Broody hen

[Rivergirl06]

I have a hen that went broody in the upper nesting box, the other hens were climbing on her and she wasn't happy, so I moved her and her eggs to a dog kennel and placed it in the coop and covered it went a blanket to make her feel safe for the first few days, now that she is settled I partially uncovered the cage so she can see the other hens and they can see her, I put food and water in there with her, should I open the door during the day in case she needs to leave the nest Or should I keep her locked up ? She's been sitting on 7 eggs for 5 days now.

 

[Lollychicken]

They don't usually get off the eggs unless they are getting food or water, so you don't really need too if it's in the pen with her. You can if you want, just watch the other hens don't attack her or the eggs

 

[Rivergirl06]

Well my broody hen I put in the dog kennel is on day 8 of sitting on her eggs she wanted out yesterday so open the pen and she went and used the bathroom and ate with the other hens for 20 minutes and back on the nest she went. While she was off the nest I brought the eggs inside and candled them, they are all live eggs.. yippee now I have a barred rock hen that has gone broody, not sure how many eggs she's sitting on if any. She is in the upper nesting box, should I put her in with the other broody hen or leave well enough alone ? I have 8 hens all together and four nesting boxes, I feel like I should move her but not sure where seeing space is limited with the dog kennel taking up much of the space.

 

[maceleneo]

hi, what did you do with your second broody? this is my first year raising chickens so I'm not qualified to give any advice, but I hope someone more experienced will read the thread!
since they started in different moments I wouldn't put them together: I read that when the first clutch hatches the second broody could abandon her eggs and/or fight with the other hen over the chicks... I wouldn't risk it!

 

[kansasguide]

They will sit and not get up. Only to drink and eat. I have a Silkie on 15 quail eggs now. Good mommas.

 

[Rivergirl06]

hi, what did you do with your second broody? this is my first year raising chickens so I'm not qualified to give any advice, but I hope someone more experienced will read the thread!
since they started in different moments I wouldn't put them together: I read that when the first clutch hatches the second broody could abandon her eggs and/or fight with the other hen over the chicks... I wouldn't risk i

 

[Rivergirl06]

Hello, I went out and candled the broody hens egg while she was out eating. It only had a dot in it so I tossed it out, I took two eggs from the game hen since she was sitting on 7 so they would all hatch at the same time, I wasn't home yesterday so I didn't turn the chickens out to free range because I knew I wouldn't be home till after dark, didn't want to leave the pen open for something to get in there and kill my flock. well today I went out to clean the coop preparing for the new babies arrival, didn't want them hatching in a smelly coop. Well I couldn't find the two eggs that I put under the broody barred rock but I did find one of the babies with it's belly ate out. Three days before hatching, I was horrified. I think I know which hen it was but can't pin point exactly, so I took two fake eggs and put under the barred rock, hoping when the 5 eggs hatch in a day or two I can slip her one of the babies. I guess the culprit ate two eggs and a baby because I only found one body. I know they were viable eggs because I had candled them. Sorry for the late reply..

 

[maceleneo]

oh I'm so sorry for what happened!
at least you can give the barred rock some other chicks.
I hope your hens will manage the shared motherhood.
3 days ago my broody hen gave birth to 2 chicks and another hen hearing them chirping is considering going broody now. I would have loved having two broodies at the same time growing their chicks together. keep us posted!