Broody hen

[JaredandLauren]

I heard of the wire cage approach to breaking a broody hen. That technique may not work for our setup , especially at night. I also can’t really block off the nest boxes because she will go to any of the nest boxes, she isn’t partial to just one. A friend of mine suggested I let her hatch eggs. I live in Colorado and the temperatures are getting cooler. Is this something that can be done in the fall/winter? And if so, anyone in Colorado know of a place to get fertilized eggs?
Thanks!

 

[AltonaAcres]

Yes, it can be done in the colder months. Just be sure to provide a heat lamp or other heat source when the chicks first hatch, especially if it's really cold. There are many ways to get fertilized eggs.
-Check Poultry Show Central website. They have an extensive breeder's directory.
-Check the Breeder's directory on this site.
-Check your local Craigslist.
-Start a thread on this site letting people know you're interested in hatching eggs.

 

[JaredandLauren]

Yes, it can be done in the colder months. Just be sure to provide a heat lamp or other heat source when the chicks first hatch, especially if it's really cold. There are many ways to get fertilized eggs.
-Check Poultry Show Central website. They have an extensive breeder's directory.
-Check the Breeder's directory on this site.
-Check your local Craigslist.
-Start a thread on this site letting people know you're interested in hatching eggs.

If I need to add a heat lamp once they hatch should I take them from my hen and bring them inside or? I don’t really want to put a heat lamp in my coop. I know this is a major fire hazard.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Read this thread by someone who did it.

Winter Brooding

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I live in far north texas, and obviously colorado is much colder. But if u dont use a heat lamp normally, u Shouldnt need one with a broody and chicks. Mama hen will keep her chicks warm, frequently lowering her body to the ground so the chicks can scurry underneath her to warm up, and then scurry out again. If u do decide to let her hatch chicks in cold weather, just watch and make sure the chicks are strong & mobile enough to stay close to her for the first 48 hours or so. Especially the first 24 hours. Otherwise, a chick may become too cold, disoriented & die. I have sadly had that happen, when it was high temp 32 degrees with a gusty north wind on an early april day. I went out at sunset to lock up the laying hens, & saw the broody in her nestbox with all her chicks warmly snuggled inside. Well Almost all, because i noticed two chicks laying in a corner of their private broody pen. The chicks werent dead, but were cold, nearly comatose, & didnt survive despite my attempts to warm them up. (They were a little over 24 hours old at the time.) The only month my broodies havent hatched chicks (so far) is december. Currently have 4 broodies with chicks, another due to hatch this coming tuesday, and 1 in a wire dog cage broody jail. (Because she already hatched chicks this past summer, & enough is enough). All the seasons here have their pitfalls; springtime requires keeping the chicks protected from potential flooding rains, summer brings out the snakes which love to eat chicks, etc etc). If u decide to NOT let her hatch, do u have a crate/cage/safe place u could bring her inside your house/garage for 3-4 days? Thats usually sufficient time for the hormones to dissipate. I honestly think u may enjoy the broody hen & chicks experience more if u break her this time. She will likely go broody again in the spring, & meanwhile u will have time to better plan for the extra care that helping a hen sucessfully raise chicks entails. Also in the spring, if u dont locate fertile hatching eggs, your local feedstore will likely have baby chicks. Thats a whole 'nother topic, but giving her feedstore chicks to adopt and raise is yet another option. Having said all of the above, if u feel letting her hatch chicks is something u want to do Now, then by all means go for it!

 

[AltonaAcres]

 

[aart]

I heard of the wire cage approach to breaking a broody hen. That technique may not work for our setup , especially at night. I also can’t really block off the nest boxes because she will go to any of the nest boxes, she isn’t partial to just one. A friend of mine suggested I let her hatch eggs.

First thought is,
if you don't have room for a breaker crate you may not have room for more birds.
You could put the crate somewhere safe at night, or put her on the roost and block the nests(opening them early in the morning for the other layers.
I would not let a bird hatch if I didn't have space for more birds and knew what to do with the inevitable males.

 

[JaredandLauren]

First thought is,
if you don't have room for a breaker crate you may not have room for more birds.
You could put the crate somewhere safe at night, or put her on the roost and block the nests(opening them early in the morning for the other layers.
I would not let a bird hatch if I didn't have space for more birds and knew what to do with the inevitable males.

Thanks, but I do have room it’s just the shape of the coop is a bit weird for a crate to sit inside, but I can just build on to it instead. I only have seven chickens currently, I have 4 nest boxes and a 20 foot run. I really only wanted three chicks for her to set on. I think instead of eggs I’ll go with day old chicks. That way I can control it a bit better. I also have a place near by that takes roosters for free.