do broody moms know when "lock down" is

[Penturner]

It is unlikely she would need your help if she is broody and on the nest. I suspect our "Help" is a very poor substitute to a hen. Probably far more going on than we even know now. I imagine they can feel the chicks moving as well. I wonder of there clucking does anything to stimulate the Chicks as well. Just so many small factors that could be a part of the whole process. A hen sure has a lot more dedication than I have heard out of even the most obsessed incubator operator.

 

[pascopol]

You want to "help" your broody hen?


Leave her alone ! ! !

 

[babsbag]

And my incubator can't talk to the chicks, it doesn't know which eggs are bad, it doesn't change the eggs location based on the development rate of the embryo, and it doesn't take care of the chicks once they hatch. And we wonder why they get a better hatch rate than we do.

Here's to your success, and hers.

 

[robbdebbie]

I think it is a fair question to ask. I learned that the bad eggs get tossed out towards the end. I think we all should remember that there are no dumb questions. Also, everyone was new to something once.

 

[Settler'sDreamFarm]

Good luck!
I have a broody hen with a hatch date of March 30th....... when is "lock down"?

 

[LizShaughnessy]

Okay, I'm a newbie to chickens and this website so bare with my "dumb" questions please

How do you know you have a broody hen? Do the females need to mate with a rooster for baby chicks? Do the hens need anything special? If there's a spot on the website will all this info, can someone direct me to it, please.

Thanks

 

[Penturner]

LizShaughnessy, I have never had a broody hen myself, so this is just from what I have picked up from other. You can tell you have a broody hen when she will actually set on the nest. Some people put golf balls int eh nest trying to get hens "In the mood" While people that want the hen to keep laying try to discourage it. it seems a hen will lay approx an egg a day for a number of days, then want to set even if you took all the eggs away.

Without a rooster the eggs will not be fertile even though the hens lay them.

For more overall information read the sticky threads at the top of each forum.