It's BROODY FLU season

[orumpoultry]

Yup, that's right, you betcha... almost ALL of my hens are sitting. I have a pretty good idea of who sat when, based only on the fact that it would occur something like this:

Well hello guys! Glad everyone is happy, no new injuries I need to know o- Well number 16, when did you decide that nest was yours? Number 12... No, not you number 12! You were a good girl and didn't sit last year! Etc.

So I was wondering how many of you have the broody flu spreading like mad cow disease around your flocks? Right now, the ones I can think of off the top of my head, I have about 50 eggs spread scarce under my hens. No need for each hen to hatch 12 chicks... But each of them hatching 8, much better! It's only keeping me from placing those eggs in a 'bator so all's well in love and war.



Here's my ETHatch dates

32 SSG's - All due in about 18 days. The hens sat hours apart.
18+ WC's - All due in about 14 days. All under one very large hen who is POSITIVE she can handle this large clutch. I have another hen in that breeding pen trying to sit and I will be able to spread the love! Especially since I found two eggs OUT of the nest this morning stone cold.
12 Hatch - We're on day zero. She was still on the nest this morning, so I guess it counts as day 1 now.

I also am having the mother of all smack downs with my RIR. No one is laying... NO ONE!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Same here, just had a hatch days ago, and 2 more are brooding and expect a hatch in days, another hen is hanging around but all the good spots are taken, isn't this a little unusual? I thought I would have more time to build nest boxes and brooder pens it seems like an epidemic.
Not that I mind, just have to scramble as the rest are actually climbing on broody and laying eggs in the same nest!!!

 

[jmc]

flu?.................well, i thought one of my brahmas might have been sick: listless, solitary, sitting alot; but NO bad symptoms......also stopped laying eggs

she has been hanging out in nest box alot during day and even into night. i thought she might be getting broody; but alas, this am she is just sitting outside in the sun, eyes closed, all alone.

i was hoping these might be signs of hormonal change/broodines kicking in.

but alas, i think she really is not broody after all............

i had hoped a broody flu here, but i guess not. I have never seen a bird 'become broody' yet, that is why i thought she might have been going broody; since she was hanging inn the nest box. but i guess she was just wanting to suffer alone and the nest was a convenient place.......

 

[orumpoultry]

When my American Game go broody, it happens just like this.

Hen: Ooooh, you didn't collect eggs yet today? There's a clutch right there. I think I will take those. Bawk. Yup.. These are mine.
Me: I need those eggs young lady.
Hen: BRAWRKKKK -flogg/attack/peck/angry velociraptor sounds-

I have video's somewhere on what broody hens are like... but here's one from youtube. They basically become real lethargic looking, pluck all feathers on their stomachs, and go into a trance like state. This is a very good video on broody sounds.