Giving a broody fertile eggs

[aart]

Lots of ways to manage a broody,
tho never heard the bucket thing and don't think it's good idea at all.


When I have a broody and want her to hatch I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

I remove barrier about one week after hatch. The chicks are usually safe it's the broody who has to 'fight' her way back into the pecking order...which can be quick or take a few days.

Here's a bunch more techniques:
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-thread.496101/

Lots of space helps for re-integration.

 

[Jrobb78]

Lots of ways to manage a broody,
tho never heard the bucket thing and don't think it's good idea at all.


When I have a broody and want her to hatch I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

I remove barrier about one week after hatch. The chicks are usually safe it's the broody who has to 'fight' her way back into the pecking order...which can be quick or take a few days.

Here's a bunch more techniques:
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-thread.496101/

Lots of space helps for re-integration.

Thank you so much for the info! I will check out the link.

 

[Jrobb78]

My buff orp hen has gone broody 3 times in 3 years and I’ve given her fertile eggs each time. As long as she’s committed to sitting (you will know within a couple days) just put the egg in front of her, one at a time and she will tuck it in and settle it. Mine did everything! Integrated the babies, protected them, showed them how to forage etc. She ignores them after approx 6 weeks but by then they’re well established with the flock (although low in the pecking order). My other hens avoided the babies at all costs, mom was fierce! Have fun and get her the eggs sooner than later so she doesn’t have to sit too long, it is hard on them.

Do you put a nest box on the ground for her? I hadn’t considered that before reading through the thread that aart posted. I see that lots of people do, just wondering if it’s imperative.

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

Do you put a nest box on the ground for her? I hadn’t considered that before reading through the thread that aart posted. I see that lots of people do, just wondering if it’s imperative.

I put mine in a dog kennel/crate with a rabbit water bottle hung on the door. Then I can let them out separately from.everybody else. Cover any bigger holes or openings with chicken wire before babies come.

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

Do you put a nest box on the ground for her? I hadn’t considered that before reading through the thread that aart posted. I see that lots of people do, just wondering if it’s imperative.

Mine chose a nest pretty high up, so once all the eggs hatch I moved it to the floor under my nest box rack and she slept in there with the babies until she got sick of them I gave them a little cardboard ramp for a couple days until they figured out how to get in and out of nest.

 

[Jrobb78]

Mine chose a nest pretty high up, so once all the eggs hatch I moved it to the floor under my nest box rack and she slept in there with the babies until she got sick of them I gave them a little cardboard ramp for a couple days until they figured out how to get in and out of nest.

Yeah mine is pretty high up and I worry that she wouldn’t like one on the ground as we have a new puppy that has gotten in a few times. Obviously I would ensure that didn’t happen, but she has no way to know that!

 

[Jrobb78]

I put mine in a dog kennel/crate with a rabbit water bottle hung on the door. Then I can let them out separately from.everybody else. Cover any bigger holes or openings with chicken wire before babies come.

I was considering that, too. Although I don’t know that mine would drink from a rabbit bottle as we don’t have any nipple waterers.

 

[Jrobb78]

Lots of ways to manage a broody,
tho never heard the bucket thing and don't think it's good idea at all.


When I have a broody and want her to hatch I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

I remove barrier about one week after hatch. The chicks are usually safe it's the broody who has to 'fight' her way back into the pecking order...which can be quick or take a few days.

Here's a bunch more techniques:
It's a long one but just start reading the first few pages, then browse thru some more at random. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-thread.496101/

Lots of space helps for re-integration.

There is so much information there! I’m riveted, lol. Only problem is that now I have even more questions!

 

[Sooner Magnolia]

I was considering that, too. Although I don’t know that mine would drink from a rabbit bottle as we don’t have any nipple waterers.

They figure it out pretty quickly. Chickens are curious. Plus she could drink in her normal spot or a bowl of water when let out. Mine have figured them out and taught chicks to do the same when I move it down lower.

 

[Jrobb78]

They figure it out pretty quickly. Chickens are curious. Plus she could drink in her normal spot or a bowl of water when let out. Mine have figured them out and taught chicks to do the same when I move it down lower.

So you do let her out of the crate periodically?