Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Silkie Chicken]

I have my first broody hen and she has been sitting for 4 days now in the favorite nest box, but the other hens are laying in that same box still, I have the ability to close off that section of the coop to the other hens. Should I do that? If I do that the broody won't be able to go outside though but that side of the coop is pretty big and has good ventilation.

i would not close the area off because my hen will not even lay a egg with tthe door closed so maybe if you closed the door on you r hen she would not go broody on the eggs but thats my hen it is up to you does you r hen lay a egg with the door closed if she does then you could close the door on her.

 

[mnferalkitty]

i would not close the area off because my hen will not even lay a egg with tthe door closed so maybe if you closed the door on you r hen she would not go broody on the eggs but thats my hen it is up to you does you r hen lay a egg with the door closed if she does then you could close the door on her.

She is sitting on about 20 eggs, the coop is an old large outbuilding divided in 2 and the one door that I could close to the other area is all wire and looks out to the other half of the coop and the part she is in has 2 big windows that are wire. If the other hens keep laying in that nest box where she is there could be potentialy 12 eggs a day laid in that same box with the eggs she is sitting on

 

[Tripp16]

Ok, I have a very odd situation, and a couple of similarily odd questions for all you broody champions out there.

After two attempts at incubating turkeys, I have to admit that I'm terrible at them for some reason, and I can't risk bumbling my third order. (I've successfully hatched chickens, I have no idea why turkeys thwart me around day 24).

Now, my good friend down the street has a bunch of little banties that she loves, but endlessly drive her nuts by going constantly broody. She always has at least 3 to 4 at all times. Lightbulb for me! I'll stick one to two turkey eggs under their little overly fluffy butts! It's a win win for both of us because it'll break the brood at least for a short time.

So my question is: A.) is this a good idea, because turkeys make a different sound than baby chicks. I don't want the hens trying to kill the poults during hatch. B.) will the broody stick it out the extra 7 days it takes? C.) These girls are ALWAYS brooding, is it best to pick one that just started, to preserve her health and not chance that she'll drop her brood? (I would really like to take advantage of her most reliable broody, but don't want to risk her health. I've never seen this hen not in the nestbox immitating a pancake, so I don't know if sticking eggs under her changes anything).

I've heard of cross-species brooding before, so I'm probably safe, but I just wanted to pass it by the experts.

I dont know about your first question since Ive never hatched turkeys under a hen. BUT I do know that they can last the extra week easy. Alot of people havent had fertile eggs and have had their hens sit for up to 6 weeks. The hens cant count down the days (Like we do) so she will sit until she gets something. Good luck!

 

[bobbieschicks]

 She is sitting on about 20 eggs, the coop is an old large outbuilding divided in 2 and the one door that I could close to the other area is all wire and looks out to the other half of the coop and the part she is in has 2 big windows that are wire. If the other hens keep laying in that nest box where she is there could be potentialy 12 eggs a day laid in that same box with the eggs she is sitting on

Yes. Close her off is fine. If she's broody she's not laying so that won't matter.

 

[Silkie Chicken]

She is sitting on about 20 eggs, the coop is an old large outbuilding divided in 2 and the one door that I could close to the other area is all wire and looks out to the other half of the coop and the part she is in has 2 big windows that are wire. If the other hens keep laying in that nest box where she is there could be potentialy 12 eggs a day laid in that same box with the eggs she is sitting on

well mark the eggs she is setting on and collect the other eggs that are layed in the nest box good luck

 

[Pele]

Thank you both for reassuring me, I've never tried to use a broody before and I'm so desperate to avoid yet another round of dead baby turkeys I'm sure those little broody biddies can save em from me though.

 

[lyn68c]

Broody hens are a very dedicated lot. I have set the incubator and the hen. When the hatch starts I just move chicks from the incubator to the hen AT NIGHT. The problem is if you have different colored chicks. If she didn't think she hatched that color then look out. I had a banty hen sitting on 25 chicks. Where they all went don't ask me but when I picked up the hen little chicks dropped out everywhere. I heard of a hen hatching out duck eggs and when they were old enough to take to the water she had a fit.
When I want to encourage a hen to set, I put golf balls in the nest. If she's getting setty then that's where you will find her. They rally aren't the sharpest knife in the drawer.

 

[Tripp16]

Well Henrietta laid today.

Im glad because that means more eggs but sad for her chicks because they will be 4 weeks old this saturday. They still peep and cheep for the momma. Im worrid about her though. She just is not herself. She stands around sleeping all the time. I have given her every medicine anyone has told me about. Nothing is working. Maybe shes just tired.

Well her chicks are growing like weeds and everything is feathered but their bottoms and their heads. LOL They are goof balls!

I am still waiting on Gracies eggs to hatch. The lady doesnt know when her hen actually started sitting bu it was some where towards the last week in may and the first week in June. No telling when these chicks will come. I candled them and the eggs are full and the sacs are halfway down the side of the eggs. Hopefully in a few days...

 

[prairie]

Heather, Love the little araucauna!! Can't wait for mine to hatch!!

 

[prairie]

Well, I didn't think my Australorp and Araucaunas would ever go broody so I went out and bought a Cornish Banty, a Light Brahma, a Silver Lace Wyandotte/Polish and a Salmon Favorelle. Within a week of bringing them home --- guess what!! my Australorp was broody and then the Cornish went broody too. Just a waiting for my little keets to hatch -- I put guinea eggs under them.

do you think she will ever go broody