Illinois...

[Faraday40]

Oh boy... I think we have our first broody hen. .... this LB is all hormonal. DW is pregnant... I thought that was enough hormones for the whole household.

 

[Faraday40]

Its worth a shot... would I need to move her to a storage enclosure?

If you want to move her, do it at night (with fake or infertile eggs) & keep her in the new box under a blanket for the next day. That next night, remove the blanket & when the sun rises on the 2nd morning, she'll believe she's been there all along. If she seems content in the new location, then add the "real" eggs.

Other times, I've just added a screen to block other hens from getting into the broody's nestbox. However, you'll have to give her daily bio-breaks.

 

[BReeder!]

depends, if the others lay eggs and she takes them or they pick on her.... mine go broody in a box, usually I can block it off. let her sit 2 days and see if you move her if she stays on fake eggs

Let the testing begin... I went back out to check. She was up and eating/ drinking. There were two fresh eggs laid right were I just collected eggs from under her. I left them and am going to see if she sits on these again. If she is sitting in tomorrow, I will block off the area she is in and leave here a feeder and waterer. She's right where I was going to block off to create a brooder area in the coop, so its going to get blocked off either way.

 

[Faraday40]

I taught at one of the preschools this afternoon. I even brought my camera along.... but I was so busy I forgot to take pics.



Since I've been talking about this hatch for so long, I feel I owe you at least a few pics. Here are some chicks from the Cooler-bator group.
Spitzhaubens (all 3 hatched)

I got 4 laced orps

1 lav & one black orp

6 Leghorns

2 teeny seramas


2 poults (a brown & a white).... the preschool's is white.


and one very puffy broody (all 19 babies are under her)

That's one big "Cookie"!

 

[Faraday40]

Let the testing begin... I went back out to check. She was up and eating/ drinking. There were two fresh eggs laid right were I just collected eggs from under her. I left them and am going to see if she sits on these again. If she is sitting in tomorrow, I will block off the area she is in and leave here a feeder and waterer. She's right where I was going to block off to create a brooder area in the coop, so its going to get blocked off either way.

Mine "think about" going broody for a few days before actually starting. They grumble & spend a lot of time in the nest - but also sleep on the roost or run out for treats. When they stay put all day and sound like a banshee, that's when I know they're serious.

 

[Faraday40]

I forgot the best part..... The Cooler-bator got 100%!!!! The only egg that didn't hatch wasn't fertile. I don't know the stats on the others yet.

 

[BReeder!]

I AM SICK OF RAIN!

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Cookies is one happy mama!

I AM SICK OF RAIN!

Ditto that even though i just got home. My pasture is underwater! But good news is, all my chickens survived. They look a little skinny (literally no food or water when i went out to check) but alive. Some look very rough too. Sigh. Chicken coop is a disaster. Literally no shavings period. Nothing. Its bad, I'll be working hard after work tomorrow! My poor chickies.

@Faraday40 I'm glad you watched Jasp and Phee, I dont think they would have survived had I left them.

 

[Molpet]

I taught at one of the preschools this afternoon. I even brought my camera along.... but I was so busy I forgot to take pics.



Since I've been talking about this hatch for so long, I feel I owe you at least a few pics. Here are some chicks from the Cooler-bator group.
Spitzhaubens (all 3 hatched)
View attachment 1758837
I got 4 laced orps
View attachment 1758829 View attachment 1758827 View attachment 1758826
1 lav & one black orp
View attachment 1758846
6 Leghorns
View attachment 1758831 View attachment 1758830
2 teeny seramas
View attachment 1758834 View attachment 1758836

2 poults (a brown & a white).... the preschool's is white.
View attachment 1758832 View attachment 1758833

and one very puffy broody (all 19 babies are under her)

View attachment 1758847


That's one big "Cookie"!

Glad to see they have feet
Cookie sure has a big family to cover


I am sick of rain too
Had a river running through the poultry yard.

 

[Molpet]

Cookies is one happy mama!



Ditto that even though i just got home. My pasture is underwater! But good news is, all my chickens survived. They look a little skinny (literally no food or water when i went out to check) but alive. Some look very rough too. Sigh. Chicken coop is a disaster. Literally no shavings period. Nothing. Its bad, I'll be working hard after work tomorrow! My poor chickies.

@Faraday40 I'm glad you watched Jasp and Phee, I dont think they would have survived had I left them.

Oh wow who was taking care while you were gone.
Glad everyone survived