Broody hens, eggs and chicks HELP

[bobbi-j]

They probably will. Part of the problem could be the chicks were too old to imprint on her, so they weren’t following her directions. So you took the chicks away and gave her the eggs back? How did that go?

 

[sawilliams]

They probably will. Part of the problem could be the chicks were too old to imprint on her, so they weren’t following her directions. So you took the chicks away and gave her the eggs back? How did that go?

She's been fine so far.

 

[bobbi-j]

She's been fine so far.

Good!

 

[sawilliams]

Good!

Yeah i suspect she just wasnt ready to have chicks yet, and just wants to hatch her eggs

 

[bobbi-j]

Yeah i suspect she just wasnt ready to have chicks yet, and just wants to hatch her eggs

It's possible that she hadn't set long enough yet for her hormones to go from "brood" to "mama". I know chickens don't know how to count, but I'm pretty sure the hormones are on a timer of some sort.

 

[sawilliams]

It's possible that she hadn't set long enough yet for her hormones to go from "brood" to "mama". I know chickens don't know how to count, but I'm pretty sure the hormones are on a timer of some sort.

I like to think the opposite, that they do know how to count it's just not the way we think about it. Some just might be more incline to early hatches or taking chicks then others. I also think deer keep a calender (at least in thier heads) is funny how for weeks i see deer and then literally just before hunting season till just after they are suddenly gone. They know when it's time to lay low, some are just more diligent then others.

 

[sawilliams]

But now i have another issue. I have a guinea hen i think might be broody too. And she's now trying to steal the nest from the hen in the coop. Which is cuasing my stress becuase my hen keeps swtiching nests now...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

But now i have another issue. I have a guinea hen i think might be broody too. And she's now trying to steal the nest from the hen in the coop. Which is cuasing my stress becuase my hen keeps swtiching nests now...

Multiple broodies are always a mess to try to manage. I know nothing of guineas except that I don't like them.

 

[sawilliams]

Multiple broodies are always a mess to try to manage. I know nothing of guineas except that I don't like them.

I'm beginning not to like then so much either