Committed Broody Brahma

[Bergiejo]

In the past when I have had a hen become broody I'm able to break it by putting her in wire kennel for a few days and she usually snaps out of it or maybe another quick time out will break her broodiness. However, this time around I'm currently dealing with a Brahma and she's definitely putting up a good fight. I swear she's been in and out of the wired kennel for the past couple of months. I have the kennel off the coop floor ensuring that there is plenty of airflow, but after a few days in the kennel, she's back to the nesting boxes that day and fluffing up and squawking at me when I grab the eggs from under her. I worry I'll exhausted her because she's bound and determined to hatch some babies.

Just wanted to see what my fellow chicken people thought about this and if I should give her some eggs to hatch or not at this point. I just received 13 chicks a week ago from a hatchery in my area. So I'm not sure I could handle more than 2 to 4 more chicks at this time with the amount of space I have with my existing 16 ladies & rooster.

I appreciate any advice or suggestions for this Lady Brahma. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mrs. K]

Get her a couple of live day old chicks. See above advice how to give them to her.

The thing about giving her eggs now, is she could very well sit another 21 days and still not get chicks and still be broody. Or she might naturally break half way through. Live chicks would be best.

Mrs K

 

[Bergiejo]

I would try this, grab a handful of those chick 3-4, at dark, sprinkle them with a little water, let them get a little chilled. They should be peeping madly, a little ways away from the coop, close enough she can hear them keep them just barely,. Wait 5 minutes. Then in complete dark, stick those cold chicks under her.

They should burrow into that warm spot tight as a tick. Leave her be and cross your fingers. I almost always give my broodies chicks or eggs, young birds are easy to sell.

Mrs K

Thanks for your suggestion. I let her out today to just see if the 10th time (I'm being dramatic) she would be ready to return to the flock, but just checked on them and she's in a nesting box and gets all broody when I reach for the eggs. If I try your idea this evening, should I put Ms. Broody Brahma with the chicks in a maternity ward like kennel with a nesting box, waterer and chick starter feed? And should I keep them in the coop with the kennel or in a different area? And for how long should they all be together?

I wish I would have researched this more before getting the 13 chicks last Tuesday because maybe she would have taken to them for sure like you mentioned Ridgerunner. Or like LizzzyJo also mentioned letting her hatch some...again appreciate all of your suggestions and advice. Just hate to make mistakes and understand at the same time they are valuable lessons learned!

These 2 thing do not compute?

In my existing flock I have 15 hens & 1 rooster, and I just got 13 chicks last Tuesday...my coop is not big enough for more than 30 chickens when they will all be together. I just didn't want to add additional chicks to my flock if I end up having her hatch more than 4 chicks...just didn't want to stress over the additional chickens if I wasn't able to sell them.

 

[Mrs. K]

I never separate mine, I put them in at dark, and the next morning, I let the broody decide what to do. I think it is important for them to be in the flock.

If you do separate them, only do it for a few days.

 

[Bergiejo]

Well I'm happy to report that Ms. Broody Brahma and baby chicks are doing great! Introduced them a week ago and she's one great momma! Super fun to watch them explore and communicate with each other. Definitely will do this again in the future. Thanks!

 

[Mrs. K]

Nothing is more fun than a broody hen with chicks. Nothing...says the woman with two possible broody hens right now...what to do, what to do.

Mrs K

 

[LizzzyJo]

I’d just let her hatch some babies. It’s a wonderful experience if you’ve never seen it. Just sell the babies after - you don’t need to keep them.

 

[aart]

I just received 13 chicks a week ago from a hatchery in my area. So I'm not sure I could handle more than 2 to 4 more chicks at this time with the amount of space I have with my existing 16 ladies & rooster.

These 2 thing do not compute?

 

[Ridgerunner]

It's a shame you did not give her some or all of those 13 to raise when you first got them. That way she would either be raising the chicks or if you take them away after a week or so that should break her current broodiness. I'd still try that with a few of those chicks. Some hens will adopt older chicks like that.

I'd be uncomfortable giving her eggs if she has been broody for two months. They store up fat before they go broody. That fat is mostly what they live off of when broody so they can stay on the nest instead of being out looking for food and water.

Would you consider getting a few chicks from that hatchery to give to her with the thought of selling them in a few weeks?

Would you consider selling her as a hen that has gone broody. She would probably break from being broody when she is relocated but one that committed has an excellent chance of going broody again.

Other than that I think I'd keep trying to break her.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would try this, grab a handful of those chick 3-4, at dark, sprinkle them with a little water, let them get a little chilled. They should be peeping madly, a little ways away from the coop, close enough she can hear them keep them just barely,. Wait 5 minutes. Then in complete dark, stick those cold chicks under her.

They should burrow into that warm spot tight as a tick. Leave her be and cross your fingers. I almost always give my broodies chicks or eggs, young birds are easy to sell.

Mrs K