Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Achickenwrangler#1]

yeah, I mustn't get greedy, although I think I am! I peeked and she has at least eight so I will leave her to her choice with no interference. Who knows, her mama brooded in august last year so she may even have another set after this. Broodies are too much fun.

 

[Johnn]

Can 2 broody with different amounts of eggs nest in the same shed? just my cream legbars a little runty thing and she cal only cover 6-7 eggs but my orpington is a big girl and is capable of 12, problem is my cream legbars above her in the pecking order so will she want her nest when she sees it has more eggs?

 

[stonykill]

Can 2 broody with different amounts of eggs nest in the same shed? just my cream legbars a little runty thing and she cal only cover 6-7 eggs but my orpington is a big girl and is capable of 12, problem is my cream legbars above her in the pecking order so will she want her nest when she sees it has more eggs?

I havee 2 to 3 broodys in a shed together at any given time. I have never had an issue other than the occasional broody fight. Always short lived and then everyone is back to their eggs or chicks

 

[Johnn]

Ok thanks because i dont want it all going wrong with that hens stealing them eggs because they'll go to waste because she wont be able to cover all of them

 

[prairie]

Thanks Miss Lydia! I was thinking just a day or two at the most! Appreciate your advice.--- my first broody!

 

[dlynne1123]

Ok, yikes! I posted that I was bummed that I had no chicks this am, at day 21. At lunch I came home to a slightly broken egg, thought maybe it got crushed, but something is moving inside! I think momma bird was starting to eat it! (gasp) sooo.....is there anything I can do to mimick a last minute incubator? I know to not remove any more shell, there's a little blood and the shell is broken inward now outward so someone pecked at it...


Suggestions! If this is the only viable egg I want to try to save it!

 

[Glasshen]

I'm thinking you tried something, do you have a chick? I'm on the edge of my chair.

 

[Johnn]

After following this thread i really think this is going to be my time to eventually get some chicks Ive had such bad look, first broody was a welsummer she had 26 eggs,none hatched the year later she had one but when it was a couple of days off hatching a hen stood on it and crushed it, then a ex battery hen went on, her eggs were in fertile, then 2 orpingtons one give up and the other broke out her broody box and couldnt find her way back in. Then 2011 a light sussex and a ex-batt all chicks died in the middle of developing to fingers croosed for my cream legbar and buff orpington this year

 

[Miss Lydia]

After following this thread i really think this is going to be my time to eventually get some chicks Ive had such bad look, first broody was a welsummer she had 26 eggs,none hatched the year later she had one but when it was a couple of days off hatching a hen stood on it and crushed it, then a ex battery hen went on, her eggs were in fertile, then 2 orpingtons one give up and the other broke out her broody box and couldnt find her way back in. Then 2011 a light sussex and a ex-batt all chicks died in the middle of developing to fingers croosed for my cream legbar and buff orpington this year

 

[stonykill]

looks like another Sumatra hen has gone broody. I found her nest the other day, hidden well in the broody Sumatra shed. Thankfully many born in here, go broody here. She is a pretty dark blue hen, born last year at some point. I didn't have any dark blues until last year

. Last I looked she had 6 or 7 eggs stashed. If she sits, she is broody #9. Counting my beloved "Mama" twice of course