Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Wow I hope mini will be ok , I put her in a pet taxi with some food and water , I thought she would have room to poop and eat and drink but she just seemed to sit there so after like 3 days I opend the taxi and left the door open and put the food and water out infront of it , well with a half screetch half squack she came out about five minutes later and started pooping

, it would be the eqivelant of me pooping a duffle bag. 4 Large poops later and about 10 mintues of walking around and I put her back in with her eggs.

I mean Really is this normal for broody poop or was poor mini about to explode

No your broody is unusual - my broody poop pretty little sweet smelling...

Okay I couldn't say that with a straight face if you were in here in person. I'm just kidding - that poop is completely normal and so is the horrid smell that goes along with it. Thankfully they don't do that every day.

 

[farmer boy]

hey haven't posted in a while but i think my hen is broody is it bad to have a broody hen in the winter time ?? she has been sitting on them since last night and all day today should i stop it or let her be?

 

[Miss Lydia]

hey haven't posted in a while but i think my hen is broody is it bad to have a broody hen in the winter time ?? she has been sitting on them since last night and all day today should i stop it or let her be?

You know what thats up to you, I wouldn't because you never know when you might have to bring them inside to brood and I wouldn't want to do that. But saying that if you have a secure, draft free brooder or coop then try it. It is just a little harder in winter because of snow/ice and freezing temps that may keep mama and chicks inside way longer they would like to be. But others are doing it so. ...

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

hey haven't posted in a while but i think my hen is broody is it bad to have a broody hen in the winter time ?? she has been sitting on them since last night and all day today should i stop it or let her be?

I'd just let her do her thing.

 

[farmer boy]

I'd just let her do her thing.

ya thats what my mom said just let her be ... i just don't want the chicks to die or anything and idk how many eggs she has under her she is also a bantam who hatched my first chicks ever . i have her in some of my pics .. my birds i have out even go outside anyways they stay inside but my ducks go out a few times a day the only problem is the hen that went broody in the main laying spot and i don't want the other hens to lay in it then i will prob have to hatch out some of the chick mys self like last time

 

[gg706]

WHEW in Canada! I probably would not let her hatch. But of course that is up to you! I would probably break her this time and hope she would go broody closer to spring.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

ya thats what my mom said just let her be ... i just don't want the chicks to die or anything and idk how many eggs she has under her she is also a bantam who hatched my first chicks ever . i have her in some of my pics .. my birds i have out even go outside anyways they stay inside but my ducks go out a few times a day the only problem is the hen that went broody in the main laying spot and i don't want the other hens to lay in it then i will prob have to hatch out some of the chick mys self like last time 

In that case just make sure she doesn't have more than 8 eggs and put up something to stop the others from laying in her nest. Six eggs would probably be optimal but most hens can cover up to 8 comfortably. Your worst potential problem is her getting too many eggs to cover. Fewer eggs will improve your odds. Good luck!

 

[AnimalLover99]

this thread looks really cool and i had some questions about my broody silkie
my silkie has been broody for a few months and we have finally decided to order some eggs that will be here around saturday. i was wondering if she will still be broody long enough to hatch them. also I'm going to move her to a seperate nesting box/brooder for her to hatch the eggs away from the other chickens. if i move her will she stop being broody? ay other tips for someone who doesnt know much about broodys? thanks

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Lost two from 3 chicks today...wondering if I will even try again.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

No your broody is unusual - my broody poop pretty little sweet smelling...

Okay I couldn't say that with a straight face if you were in here in person. I'm just kidding - that poop is completely normal and so is the horrid smell that goes along with it. Thankfully they don't do that every day.

That's nothing in comparison to my broody's there's s just large amounts of thick brown sludge that smell revolting.