Consolidated Kansas

[lizzyGSR]

Praying for you Danz!

I've got a newby chicken question for ya'll... I have a phoenix hen (hatched March 2016) who has been sitting in the nest box almost constantly for a couple of days. Does that mean she's going broody? She got off the nest VERY briefly this morning, but went right back a short time after. I don't think she's sitting on anything (except maybe a couple golf balls). If she is going broody, what do I do about it. Now seems to be a bad time of year to have a broody bird. If she's not, do I need to worry about her? Any thoughts?

 

[HEChicken]

She certainly sounds broody, Lizzy. It isn't the ideal time but I've had hens brood even later. I had one who started around Thanksgiving and her chick hatched in mid-December. He is the most hardy chick I've ever raised here, I think. At a few days old, we had a cold snap and when I woke that morning the thermometer read -3. Since mom and baby were in a separate pen and didn't have the benefit of shared heat in the main coop, I was seriously worried they had both frozen to death overnight and approached their pen with trepidation at what I would find. To my astonishment, not only were they both alive and well, but the chick was running around the pen like it was a balmy summer day and got super excited to see me with water, since of course the water in their pen had frozen. I stayed to watch for awhile as he drank, but eventually had to leave because my toes got cold. In all the time I was there, the chick never even went under Mama to warm up. That was several years ago and that chick is now my head flock rooster - a big, beauty who has never had a sick day in his life.

All of that is to say....I have found that the easiest and fastest way to break a broody hen is to let them hatch. Because my hen was a bantam, I only gave her one egg to sit on as I didn't want a bunch of chicks that she would have difficulty covering as they got bigger. So if you aren't wanting a bunch more chickens, you might want to limit how many eggs you give her (one was a risk on my part as if it hadn't been fertile, she would have sat for nothing, so usually I give them 2-3 and hope at least one hatches).

 

[lizzyGSR]

She certainly sounds broody, Lizzy. It isn't the ideal time but I've had hens brood even later. I had one who started around Thanksgiving and her chick hatched in mid-December. He is the most hardy chick I've ever raised here, I think. At a few days old, we had a cold snap and when I woke that morning the thermometer read -3. Since mom and baby were in a separate pen and didn't have the benefit of shared heat in the main coop, I was seriously worried they had both frozen to death overnight and approached their pen with trepidation at what I would find. To my astonishment, not only were they both alive and well, but the chick was running around the pen like it was a balmy summer day and got super excited to see me with water, since of course the water in their pen had frozen. I stayed to watch for awhile as he drank, but eventually had to leave because my toes got cold. In all the time I was there, the chick never even went under Mama to warm up. That was several years ago and that chick is now my head flock rooster - a big, beauty who has never had a sick day in his life.

All of that is to say....I have found that the easiest and fastest way to break a broody hen is to let them hatch. Because my hen was a bantam, I only gave her one egg to sit on as I didn't want a bunch of chicks that she would have difficulty covering as they got bigger. So if you aren't wanting a bunch more chickens, you might want to limit how many eggs you give her (one was a risk on my part as if it hadn't been fertile, she would have sat for nothing, so usually I give them 2-3 and hope at least one hatches).

Thank you for the response! The hen is question is the one Danz and I think is a phoenix hen. She is also the one Danz said was most likely to be a good broody mama. Is there any rhyme or reason to picking eggs to give her? I don't think she's considered a bantam, but she is a pretty small hen. I have plenty of chickens now, and any eggs I give her would likely be barnyard mutts. I'm assuming that an egg that hasn't been refrigerated would be best, yes? If she's broody, that means she isn't laying any more, correct? So I'd have to pick a couple eggs to give her?

 

[HEChicken]

More than likely she has stopped laying. Though I had one sneaky little hen surprise me. She went broody, I put a little cage down over her, gave her two eggs and for the next three weeks, didn't disturb her nest at all - just made sure she had food and water. One day 21, I eagerly waited for signs that at least 1 chick had hatched. Sure enough...out popped a head - and another - and another. The hen laid an egg after I gave her two. I still have that bonus chick and she's even broodier than her mother

Yes, eggs that haven't been refrigerated and the fresher the better. When you collect your eggs, it is best to get in the habit of storing them pointy end down in the cartons. If they've been stored on their side, that is fine too. If they were stored pointy end up, they'll probably still be fine if they are only a few days old, but if on their side or pointy end down, they should be good for a couple of weeks. I also choose eggs that are as clean as possible to minimize the chances of bacteria entering the egg through the shell. Other than that - if you know who laid each egg, choose the ones you think will be the most fun or offer the biggest surprise. There is nothing wrong with barnyard mutts - some of my favorite birds are the ones I hatched on a whim, just to see what would come out of that combo.

 

[Trish44]

Good luck Lizzy, I hope she hatches for you. I really have been discouraging hens to sit this time of year, for one thing I just don't want more chicks than I already have & I don't have a place to keep hens & chicks safe. I do have one dozen eggs in the incubator now that I hadn't planned to have. Normally I don't hatch this time of year due to having to put the chicks out in cold weather, but I had a chance to get some Isbar eggs & went for it. We'll see if any hatch & what I get. I also got two batches of BLRW chicks, one set is about 5 weeks old now & the other group are 2 weeks. I'm hoping to put the youngest ones outside soon since it's still warm out so they can acclimate. The others are already out in a hoop coop. I gave them the bottom half of a plastic dog house to get under at night just for something to snuggle up together in.

Danz prayers to you that they can figure out what to do with your sutures so you're more comfortable. I know it's killing you that you can't get work done there. It was nice seeing you Monday & the rooster is doing fine, thanks for letting me come & sorry I couldn't stay longer. It's a hike for me to come up & when I do I have to get back to care for animals. The sheep & goats were like really lady why are we standing out here in the dark field when I got back, they weren't amused.

 

[chicken danz]

Back attempting to type. It's not painless but at least it is better. I went to the surgeon this morning and he said that the sutures were not the problem. Because I have two areas with stitches and one is inflamed and the other is not. He said I have some super bug infection that the Cipro isn't healing. So I am on an additional antibiotic for 10 more days in addition to the cipro.
He took one stitch out right on the knuckle in hopes of the incision actually opening to allow some of the infection to come out. I waited in town for an hour and a half for the prescription but it still wasn't called in so I came on home. I guess that means yet another trip to town! There's of course still a concern about the infection getting under the plate and screws which is potentially a terrible thing.
I go back Monday and if it has improved the other stitches could finally be removed.
I was told I have to wear a rubber glove when I'm out doing chores now due to the chicken dust etc. I have no idea how I'm supposed to get it over my swollen hand.
Lizzy, if I were you I'd give your hen maybe three eggs or so to sit on. Let her get that broody out of her system and she can raise those chicks herself as long as they have access to water. Those Phoenix are such broody girls it's good to let them hatch a few chicks to break the cycle. I personally hatch for breeders in the fall because they will be laying by spring. Who cares if they are purebred.
Right now I have two chicks that were broody hatched. I had a barred rock I didn't care for for breeding that decided she wanted to live in the black brahma pen. I wasn't trying to hatch so it didn't matter. One of the brahmas went broody so now I have two barred chicks with feathered legs. If they are girls they'll just be layers or if they are boys they'll be dinner. Or I'll just gift them to someone who wants something different.

 

[Trish44]

Back attempting to type. It's not painless but at least it is better. I went to the surgeon this morning and he said that the sutures were not the problem. Because I have two areas with stitches and one is inflamed and the other is not. He said I have some super bug infection that the Cipro isn't healing. So I am on an additional antibiotic for 10 more days in addition to the cipro.
He took one stitch out right on the knuckle in hopes of the incision actually opening to allow some of the infection to come out. I waited in town for an hour and a half for the prescription but it still wasn't called in so I came on home. I guess that means yet another trip to town! There's of course still a concern about the infection getting under the plate and screws which is potentially a terrible thing.
I go back Monday and if it has improved the other stitches could finally be removed.
I was told I have to wear a rubber glove when I'm out doing chores now due to the chicken dust etc. I have no idea how I'm supposed to get it over my swollen hand.
Lizzy, if I were you I'd give your hen maybe three eggs or so to sit on. Let her get that broody out of her system and she can raise those chicks herself as long as they have access to water. Those Phoenix are such broody girls it's good to let them hatch a few chicks to break the cycle. I personally hatch for breeders in the fall because they will be laying by spring. Who cares if they are purebred.
Right now I have two chicks that were broody hatched. I had a barred rock I didn't care for for breeding that decided she wanted to live in the black brahma pen. I wasn't trying to hatch so it didn't matter. One of the brahmas went broody so now I have two barred chicks with feathered legs. If they are girls they'll just be layers or if they are boys they'll be dinner. Or I'll just gift them to someone who wants something different.

What about one of those rubbermaid gloves like they have for cleaning? They come in different sizes & you could get one bigger than you usually wear. It would be a shame to get it healed partway & then get it infected even more.

 

[lizzyGSR]

More than likely she has stopped laying. Though I had one sneaky little hen surprise me. She went broody, I put a little cage down over her, gave her two eggs and for the next three weeks, didn't disturb her nest at all - just made sure she had food and water. One day 21, I eagerly waited for signs that at least 1 chick had hatched. Sure enough...out popped a head - and another - and another. The hen laid an egg after I gave her two. I still have that bonus chick and she's even broodier than her mother

Yes, eggs that haven't been refrigerated and the fresher the better. When you collect your eggs, it is best to get in the habit of storing them pointy end down in the cartons. If they've been stored on their side, that is fine too. If they were stored pointy end up, they'll probably still be fine if they are only a few days old, but if on their side or pointy end down, they should be good for a couple of weeks. I also choose eggs that are as clean as possible to minimize the chances of bacteria entering the egg through the shell. Other than that - if you know who laid each egg, choose the ones you think will be the most fun or offer the biggest surprise. There is nothing wrong with barnyard mutts - some of my favorite birds are the ones I hatched on a whim, just to see what would come out of that combo.

How do I go about giving her eggs when she never leaves the nest? Do I just put them near her and hope she accepts them?

 

[chicken danz]

What about one of those rubbermaid gloves like they have for cleaning? They come in different sizes & you could get one bigger than you usually wear. It would be a shame to get it healed partway & then get it infected even more.

I tried that, but the one I had here was too tight over the swelling. My sister is in Topeka today so she is looking for the largest glove she can find.
Very depressed right now. Went back to the doctor today. He took some of the exudes from where the incision was opened and they are doing a culture to see what nasty bacteria is lurking in there.
If it gets worse over the weekend or I don't improve by Monday he is admitting me back into the hospital. He wanted to admit me today but decided to see if the new antibiotic helped at all and see what the culture showed. I'm running a fever again and feel really crummy. I sure try to stay optimistic but it's getting really hard to keep my spirits up.
@lizzyGSR , just put them in front of her breast. She'll pull them under herself.

 

[lizzyGSR]

I tried that, but the one I had here was too tight over the swelling. My sister is in Topeka today so she is looking for the largest glove she can find.
Very depressed right now. Went back to the doctor today. He took some of the exudes from where the incision was opened and they are doing a culture to see what nasty bacteria is lurking in there.
If it gets worse over the weekend or I don't improve by Monday he is admitting me back into the hospital. He wanted to admit me today but decided to see if the new antibiotic helped at all and see what the culture showed. I'm running a fever again and feel really crummy. I sure try to stay optimistic but it's getting really hard to keep my spirits up.
@lizzyGSR , just put them in front of her breast. She'll pull them under herself.

We are praying for you, Danz. I hope the doc has good news for you on Monday!

I just went out to collect eggs, and my broody was sitting in a different nest. Hmm. Is that bad news for her broody-ness? I set three eggs in front of her and will wait to see what happens. I'm curious if there were eggs in the new nest she decided to sit in. I gave her three. I wonder how many other eggs were already in there. I guess we'll see eventually. So, what's the next step? I'm assuming I wait for a while but how long?