Ella2025's Experiment Broody Hen Hatch-A-Long

I've only had the one broody so far and that does sound like she's thinking about it, but there's no guarantee she'll commit unless she sits for a week or longer.

While my pullet was brooding she came off the nest for roughly an hour every day to eat, drink, poop, dust bathe and then went back to sitting. Everytime she came off the nest I would panic and assume she'd given up, only to find her stuck back on the nest a little later.

I kept a chick waterer and feeder in the henhouse so she could still eat and drink even if it was raining and she didn't want to come out.

Everyday I made sure to handle her for a few minutes, either when she came off the nest, or check on her and her eggs in the nestbox. She would screech and puff up, even when she came over to me for cuddles and treats, I think it's just the hormones talking, she never pecked at me once.

Oh and anytime I went into the nest box I would talk to her before sticking my head or hand in, so she'd know it's me. When she came off the nest with the chicks she walked them right over to me to show them off and didn't flinch or fuss when I picked them up.
I had almost the exact same experience with Bippy. She was a determined mother despite not wanting to 'adopt' her incubator babies. I'm not sure what Nugget was thinking, but she's not sitting anymore so that's good.

I love the way you bond with your broody! I will be doing this next time I want a Broody to hatch chicks.
 
I had almost the exact same experience with Bippy. She was a determined mother despite not wanting to 'adopt' her incubator babies. I'm not sure what Nugget was thinking, but she's not sitting anymore so that's good.

I love the way you bond with your broody! I will be putting this advice to use next time I want a Broody to hatch chicks.
I'm not sure this will work with all hens/pullets. She's a mama's girl and has been from day one when I hatched her, it can't hurt to try though.

It was definitely a very rewarding experience after reading others experiences and seeing videos of broodies chasing off their keepers. I'm still thoroughly prepared to get henpecked when/if my other girls go broody.
 
The moment I took them out on the grass they started dust bathing -- they're still doing it and it's adorable. They are so much bigger than a week ago, and they tripled in weight already!
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Thank you! They're losing fluff so fast and it's a amazing and a bit sad at the same time.
I'm currently fighting the urge to hatch more. It is a daily struggle, lol. Scratch that minute to minute struggle. I'm testing an incubator now that I read some bad reviews on to see if they carry weight. I have 4 more to put through their paces before I add eggs to any of them.
 

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