Broody ? .... Yet another....

[HEChicken]

Our little hens live off the treats we give them it seems, and only eat chicken scratch Vs laying pellets

I would cut out the scratch then, because scratch alone is not a nutritionally balanced diet for them. Mine only get a handful now and then when I think about it - between the whole flock! They have access to layer pellets all day, and forage but scratch is really only a treat. These days I throw a handful in the coop when I want the bedding turned over.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Quote:
They have scratch mixed in with the laying pellets, so their forced to eat it, lol. That and they get lots of veggies

 

[birdwatcher612]

Lol, no, some broodies are persistant.

You dont have to get eggs, if you could get chicks, but if you want eggs, depending on whenever you want her broodyness to stop.

Oh, and can you have a rooster? You could get one and after a few days your hens would be laying fertile eggs (if he breeds them). But it looks like your in the city.

May I comment though your birds are beautiful! We have 2 BR's but their all plucked on some areas, along with some of the other hens, because we always buy from people who overcrowd their birds I guess.... But now their spoiled to death, LOL

 

[birdwatcher612]

Curious....can you give a chick to a broody without her having sat on eggs? My broody is making the coop miserable and on high alert! She has turned into a bully beast! Would love to give her a chick

 

[NNYchick]

Curious....can you give a chick to a broody without her having sat on eggs? My broody is making the coop miserable and on high alert! She has turned into a bully beast! Would love to give her a chick

Yes I have silkies so right now it is broody central in my coop. I had a broody sitting on eggs and as the chicks hatched it was evident that she was not a good mother so when the last egg hatched I took that chick (in attempt to save it) and gave it to another broody that didn't have any eggs and she is happily brooding that chick. Oh but if you think a broody without chicks is a bully beast you have not seen one that has chicks. I have one hen that claims 1/2 my 28 foot coop for her and her chicks and no other flock member is allowed to pass her imaginary line if they do they get flogged.

 

[birdwatcher612]

Yes I have silkies so right now it is broody central in my coop. I had a broody sitting on eggs and as the chicks hatched it was evident that she was not a good mother so when the last egg hatched I took that chick (in attempt to save it) and gave it to another broody that didn't have any eggs and she is happily brooding that chick. Oh but if you think a broody without chicks is a bully beast you have not seen one that has chicks. I have one hen that claims 1/2 my 28 foot coop for her and her chicks and no other flock member is allowed to pass her imaginary line if they do they get flogged.

Lol...I'm ok with a designated spot for her and her baby. I just need the rest of the coop to calm down. I have 6 wk olds in there and everything was fine until.... Thank you so much for the confirmation. I appreciate it! Heading to TSC for a baby..or 3

 

[NNYchick]

Lol...I'm ok with a designated spot for her and her baby. I just need the rest of the coop to calm down. I have 6 wk olds in there and everything was fine until.... Thank you so much for the confirmation. I appreciate it! Heading to TSC for a baby..or 3

be prepared with a brooder set up just in case, every hen is different and chicks at TSC may not accept a broody after being in a brooder set up. Has this hen ever raised chicks before?

 

[WhoDatChick]

Curious....can you give a chick to a broody without her having sat on eggs? My broody is making the coop miserable and on high alert! She has turned into a bully beast! Would love to give her a chick

Hi.. go see my thread.. Broody Silkie turned adoptive mother

 

[birdwatcher612]

be prepared with a brooder set up just in case, every hen is different and chicks at TSC may not accept a broody after being in a brooder set up. Has this hen ever raised chicks before?

Oh for sure! With the behavior that she has been showing the past couple of days I knew I would have to have a Plan B...just in case. She has never raised chicks and is 4yrs old. She's been broody before and I'm not sure if she knows her clock is ticking or if the 6 wk olds has set her off but boy oh boy! She has become very nasty to everyone so I'm not even sure if she would welcome a chick. I am hesitant because I don't know how either will respond but I do plan on keeping a close observation. I think I really have to try something and hope for the best. Thank you

 

[birdwatcher612]

Hi.. go see my thread.. Broody Silkie turned adoptive mother

Very cool! Thank you. I hope I'm successful for my GLW