxby's2]

Quote:
I agree with what's been suggested so far. Good luck!

Oh, and I tried candeling again last night, the egg shells were too dark. Still interested in the RIR/broiler crosses. Anyone have experience in a cross like this?