Broody hen?

[chubbchubb7]

She is on the nest at night.
We haven't had a predator problem in a while. Our dogs stay locked up unless we are outside and the neighborhood dogs that attacked the chickens were hit on the highway.
My husband is concerned that if we trap her there that if a predator came she wouldn't be able to get away. I was telling him that she wouldn't leave the nest anyway. Is that accurate?

 

[21hens-incharge]

The most at risk time is night. That is when fox, coons and coyote are active. That is also when she would be catatonic and unaware of the danger until she was being attacked.

If you build an enclosure at least she would have that barrier between her and them. I would carefully choose what wire you use so it is good and strong with small holes so coons cannot reach in.

Some will say to move her to a secure place with her eggs. I do not know if she would tolerate such. Perhaps at night when she is catatonic. The risk there is to the eggs as she may be disturbed and abandon the eggs.

Lots of people "loose" a hen only to have her show up a month later with chicks in tow.

It is up to you as to how to proceed. For me a broody is worth her weight and then some in gold. I would do whatever I could to keep her safe.

 

[chubbchubb7]

We will build the cage. Thanks!!
Of course the next thing I will need to know is what to do when the chicks come lol we have 16 other hens and a rooster. Not sure how that effects things. I know they need water and feed right? And do they need to be seperated from the rest of the herd?
I will begin research in hopes of gaining understanding.
Also will she care for all the chicks? Even those not hers? There are about 5 eggs that aren't hers.
21 days is standard for hatching right? So we have about 2 weeks maybe?

 

[21hens-incharge]

21 days from when she sits solid on the nest. I would give her the extra few days, perhaps 27.
Yes they will need chick starter and water in a dish they cannot drown in, so a chick waterer.
If she hatches them then in her eyes they ARE hers. No worries there about her not caring for the other hens babies.
Your hen should protect the young from the others. I would use caution and keep them in the makeshift cage for at least a week. The others will pay them visits and mama will get a chance to teach them a few things.

My experiences with natural laying and hatching was with ducks and geese. Those males posed no threat to the young.

I did give my super broody bantam some chicks and they are all in the big flock now. However I have a set up that allowed her to raise them for as long as needed. They integrated themselves at about 14 weeks. They hopped the wall lol. They do still sleep as a group. They will be one in July. The bantam mama was super protective of them until they started to lay. Now she is broody again.

Side note..... A neighbor of mine years ago had a bantam that hatched out 21 bantam babies. The other hens were rhode island reds. The wire used to separate her and her roo had small holes but not small enough. The chicks got through and the Rhode Islands ate them all. The mama could not protect them when they got on the wrong side of the wire.

Oh and mama can eat chick starter but chicks should not eat hen feed until much older.

 

[chubbchubb7]

Oh wow!!!
I was reading last night about what to do. I don't have any RIR but I know how aggressive they can be. I have a black sex link, a mixed rooster that looks like a cookoo maran or barred rock and some kind of hybrid chicken that molts a lot and lays a lot but they are very docile. I have to figure out a way to seperate them. Still working that out in my head. I did read use wire where they cannot get out.
Oh and I read about the chick starter feed. Someone said that's the advantage to keeping them seperate so you don't have to feed the whole flock that.
My aunt said that she had a broody hen that didn't help some of the chicks out the eggs and they died. I read where there may be chicks in the eggs that she leaves but the probability of them living if you help them out isn't good.... Thoughts?
Also thanks for all your help!!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

From my understanding the chick does the work when hatching. The strongest will survive and all that. There are a lot of threads on assisted hatching. One big thing is that the humidity during hatch is critical. When hatch day arrives for your hen I would recommend not disturbing her. She will be sitting tight thae few days before hatch too. This is important for the humidity.

You have time to read up on shrink wrapped chicks and on assisted hatching. TONS of really experienced and helpful people are here on BYC. I am actually surprised no one else has posted a response to your questions.


Do not be too sad if they do not all hatch. Not every egg that could hatch will.

 

[chubbchubb7]

I want be sad. I am hoping some of the black sex link eggs hatch so I may be disappointed if not lol but none will be full bred so it will be fun to see how they turn out!

Yea I am surprised no one else has replied either. Super grateful you did.
Still working on the pen for her.

 

[chubbchubb7]

Excited to say the chicks hatched!!!! I don't know how many yet. She's still sitting. We left her where she was because we didn't want to chance her abandoning the eggs and she blended in so easily. I have seen 3 chicks thus far. Two were black with some yellow and one was yellow. Can't wait for her to get up. Going to remove her and the chicks when she does to their own pen that shares a side with the other chickens. Will post pics then.
Thanks so much for all the help and advice!!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Congrats to the new mommy!!!
I am glad things worked out well for her!

 

[chubbchubb7]

She sat one close to 20 eggs. We lost 2 to inexperience on our part and 1 never developed. 15 or 16 happy chicks. One just hatched today. It was the last one and is a little slow going. Mama doesn't pay as much attention to it but I think it will be ok.
Thanks again!!!