Broody-ish Hen

[kristeninprogress]

How’s she doing? Mine hasn’t changed her crazy behavior. She lays her tiny egg EVERY DAY I really want her to stop her nonsense

Mine is still laying and grumpy, but she's definitely attacking less, and she isn't as fluffed up in the run. I'm thinking it was just a hormone surge, but I'm definitely not discounting her possibly going broody before summer.

 

[ariri30]

Mine is still laying and grumpy, but she's definitely attacking less, and she isn't as fluffed up in the run. I'm thinking it was just a hormone surge, but I'm definitely not discounting her possibly going broody before summer.

 

[kristeninprogress]

Well, Chicky went full broody yesterday afternoon. She will not leave the nest, but she isn't sitting on any actual eggs.

I plan on giving her a couple days to make sure she's serious, but now I have another question... Can I take some eggs out of the incubator (it's day 2) and slip them under her to hatch? Or should I just get new eggs? I don't have a mature rooster, so I have to purchase from a breeder.

 

[ariri30]

Well, Chicky went full broody yesterday afternoon. She will not leave the nest, but she isn't sitting on any actual eggs.

I plan on giving her a couple days to make sure she's serious, but now I have another question... Can I take some eggs out of the incubator (it's day 2) and slip them under her to hatch? Or should I just get new eggs? I don't have a mature rooster, so I have to purchase from a breeder.

I would give her the ones in the incubator. I did that last year and they all hatched. Mine little one is hatching her eggs either the 27 or 28. She’s been great. But I’m nervous because she’s so young and she might not know what she’s doing and kill them when they hatch and I’m going to be at work.
good luck!

 

[aart]

Can I take some eggs out of the incubator (it's day 2) and slip them under her to hatch?

Sure, then you can add the bator chicks to her batch right after hatch day.
Best of cLuck!

I plan on giving her a couple days to make sure she's serious

Do you plan on moving her or leaving her where she is?
When I have a broody I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

 

[kristeninprogress]

Sure, then you can add the bator chicks to her batch right after hatch day.
Best of cLuck!



Do you plan on moving her or leaving her where she is?
When I have a broody I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

That's great advice, thank you! We're starting to build a coop Monday that will have a separate area for broody hens. They'll be separated by wire, but will still be close to friends. I'll keep her on the nest until then to see how determined she is.

Pulling eggs out of the incubator should be ok until day 18, correct?

 

[kristeninprogress]

I would give her the ones in the incubator. I did that last year and they all hatched. Mine little one is hatching her eggs either the 27 or 28. She’s been great. But I’m nervous because she’s so young and she might not know what she’s doing and kill them when they hatch and I’m going to be at work.
good luck!

This will be her first hatch, so I'd probably only put a few under her, then maybe slip her a few chicks from the incubator. Luckily, these girls are my work, so I can keep a close eye. I'll probably set up a camera in there, as well, now that you've mentioned the possibility of a young hen being inexperienced.

 

[aart]

We're starting to build a coop Monday that will have a separate area for broody hens. They'll be separated by wire, but will still be close to friends. I'll keep her on the nest until then to see how determined she is.

It'll probably take you more than 3 weeks to build a new coop.
Moving a broody can throw them off.
So might be best to leave her where she is and check daily to remove other hens eggs under her...and might have to watch that she goes back to correct nest after her constitutional.

Pulling eggs out of the incubator should be ok until day 18, correct?

Ehhhh... I'd do it as possible.
But if she sits tight on fake eggs, it might be OK to wait until day 18....not really sure, tho

 

[ariri30]

It'll probably take you more than 3 weeks to build a new coop.
Moving a broody can throw them off.
So might be best to leave her where she is and check daily to remove other hens eggs under her...and might have to watch that she goes back to correct nest after her constitutional.


Ehhhh... I'd do it as possible.
But if she sits tight on fake eggs, it might be OK to wait until day 18....not really sure, tho

@aart i followed your advice on another thread on how to move a broody. I tried unsuccessful for a couple of days because every day she was playing musical chair in the nesting box. I think she was been push out by the other hens and ended up in the other empty nest. Moving them at night and to a private spot was the right thing to do. Thanks for the great advice

 

[kristeninprogress]

I slipped four Lavender Orpington eggs under Chicky this evening. The current plan is to keep her where she is. The other hens are respecting her space, and I've moved an extra feeder and waterer near her. I have yet to see her leave the nest, so I'll be keeping a close eye on her tomorrow to make sure she's eating and drinking.

When the new coop is finished, I'll move the other girls over, and leave Chicky in the smaller one until the babies hatch. After that, I'll move them into the broody box I have planned. I also plan on slipping a few Ameraucanas under her once all the eggs have hatched.

The Mom-to-be: