I think I have a broody!

[Flock Leader]

One of our hens made a nest, laid a clutch of eggs and began sitting on them two days ago. She sits day and night, turns like a menacingly clucking featherball whenever someone tries to get near, and only leaves for short periods every day (to eat and drink).

She is sitting on 6 eggs. This is our very first time to see broody behavior in a hen, so do wish us luck! I know the web is full of advice on how to "break" broodiness, but we'd love to see a brood of chicks raised by Momma.

I do hope she is consistent enough to see those eggs through. She began sitting on March 31-st, so approximate hatching date would be April 20-th.

 

[sumi]

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[JanO]

Congrats! I hope it works out well for you, and her.

 

[Flock Leader]

She made it!! She managed to hatch 4 chicks from the 6 eggs she started with. One egg accidentally fell and cracked a while back, and another just disappeared without a trace (no signs of shell, I had them all numbered). I can only assume a snake got it, so I brought Mama and her brood inside for safekeeping.

The funny part is that the hen herself comes from commercial egg-laying stock, and is a cross between RIR and (in all probability) Sussex - NOT your typical broody breed! Yet she made it great and is a first-rate mama. I'm so surprised and pleased.

Also, having her around helped us save some Sebright eggs in process of hatching during an electricity flop-out. The rest of the eggs I took to bed with me and snuggled with them for warmth... I don't know whether it helped (will find out soon) but anyway I had nothing to lose.

Oh, and the light yellow chick is actually from an "adopted" White Leghorn egg, but she loves him just the same.

 

[sumi]

Sweet! Congratulations! I hope your "emergency incubation" of the Sebright eggs pays off.

 

[Flock Leader]

Well, who would have guessed... she is broody again! I had no idea she'd go broody once more so soon (she's an RIR/Sussex cross, not what you'd call a typical broody breed!), and I did want to give her a break as she lost so much weight hatching those chicks, and only recently gained it back. I've been taking all her eggs... but she just went broody sitting on an empty spot. Fortunately my husband happened to get some Polish and Pekin eggs yesterday, and we put them underneath her. She seems content to be sitting on them.

 

[sumi]

I had a hen once who would hatch her eggs, raise the chicks until they are 7 weeks old, wean them, lay her next clutch of eggs and repeat the cycle. Over and over... Some of them just want to be Moms.

 

[tamolcikas]

I had a duck that did that. I posted her pic. And her 3rd set of ducklings. Last summer she just continued to have babies. But her sister laid 8 eggs. Sat forever and never hatched a single duckling.
My hens I never allow them enough time to hatch any. Although found many fertilized eggs but no idea what to do to have out own babies. Still new at this.

 

[orpingtonsuk]

Fabulous, chicks look lovely and healthy, best way to do it naturally xx

 

[Flock Leader]

Quote: I know, but I was thinking... Silkies? Bantam Cochins?.. Not a bird that was sold as an all-year constant egg producer!

Not that we are complaining. We had wanted a hen to go broody for a long, long time, and thought we'd need to get one of the "typical broodies" for this.