Broody in sub-freezing temps?

[sophiehatter1057]

No you don't need insulation, and a crate roughly this size should work: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

Thank you so much!

 

[BDutch]

I'm taking note of this in case we ever decide to hatch eggs. My flock is all pullets, so no fertile eggs, but she's broody all the same.

I have a hen-flock too. If I want chicks I buy fertilized eggs for a broody.

If I want a broody to stop, i dont separate, just make sure she doesnt stay on the nest during the night. Lock / close the nestbox in the evening before roost time (open after dark) or put her on the roost when its already dark ( if I am too late). After a few days - one week my hens stop their broody behaviour. But it seems not all broodies are this easy to stop.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

I have a hen-flock too. If I want chicks I buy fertilized eggs for a broody.

If I want a broody to stop, i dont separate, just make sure she doesnt stay on the nest during the night. Lock / close the nestbox in the evening before roost time (open after dark) or put her on the roost when its already dark ( if I am too late). After a few days - one week my hens stop their broody behaviour. But it seems not all broodies are this easy to stop.

Oh I'm so glad this helps because that's exactly what the kids did this evening--they put her on the roost and locked up the nesting boxes for the night. Maybe that will help!

 

[Mrs. K]

I am with Dutch, close off the nests. It is another way of putting them in the crate.

If you decide to brood in the spring, just leave her where she wants to do it, and around 21 days - give or take, in the dark, slip day old chicks under her. Then you can get sex linked chicks, and no roosters. When you hatch eggs, 50% are apt to be male!

Mrs K

 

[sophiehatter1057]

I am with Dutch, close off the nests. It is another way of putting them in the crate.

If you decide to brood in the spring, just leave her where she wants to do it, and around 21 days - give or take, in the dark, slip day old chicks under her. Then you can get sex linked chicks, and no roosters. When you hatch eggs, 50% are apt to be male!

Mrs K

That is adorable! Now what happens if you slip them under before 21 days?

 

[Debbie292d]

That is adorable! Now what happens if you slip them under before 21 days?

Nothing different; they just have to be broody.

Non-broodies usually won't take them, but with these silkies, I've seen it happen.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well they need to be broody a while, to get the hormones going, but they can’t count, so if you slip earlier it generally works, but on the other hand you have about 3 weeks to get the chicks you want.

 

[BDutch]

I am with Dutch, close off the nests. It is another way of putting them in the crate.

If you decide to brood in the spring, just leave her where she wants to do it, and around 21 days - give or take, in the dark, slip day old chicks under her. Then you can get sex linked chicks, and no roosters. When you hatch eggs, 50% are apt to be male!

Mrs K

This is a choice. If you like to have your own offspring for free just let her sit on her own eggs (mark them and take away new eggs). Or you can give her fertilised eggs if you don’t have a rooster. Where I live its much easier to but fertilised eggs than day old chicks.

Buying female chicks means you want other people to cull day old chicks for you. Having male chicks means you have to do so yourself, have an opportunity to raise meat or give away the surplus cockerels to someone who gladly wants them.

 

[sophiehatter1057]

Well they need to be broody a while, to get the hormones going, but they can’t count, so if you slip earlier it generally works, but on the other hand you have about 3 weeks to get the chicks you want.

This is so great to know...so I can skip the brooder phase and not deal with a super dusty basement!

 

[Mrs. K]

Oh nothing is more fun than a broody hen with chicks. And none of the work!