Newbie to Broody 🙋🏻‍♀️

[TheMrsChick]

We usually separate our broodies once the three weeks are almost up, but before that, she will take care of them, and if someone else sits on them, which is very common, just kick her off and let mama back on!
She will go out and do her chicken business on her own, they are very smart.

(I currently have around 5 right now, but none are gonna hatch anything though)

Who are you referring to when you separate? The broody from the flock or the broody from her eggs?

 

[3KillerBs]

I haven't had a broody hatch eggs yet, at least not intentionally.

Here are a couple articles to help you get started:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-hens.48666/

 

[TheMrsChick]

I haven't had a broody hatch eggs yet, at least not intentionally.

Here are a couple articles to help you get started:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-hens.48666/

Thanks so much!

I haven't had a broody hatch eggs yet, at least not intentionally.

Here are a couple articles to help you get started:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-hens.48666/

 

[yakitori]

Did you manage to candle the eggs? I brought my broody indoors to let her sit

Took her out twice a day to do her business. she jumped on my arm when she wanted to go back in, and that was our routine for 20 days. lol!

 

[CrazyCochin]

Who are you referring to when you separate? The broody from the flock or the broody from her eggs?

Sorry about not specifying.
We remove the broody from the flock! For her and the egg/chicks' safety. (We have had the occasional chick fall out, or get kicked out of the nest box, if we didn't separate, or put a cover over the front of the box. And the other hens did possibly kill one, once, they were running around the hen-yard with it in their beaks.)

 

[TheMrsChick]

Sorry about not specifying.
We remove the broody from the flock! For her and the egg/chicks' safety. (We have had the occasional chick fall out, or get kicked out of the nest box, if we didn't separate, or put a cover over the front of the box. And the other hens did possibly kill one, once, they were running around the hen-yard with it in their beaks.)

Thanks so much for the clarification!
im interested in separating her and her eggs (1 egg isn’t hers, does that matter? That should stay with her?) and if we do that, I need to figure out how to get that set up right. Does she stay separated until after/if any babies hatch? With regards to leaving her to be, coming out to eat on her own etc., she hadn’t done that at all for two days so yesterday we got her out to eat and drink which she did. She stayed on her eggs all day today and when we went out this evening to check on her, she was out on her own eating and ready for some tasty blueberries. She soon made her way back in to get back to Mama’ing. This is so fun!

 

[TheMrsChick]

Needing further assistance!
I feel like I should separate the broody from the flock but not completely isolate her. First, I guess I need to know if this is a good/bad idea or even necessary.
If I do need to do that, I'm at a total loss of how exactly to do that. I just need so much help!

 

[mlh328]

I'm in the same boat! I've read so many conflicting articles it's making me nuts. I'm going to leave mine where she is in the coop nest because I'm scared for her to give up this late in the game if i move the nest. I plan to keep an eye on things and go from there. Mine should be hatching this next weekend so I'll be home for it. My other girls are leaving her alone other than one of them plays babysitter when she gets up once a day to eat and drink. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad idea, from what I've heard you don't really know until you try. I figure I'll see how mum does this go round, hopefully good and i can avoid having to do the whole reintegration thing after the chicks are big enough. If not I have my brooder on hand for emergency.

 

[EasterChickens]

Needing further assistance!
I feel like I should separate the broody from the flock but not completely isolate her. First, I guess I need to know if this is a good/bad idea or even necessary.
If I do need to do that, I'm at a total loss of how exactly to do that. I just need so much help!

Sorry for interrupting but I found this very helpful article on brooding that tells you about the pro and cons of separating her from the flock & letting her stay with the flock when she is broody.

LINK: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/

 

[TheMrsChick]

Sorry for interrupting but I found this very helpful article on brooding that tells you about the pro and cons of separating her from the flock & letting her stay with the flock when she is broody.

LINK: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks.65989/

Oh no, please, interrupt away! Thank you very much!