Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

I will let them have the nest they have chose, then close to hatch day I take them nest box and all out to the broody coop and tuck them in for the hatch , I use to leave them inside the coop through the whole process but have you ever had 3-4 hens with chicks trying to get outside in the morning? not a pretty site. not here anyway. lol I also had another house that I used for broodies too but it has become a goose house so these girls are going to have to wait their turns this year, only 2 broodies at a time. lol

I'm with you - I much prefer to see my broody hanging out in the nest box all day then to see the in/out of the layers. LOL! I would love to have a dedicated broody hutch and hope to make that happen in the next year or so. We shall see. My Topsy did fine this past time hatching her babies out in the nest and getting them down out of the nest when it was time.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

When you figure that one out - let the rest of us know LOL. I tried to push my Smokey to go broody over the summer when I had shipped eggs and she did it when she wanted to and not on my schedule.

If they aren't staying in the nest box enough to keep the eggs warm I'd just give them fakes and leave them to their own schedule until Spring. They might be practicing or they might just be taking a long time to lay. You really can't force a broody. You can encourage her by giving her eggs to sit on and leaving her to do it - but nothing will make a girl go broody unless her body is ready to do so. And she's not really broody if she isn't hanging around that nest box hatching those eggs.

I wouldn't take the chance right now in VA with a broody who isn't willing to stay on the nest at night since our weather is dropping to the 30Fs. But if she'll stay all night long on the nest, then I would let her sit on fakes for about 3 days to make sure she's serious. Once I'm sure she's serious I'd move fertile eggs under her and let her have her desire to hatch. She'll keep them warm enough in our winter weather to give them a good chance at surviving.

I'm in Aus so its nearly Summer over here, so they are ready. But good news my RIR bantam in now full time broody so just got to get some of my Araucana eggs under her now, my Black Sex-Link (Isa Brown) gave up and is broody no more.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Good weather for a broody

Sorry about the sex link giving up. But good the rir is hanging in there! Can't wait to see some pics of the chicks

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Good weather for a broody

Sorry about the sex link giving up. But good the rir is hanging in there! Can't wait to see some pics of the chicks

Yeah i hope she does a good job I've heard bantams are great mothers and my Black Sex-Link still goes on the nest for a couple of hours in the middle of the day and fluffs up and squwarks at you so I'm not sure how to get her going full time.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah i hope she does a good job I've heard bantams are great mothers and my Black Sex-Link still goes on the nest for a couple of hours in the middle of the day and fluffs up and squwarks at you so I'm not sure how to get her going full time.

My Topsy (Silkie) is a great momma - she's got her little 4 week olds out there trooping around the yard in this 28F weather and her 15week old Silkie mix chick (Partridge roo with White Leghorn/EE mix pullet) she hatched is helping to take care of them. It's so cute to watch.

 

[Johnn]

21 weeks now, they are still with mama, i had to feed late tonight and they were the only two who would come out, so they ate good!, Bellas not laying yet, dont think she will untill next year and Asparagus isn't crowing yet...

 

[Miss Lydia]

21 weeks now, they are still with mama, i had to feed late tonight and they were the only two who would come out, so they ate good!, Bellas not laying yet, dont think she will untill next year and Asparagus isn't crowing yet...

My bantam roo that I kept he is the same age as your Asparagus just started crowing this week.

 

[OffGridMAMA]

We are off grid so I am hoping for broodiness no stable electricity for heat lamps... my first year with chickens so I am reading and soaking in all your wisdom! Have 30 hens/pullets of different ages and breeds. Checkout my pics loving the thread!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

OffgriMAMA- Is your buff brahma a banty or LF? I can't tell in the picture. My banty brahma was a super broody. Buff orphingtons are are said to be excellent Broodies too. You have so many breeds, it's hard for me to ID them all. I will say my EEs have never gone broody and neither has my Australorp. But they are hatchery stock, so not too surprising. Good luck on getting a broody! I would think out of 30 at least one or two are bound to go off.

 

[OffGridMAMA]

The buff Brahma is standard size, such a sweet girl. Very affectionate so she will hopefully be a good mama I have lots of breeds because most are adopted and rescued. I have only bought the mixed breed chicks have lots of ee /oe mixed breed hens. Love them! I'm addicted. LOL