Broody hen won't take to chicks

[theartsypaul]

Broody hen was sitting for what I thought was 3 weeks I did t really keep track. I put day olds under her but left the other eggs thinking she would realize they were duds. Well she didn't realize that so I removed the eggs and left the baby chicks. Next day two chicks were squashed under her. She does t seem to be pecking the other 3 chicks. It she also doesn't seem to move or do anything as if she's still sitting on eggs. I think she lets the chicks crawl under her but she just does t seem to be moving on. Should I raise the chicks in the brooder and try and break her of the broodiness or put fertilized eggs under her and let her try and hatch again and move the chicks to the brooder? I do t really want to let her hatch her own eggs. Cause then I'll have too many. (If that's possible )

 

[Debbie292d]

Broody hen was sitting for what I thought was 3 weeks I did t really keep track. I put day olds under her but left the other eggs thinking she would realize they were duds. Well she didn't realize that so I removed the eggs and left the baby chicks. Next day two chicks were squashed under her. She does t seem to be pecking the other 3 chicks. It she also doesn't seem to move or do anything as if she's still sitting on eggs. I think she lets the chicks crawl under her but she just does t seem to be moving on. Should I raise the chicks in the brooder and try and break her of the broodiness or put fertilized eggs under her and let her try and hatch again and move the chicks to the brooder? I do t really want to let her hatch her own eggs. Cause then I'll have too many. (If that's possible )

I would take those three remaining chicks from her if it doesn't seem she wants to raise them. I'd be afraid she'd squish them too since she already did that to two of them.

I would think she'd be over it now or very soon. I wouldn't want her being broody yet another 3 weeks as that's not healthy.

You could either let her run out her broodiness or try to break her by putting her in a pen on gravel for a few days. There are other ways but that one's probably the most common.

 

[theartsypaul]

I would take those three remaining chicks from her if it doesn't seem she wants to raise them. I'd be afraid she'd squish them too since she already did that to two of them.

I would think she'd be over it now or very soon. I wouldn't want her being broody yet another 3 weeks as that's not healthy.

You could either let her run out her broodiness or try to break her by putting her in a pen on gravel for a few days. There are other ways but that one's probably the most common.

Will she get over it on her own?

So sounds like I should take them to the brooder. How long do I give the hen before I put her in the gravel pen?

 

[Debbie292d]

Will she get over it on her own?

So sounds like I should take them to the brooder. How long do I give the hen before I put her in the gravel pen?

They usually do in about 3 weeks, perhaps 4 in more extreme cases. I used to let mine run its course until I saw how crappy my hens were looking and read a few stories about people whose broody chickens died sitting in a nest box.

 

[theartsypaul]

Just a follow up: broody hen took to the surviving two chicks and has defended them against the others. When I went out to separate the mama to be from the babies and turn on the heat lamp the babies were chirping under her wings so I let it go. Thank you for your help.