Broody Hen

[ChirpyChicks1]

I think I’m going to miss having a broody hen. I love watching her when she takes her morning break, her behaviors are comical. As soon as she sees me at the coop door she starts chattering and fluffs up. I do check under her frequently for extra eggs. She’s only pecked me once and it wasn’t hard, normally she just softly “growls” as I touch her, she’s handling it really well. I love seeing those instincts at work.

I’ve had chickens for a bit over 5 years now. My current Barred Rock is my first real broody.

I did have a RedStar go broody a few years ago but since they are bred for laying I didn’t want to take a chance with her giving up on eggs or killing chicks. She was very very easily broken, took less than a day.

I don’t do roosters so I was really excited when a coworker offered me eggs to put under my broody. I said 3/4 were okay but she gave me 8 just to have backups. Only 1 egg had never developed and started smelling at 2 weeks. I didn’t attempt to candle until late so I never got to see the beginning development, regret that now.

Anywho just wanted to share, I’m having so much fun with this little adventure. Hatching is something I’ve never dealt with before

 

[sourland]

Nothing cuter than a broody hen with her chicks.

 

[alexa009]

I never thought a red star would go broody.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

I know! I didn’t want to risk it and considering how easy she was to “break”, I’m glad I did.

I never thought a red star would go broody.