Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

A chick hatched!!!! 3 days late but one hatched!!

 

[bumpercarr]

A chick hatched!!!! 3 days late but one hatched!!

Happy!

 

[YDotties]

5 days later and my Wyandotte broody is still acting the part. But, she's still nest hopping. For those that don't know the back story, my broody sat for 5 days, I gave her 2 eggs and she sat for another 9 days. On the 10th day she abandoned her broody nest box for another nest box nearby. Could anyone advise on what I do from this point forward? I'm wondering if I should risk giving her store bought chicks...or more eggs. I'm worried sitting another 21 days on new eggs will be harmful for her health wise. How long can hens be broody?
Thanks in advance everyone for your shared knowledge and experience!

 

[bumpercarr]

5 days later and my Wyandotte broody is still acting the part. But, she's still nest hopping. For those that don't know the back story, my broody sat for 5 days, I gave her 2 eggs and she sat for another 9 days. On the 10th day she abandoned her broody nest box for another nest box nearby. Could anyone advise on what I do from this point forward? I'm wondering if I should risk giving her store bought chicks...or more eggs. I'm worried sitting another 21 days on new eggs will be harmful for her health wise. How long can hens be broody?
Thanks in advance everyone for your shared knowledge and experience!

I've had hens be broody for as long as 6 weeks, but I wouldn't recommend it. If store bought chicks are an option, I would go that route. Especially since she seems a little flaky about sitting on eggs. Maybe after she gets the idea that if she sits, she gets babies she'll stay on the next brood. Hard to say though, I had a hatchery bird that would sit for about 10 days and then leave every single time. Then, she'd steal the good broody's chicks once they hatched. Sometimes the hatchery birds aren't sure what to do about their hormones.

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
x2.... I would prepare to brood 5 or 6 chicks yourself... but give them to the broody instead. I added 3 TSC chicks to my last broodies hatch and I followed another member's advice (thank you Lady of McCamly!). She wisely advised that chicks from the store don't understand what a broody is all about... so when I brought home the youngsters I took them direct from the box and placed them under the broody. She seemed quite surprised but shuffled herself to give them room. I then waited for a bit and sure enough one poked it's head out and decided to venture forth into the world. It was as surprised to see the broody as she was to see the chick. Now I was lucky and my broody was quite cooperative about the whole thing... but the chicks were pretty clueless about what a mama was for.
I had them in an enclosed, safe area and spent a lot of time with them that first few hours. I placed food and water within easy reach and each time a chick came out I made sure it didn't 'get lost' by straying too far from the broody. I would give it a few minutes and when it started to cheep I would gently push it back to the broody so it could be tucked back under her (sometimes with my help). I had to do this 2 or 3 times with each chick probably over the course of 3 hours and then they started to find their way back to her on their own. After they started figuring things out I then just checked on them every couple of hours to make sure no one was 'lost'. They seemed like natural born pros after a few hours though. By the next morning they were bopping about like they had hatched under her. I don't know if all babies and broodies will behave this way, but it makes sense that they don't understand a broody when all they have ever known is an incubator and a brooder under a bright light....

 

[YDotties]

Thank you. Thank you. That all makes perfect sense. I will use all that wisdom to decide my next move... Break her broodiness or give her chicks on my day off.

 

[Debs55]

3 chicks hatched now!

 

[shamn]

I could use some help in this area. I have a BA that has gone broody (1 year old-originally a TSC chick). She's been broody for about 1 to 1 1/2 weeks now. I have someone saving some fertile eggs for me and planned to put them under her. Unfortunately, she is nesting on a high shelf, about 3 feet off the floor, where the majority of my hens have deemed to be the best place to lay an egg So 1 or 2 hens will be piled on top of her to lay their egg and she won't move. I decided it would be best to move her. I made a "nest" in a box on the ground, placed her and the eggs (non-fertile) she had been sitting on in there at night. She sat for about 5 minutes then moved. In the morning, she was back up on her original nesting place even though I thought I had blocked it off (who said chickens were stupid!). A few of the eggs on the ground nest had been eaten which is not a behavior my chickens have done before. So this time I moved her into my empty brooder with a nest and a few eggs she collected from the other chickens laying to see what she would do. Same behavior, she sat for about 5 minutes then left and won't return to the nest. Right now she's roosting on a little ledge. I'd really like to keep her broody, is this something she will do in a day or so when she gets used to these surroundings? She is still in the same coop and can see the other chickens but wouldn't lay on the nest today, she also has pulled out all her feathers under her belly and thighs. Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Also, if she or another hen go broody again and I want to move them, how should I do it? Wait until the chicks are hatched?

 

[CooperDooper]

A chick hatched!!!! 3 days late but one hatched!!

Yay!!! Better late than never

 

[Debs55]

Yay!!! Better late than never

yep! and now there are 3 hatched!