broody hen trickery

[hitchyourwagon]

Does anyone have experience tricking a newly broody hen by putting incubator eggs under her that are near ready to hatch? Will babies hatching under her break the spell?

 

[donrae]

Newly broody,, I wouldn't try it. If she's been broody over 2 weeks, go for it. I know chickens can't count days, but I also believe there has to be a progression of hormones that build while she broody, and you can't rush those.

The only time I'd consider it is with a proven momma who has shown herself to be exceptionally broody. And I'd be right there to pull chicks in case she's just not ready.

 

[vehve]

Twice now I've had a bird go broody and start sitting eggs, with another broody joining her about a week before hatch. In both cases the chicks have gotten two mommies to care for them together.

 

[hitchyourwagon]

Newly broody,, I wouldn't try it. If she's been broody over 2 weeks, go for it. I know chickens can't count days, but I also believe there has to be a progression of hormones that build while she broody, and you can't rush those.

The only time I'd consider it is with a proven momma who has shown herself to be exceptionally broody. And I'd be right there to pull chicks in case she's just not ready.

 

[hitchyourwagon]

Your hormone comments sounds logical. When you say be right there to pull them...do you fear she would harm them or do you mean she will not get off her nest to care for them?

 

[donrae]

Either one could happen. Her little chicken brain could see them as a threat to her own perceived clutch and she could attack them. Better case she simply ignores them and won't brood them.

You can look at it this way, now you've got double hatching power lol. Leave the incubator babies and brood them, AND slip some fertile eggs under her. Not that I'm an enabler or anything....but it's 4am where I am, I'm in the hospital and I'm posting on a chicken website. Maybe not the best person to get chicken math advice from lol. I sure have a hard time passing up a perfectly good broody hen, though!

 

[enola]

Rachel, i just read your post. I have had my laugh for today! You are truly on the mend.

Back to the thread - you will want to watch her closely, if she rejects the chicks, it will not take her more than a few minutes to kill them.