Broody Hen :-)

[carlsaSC]

I have a pen area separate from the other hens. Next time I have a hen go broody, I will move her and her nesting box into this second area. The reason? When she was setting, she would get up once a day for her feed and a chance to poop. The other hens would lay eggs in her box. By hatching time, she was setting on 14 eggs which is 9 more than the 5 she started with. She is now in her 5th month of mothering and really should have been relocated along with her now 4 month old "chicks" back in with the layers.

 

[sweetappleacres]

I'll have to do that next time, but it was my first hatch (with a broody). 13 eggs for a silkie is a lot though so I'm kinda glad the other is in there with her to help raise them when they hatch. Now if she could only stop laying....

 

[clifford258]

OMG she is sitting on 30eggs!!!! What am i going to do!!!!!! And they are all living!!!!!!!!!

 

[sweetappleacres]

OMG she is sitting on 30eggs!!!! What am i going to do!!!!!! And they are all living!!!!!!!!!

wow! that's a lot!

 

[bobbi-j]

There are a couple of things you can do. When they start hatching, you can take the babies from her as they hatch so she will continue to sit and hatch as many eggs are viable at hatching time (it will be a staggered hatch because they are not all at the same stages of incubation, having been laid in the nest over a period of time). Or, you can let her keep the first-hatched chicks and be prepared to incubate the later ones, as she will most likely take her chicks off the nest after a day or two of hatching. Or, you could scrap the whole bunch of eggs, and start her over with 8-10 eggs (if she's a LF bird), mark them and daily remove any extras that are laid in the nest. The problem with 30 eggs is, she most likely will not be able to hatch them all as she can't effectively cover them all and keep them all warm. Some will get pushed to the edges and the developing chicks will die. Then, as she's rearranging and turning her eggs, the dead ones will end up under her, and more will get pushed to the edges and die, etc. If you want to let her try to hatch them, though, go ahead but mark them so you can remove extras when other hens lay in the nest.

 

[clifford258]

I gave it alot of thought lol and i decided to take out 19 eggs! i cracked them open and only 1 out of 19 had no baby inside!!! 30 chicks is just to much!

 

[sweetappleacres]

There are a couple of things you can do. When they start hatching, you can take the babies from her as they hatch so she will continue to sit and hatch as many eggs are viable at hatching time (it will be a staggered hatch because they are not all at the same stages of incubation, having been laid in the nest over a period of time). Or, you can let her keep the first-hatched chicks and be prepared to incubate the later ones, as she will most likely take her chicks off the nest after a day or two of hatching. Or, you could scrap the whole bunch of eggs, and start her over with 8-10 eggs (if she's a LF bird), mark them and daily remove any extras that are laid in the nest. The problem with 30 eggs is, she most likely will not be able to hatch them all as she can't effectively cover them all and keep them all warm. Some will get pushed to the edges and the developing chicks will die. Then, as she's rearranging and turning her eggs, the dead ones will end up under her, and more will get pushed to the edges and die, etc. If you want to let her try to hatch them, though, go ahead but mark them so you can remove extras when other hens lay in the nest.

If you get them away as she's hatching them can you return them to her when they're all done hatching? I know 2 of my 13 will be a couple days behind the rest. but I don't want to raise their 13 chicks, I'd rather her raise them. Also, I've got 10 in my bator right now that are due a week before the broody's are due. Can I add those to her group after they're done hatching?

 

[bobbi-j]

I gave it alot of thought lol and i decided to take out 19 eggs! i cracked them open and only 1 out of 19 had no baby inside!!! 30 chicks is just to much!

You should still be prepared for a staggered hatch, as they may still be at various stages of incubation. Unless you've candled them and know they're all at the same stage.

If you get them away as she's hatching them can you return them to her when they're all done hatching? I know 2 of my 13 will be a couple days behind the rest. but I don't want to raise their 13 chicks, I'd rather her raise them. Also, I've got 10 in my bator right now that are due a week before the broody's are due. Can I add those to her group after they're done hatching?

Twenty three chicks is a lot for one hen to raise! I would plan on raising those myself. I think I'd plan on incubating the two later ones and slip them in with the broody and the other 11 at night. I'm pretty sure a hen can't count, but I just think she'd accept two extras better than going from two to 13. You might be able to leave them with her, though. A hen will sit on the nest for an extra couple of days after the first ones hatch before taking the babies off. Chicks can go for up to 72 hours after hatching without food or water because they've absorbed the yolk sac and that will sustain them. Keep an eye on her when she starts hatching, and see how it goes.

 

[sweetappleacres]

You should still be prepared for a staggered hatch, as they may still be at various stages of incubation. Unless you've candled them and know they're all at the same stage.
Twenty three chicks is a lot for one hen to raise! I would plan on raising those myself. I think I'd plan on incubating the two later ones and slip them in with the broody and the other 11 at night. I'm pretty sure a hen can't count, but I just think she'd accept two extras better than going from two to 13. You might be able to leave them with her, though. A hen will sit on the nest for an extra couple of days after the first ones hatch before taking the babies off. Chicks can go for up to 72 hours after hatching without food or water because they've absorbed the yolk sac and that will sustain them. Keep an eye on her when she starts hatching, and see how it goes.

So even with the 2 broodies sharing the workload you think 23 is too much? I figured as much too. I may have some sold already... we'll see though.

 

[bobbi-j]

There is no guarantee that the 2 broodies will raise the babies together. They might, or they might fight over the babies or kill each others' babies. You just never know how an animal is going to behave.