Free-Range Hen Does Interesting Things Pre-Broody and Broody

[crazyfeathers]

Last summer i had two hens construct nests outside. I searched for the nests but could never find them as i knew 2 of my hens were absent and we don't have predator issues. Once a week i mowed within inches of her nest and never knew she was there, she hatched out 10 chicks with nothing for protection but the tall field grass. The other hen hatched out 5 and left 2 eggs in the nest. I am not sure of the stage of development as i discarded them when i found them a few days after the hatch.
I have a spring broody sitting on 6 eggs in a nesting box (Polish) and my chocolate muscovy is sitting on 5 eggs and 1 Polish egg lol.
I also had a winter broody who hatched out 5 healthy chicks with no supplemental heat, she is an excellent mother.

 

[centrarchid]

I can get good hatch during winter so long as eggs not exposed to temperatures lower than 27 F prior to onset of incubation. Once incubation commences colder temperatures in themselves not a problem. Loss of this clutch likely more a function of all the rain. Clutches produced during drier times have much higher hatch rates. Bobwhite Quail have a similar problem.

 

[centrarchid]

Hen of original interest to thread aborted effort on her own late yesterday. She will be walking around clucking softly for about 3 day eating very little. Clucking will then stop and she will display an intense interest in feed again. She will be back in lay likely in less than 2 weeks since forage quality and quantity is exceptional.

 

[chicksurreal]

Hen of original interest to thread aborted effort on her own late yesterday. She will be walking around clucking softly for about 3 day eating very little. Clucking will then stop and she will display an intense interest in feed again. She will be back in lay likely in less than 2 weeks since forage quality and quantity is exceptional.

I have to wonder what breaks the broody in a natural setting. Is it the realization that the eggs aren't viable or something else? I have had one broody hen go the distance and hatch chicks and another that abandoned the nest with no provocation.

The broody that did hatch chicks had multiple issues to deal with. A snake attacked the nest(twice) and we moved her to another pen after a week where she got disoriented and couldn't find the opening to the nest for a while after going out to eat and dustbathe.

The other broody had none of these issues, but lost interest after a week or so. Very interesting.