Can you tell me about Broody hens?

[Mommi3130]

I think one of my hens is going broody, she is a bantam cochin. But how do I know for sure. It would be great if she was I have eggs that should get here tomorrow!!

 

[Gloria]

How old is she? Is she sitting in the nest and not getting up?

 

[Mommi3130]

She is about 17ms and she is a bantam cochin, she isn't laying on a nest right now, but she has started to pull out the feathers on her chest?

 

[eggsrcool]

Sounds like she could be going broody. Do you have a few fake eggs or something round you could put there to see if she will sit on them? If she is pulling her feather around her chest/crop area its a good sign. Keep us posted

ETA: Cochins have 'feathered legs' don't they? I'm sure that if they do, they are normally noted for broodiness, think about Silkies, Pekins etc..

 

[Mommi3130]

Quote:
Hi, Yes Cochins have Feathered legs

They are adorable.

I do have a bag of golf balls I was thinking of making a nest and putting them in it to see if I have a broody, do you think that would work?

 

[eggsrcool]

Definitely!

 

[Gloria]

Go for it, give that girl some eggs. lol

I have a Pekin setting on 12 eggs right now. She is just finishing up her second week. Yeah! I'm really hopeing they don't all hatch. lol

What's a girl to do with 12 little duckling running around?

 

[Judy]

Cochins are indeed prone to broodiness, but they are not among the broodiest of breeds, so some will not.

If she is broody she will stay on the nest night and day, except for a brief break once or twice a day to eat and drink and poop. She will also ruffle out her feathers and growl at you if you reach into her nest.

I would definitely put the golf balls under her and see how she reacts.

I'll give you two links, one about raising chicks with broodies, and the other about how to make a hen go broody:

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=176282