Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

Quote:
That is so awesome! Glad you gave them the extra time!

 

[bumpercarr]

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?

I never move mine. Just take extra eggs out. I mark the eggs that I've set under her so that I can easily identify them from any angle (usually a circle around the fat end works for me). Mine keeps everyone else away from her once the chicks hatch, so I don't really need to worry about her letting one of the others hurt the chicks. However, sometimes when a chick wanders off one of the others will steal it, but I've never had a chick injured by any of my flock. Sounds like yours is determined to brood in that particular nest and isn't taking the move very well.

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

I just candled the eggs I put under my broody and all but one had veining!!!
First time doing this, soo excited!!

 

[fisherlady]

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?

Some hens just don't like to move... you can try again, and cover the nest area with a blanket to keep her dark and quiet for a while to see if she will settle in. If not there is always the option of allowing her to go back to her chosen nest and trying to build a broody 'veranda' in front of her to discourage other hens from trying to get up to her and also to allow a 'safety zone' for the chicks when they hatch by adding a railing before hatch day, then move her and the chicks to a floor nest after that. I did this for two of ours who insisted on a high box... a 10 inch by 30 inch piece of plywood with supports to the floor and a piece of chicken wire to create a railing around it. If the hens continue to give her trouble you can completely enclose the veranda for a few days and the broody will have a restricted area, but at least be able to get out of the nest for a bit of movement, and you can get her in and out of the area yourself once a day or so to give her more freedom.

 

[fisherlady]

I just candled the eggs I put under my broody and all but one had veining!!!
First time doing this, soo excited!!

you'll have chicks before you know it!

 

[Debs55]

you'll have chicks before you know it!

oh but it is such a long wait…make sure you don't panic if they are late! lol

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

I can't wait!, April 9th is day 21.
She was so funny all puffed up and growly

 

[shamn]

Some hens just don't like to move... you can try again, and cover the nest area with a blanket to keep her dark and quiet for a while to see if she will settle in. If not there is always the option of allowing her to go back to her chosen nest and trying to build a broody 'veranda' in front of her to discourage other hens from trying to get up to her and also to allow a 'safety zone' for the chicks when they hatch by adding a railing before hatch day, then move her and the chicks to a floor nest after that. I did this for two of ours who insisted on a high box... a 10 inch by 30 inch piece of plywood with supports to the floor and a piece of chicken wire to create a railing around it. If the hens continue to give her trouble you can completely enclose the veranda for a few days and the broody will have a restricted area, but at least be able to get out of the nest for a bit of movement, and you can get her in and out of the area yourself once a day or so to give her more freedom.

Thank you! If she is not on the nest I created in the morning, I'll let her go with the rest of the flock. I was just afraid that once the chicks hatched they would fall off that high area. Sounds like it'll be easier to move mama and babies once they hatch

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
I've never had trouble moving a broody after the fact... as long as she has a safe nest and her babies she seems happy to stay put.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I've never had trouble moving a broody after the fact... as long as she has a safe nest and her babies she seems happy to stay put.

x2

I've had trouble moving broodies with eggs...some birds simply won't adjust...but I've never had a problem moving mom and babies...often mom takes up a new residence with babies if the babies can't get to the original nest (too high), so she'll already be in the mood likely.

Lady of McCamley