Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Tonight at lock up I went in to count heads, as I opened the coop door I'm greeted by high pitched shrills and cackles. I've got two girls who are threatening to go broody, Vanilla Ice (WL/EE/silky mix) and Bunny (Splash Copper Maran). Both are young pullets who just stared laying this year. Vanilla is sitting on a ping pong ball and Bunny has her egg plus Vanilla Ices green egg. We shall see how much they truly want to hatch something.

I still miss Topsy

 

[gg706]

sad for you.............. I hope you can find comfort.
My Araucana is setting and the 2 Wyandotte females are going in and pecking the broody hen on her comb she has an open pecked blood spot! I sectioned off a small part of the coop so they cant get to her. My broody hen can not get outside now, but not sure what else I could do....any suggestions, or did i do the right thing? She can get up from the nest and access her own food and water, but that is about it..
I only have a chicken tractor so there is only so much space inside. Normally they range all day. NOT liking the decision to build a tractor right now! Should I break her or let her hatch?

 

[Johnn]

Asparagus attacked me again today, i hatched out something evil

 

[Johnn]

Tonight at lock up I went in to count heads, as I opened the coop door I'm greeted by high pitched shrills and cackles. I've got two girls who are threatening to go broody, Vanilla Ice (WL/EE/silky mix) and Bunny (Splash Copper Maran). Both are young pullets who just stared laying this year. Vanilla is sitting on a ping pong ball and Bunny has her egg plus Vanilla Ices green egg. We shall see how much they truly want to hatch something.

I still miss Topsy

 

[dretd]

Asparagus attacked me again today, i hatched out something evil

And he seems so cute as a chick. Bad Rooster! Have you explained what happens to bad boys?

Hopefully it will pass and its just teenager hormones. If my experience with my roo, Butters, is any indication, this may be his personality (wait-- these guys are both named after delicious food...hmmm...). I kept Butters around for over a year doing behavior modification that would help for a while then the sneak attack again. Eventually gave him to a lady that bordered open space and wanted a good flock protector--he was very good at watching after his hens.

I have been meaning to tell you that your home/yard is beautiful, very lovely place to raise chickens. Seems pastoral--no place for a punk roo!

 

[Johnn]

And he seems so cute as a chick. Bad Rooster! Have you explained what happens to bad boys?

Hopefully it will pass and its just teenager hormones. If my experience with my roo, Butters, is any indication, this may be his personality (wait-- these guys are both named after delicious food...hmmm...). I kept Butters around for over a year doing behavior modification that would help for a while then the sneak attack again. Eventually gave him to a lady that bordered open space and wanted a good flock protector--he was very good at watching after his hens.

I have been meaning to tell you that your home/yard is beautiful, very lovely place to raise chickens. Seems pastoral--no place for a punk roo!

Ahhh thankyou! Im hoping its just a phase too!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Haha Johnn that Aspargus needs to learn who is boss!

I chatted with Topsy's new mom and she is doing great along with Fluffy. They are both laying although Topsy keeps trying to go stay on the nest. Lol! I warned her that Topsy LOVES to go broody.

In my coop I have the lovely young Splash Copper Maran Bunny sitting on her nest for the second night in a row. She laid another egg today. She now has 4 Maran, 1 green EE, and 1 WL egg under her. I'll let her hatch those if she wants to. No telling what they would be if they hatched as I've had a Partridge Silky and a Maran Roo around here mating all the girls.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Looking for advice.
I am just into my first complete year of raising chickens.
I now have two broody hens. Mary has been broody since right after Christmas and Gertie just started last week.
I have ordered hatching eggs which should be here tomorrow.
I moved the longest broody hen to a secluded area partitioned off from the rest of the flock.
Mary seemed to be upset at first and paced back and forth at the door. She seems to have settled in nicely and is now
sitting on the wooden eggs.
Should I keep Mary and Gertie in seperate areas or can I put them in the same enclosure (3' X6') with seperate nest boxes??

 

[fisherlady]

If they were flock mates before and didn't have trouble I would try the same area with different boxes idea... 3x6 should allow them plenty of elbow room. Just watch them for any conflicts in case you need to intervene or separate them again.

Good luck.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Thanks fisherlady. I will give it a try.

One more question please.

When do you re-introduce the hen and her chicks back into the flock?
The area I have sectioned off is inside the coop.
Eventually it will warm up here in Ohio and I will want the hen and chicks to
be able to go out into the run and then out in the yard in the evenings when they
pasture range.