How did your flock annoy you today?

[ella2025]

Broody isn’t an issue for me!!
I love broody hens. I’m COLLECTING broody hens!
So far I have:
Buff Orpingtons
Jersey Giants
Prairie Chanticleer
Just hatched some feather footed bantams of some sort.
And (hopefully) adding Faverolles and Silkies next year!

You should also add brahmas! Absolutely beautiful and super broody lol. Only minor problem is that they're heavier than a small dog and super chonky . I can't even pick mine up without my arm aching after. Maybe get bantam brahmas lol.

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

Do you let them hatch eggs all the time? My first (and only) full broody experience didn't go well as the eggs kept getting dented. I had some egg eaters in my coop and some of the chickens just go up to the eggs and step on them whenever Bippy leaves the nest

Yeah so, separation is key. I’ve had lots of mishaps, but I just keep letting them try!

Earlier this year, I learned the separation lesson hard. I had a wonderful broody. She was on day 14, and all 11 eggs were healthy and growing.
She hopped of the nest to grab a bite to eat, and one of my jerk head hens,(who has now been dealt with), chased her REALLY far away. All the way into the woods. Then she began puppy guarding the nest, and not letting her in for the next few hours. By the time the broody made it back in, her eggs had died. That night, I moved her into a separate pen alone, and gave her a new set of eggs. She hatched 9 healthy little ones!

If your hens are treating the eggs badly, chances are, they’ll treat the chicks that way as well. SEPARATION.

You have a few options for your next broodies.

a. Let her sit on fake eggs, and trade them for chicks on day 13 or 14.

b. Separate her and give her a set of eggs.

c. Block of her nest to keep the punks out. (With this option, you will want to provide food and water, but still let her off once a day to poo.) if the nest is blocked, you can just close it up whenever she gets off, and then open it back up when she’s ready to get back on!

 

[TheChickenGirl16]

You should also add brahmas! Absolutely beautiful and super broody lol. Only minor problem is that they're heavier than a small dog and super chonky . I can't even pick mine up without my arm aching after. Maybe get bantam brahmas lol.

Yes!!!
Sounds amazing! Been looking everywhere for them. I will probably need to order them from a hatchery.

 

[ella2025]

Yeah so, separation is key. I’ve had lots of mishaps, but I just keep letting them try!

Earlier this year, I learned the separation lesson hard. I had a wonderful broody. She was on day 14, and all 11 eggs were healthy and growing.
She hopped of the nest to grab a bite to eat, and one of my jerk head hens,(who has now been dealt with), chased her REALLY far away. All the way into the woods. Then she began puppy guarding the nest, and not letting her in for the next few hours. By the time the broody made it back in, her eggs had died. That night, I moved her into a separate pen alone, and gave her a new set of eggs. She hatched 9 healthy little ones!

If your hens are treating the eggs badly, chances are, they’ll treat the chicks that way as well. SEPARATION.

You have a few options for your next broodies.

a. Let her sit on fake eggs, and trade them for chicks on day 13 or 14.

b. Separate her and give her a set of eggs.

c. Block of her nest to keep the punks out. (With this option, you will want to provide food and water, but still let her off once a day to poo.) if the nest is blocked, you can just close it up whenever she gets off, and then open it back up when she’s ready to get back on!

Thanks! Last time the broody had 2 eggs left, and I had to put them in the incubator and make her sit on fake eggs. When they hatched 4 weeks ago I put them under her but she just completely ignored them and got off the nest and never back on again until I took the chicks out. It was weird, but at least I got the chicks all to myself, lol. I'm not sure what happened with Broody.

This is them now next to an egg haha.

 

[GApeachmama]

My little heifers that I love destiny, were consistently lasting 1 egg a day. Which is fine since I know their bodies are adjusting. Then on Wednesday there were 2 eggs! I was so excited thinking better we go! Yesterday? Zilch, zero, nada. Also I’m giving my EE the side eye because she better not be laying brown eggs. Humph. On a better note behold my egg organization station.