Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Newbie question!!! I have a broody with a dozen fertile eggs under her. I have her in her own quiet location with food and water and she's sitting on them religiously...to the point that she won't move. I don't believe she even gets up to eat or drink as there are no droppings in her pen at all. Today is day 3. I've lifted her off the nest once for the past 2 days, even putting her beak in the water but she freaks out and runs back to the nest. I'm concerned that she is not getting off the nest at all. Any suggestions as how to deal with this? I'm worried about handling her and moving her too much as the last hen that I tried this with (thankfully before I placed the fertile eggs under her) refused to sit on the eggs after I moved her and now shows no broody tendencies after she had been sitting for about a week.
 
There is actually an article and subsequent postings on how to promote broodiness in hens on this forum. A study was done where they placed aluminum foil on the top and back of the nesting box and it is supposed to promote the secretion of the hormone that causes the hen to go broody (if I remember right). Just something to look into :)
 
shamn said:
There is actually an article and subsequent postings on how to promote broodiness in hens on this forum. A study was done where they placed aluminum foil on the top and back of the nesting box and it is supposed to promote the secretion of the hormone that causes the hen to go broody (if I remember right). Just something to look into :)
Click to expand...

I believe that was posted on April fools day... not too sure how much I would trust that advice. If you do want to try it I would advise to make sure the hens can't peck at the foil and potentially ingest it.
 
fisherlady said:
Quote:

little said:
can someone with more knowledge than i,give me a sort of blow by blow list of this experence starting with her mating and ending with chicks?please!
Click to expand...

I have quoted my previous answer to one of your questions to cover part of what you ask.
A hen can and will lay eggs on a regular basis no matter if there is a rooster around or not. If there is a rooster and they are able to mate then there is a good chance that the eggs are fertile.

If...not when... but if... a hens hormones get her into a broody mood she will begin trying to collect egg, either hers or those of other hens in her flock to set on. This process if left alone may take a few days, once she is totally into her broody mood she will stop laying completely so any additional eggs gathered are from other hens.

Once a hen has a clutch of eggs to set on (hopefully she gets them all within a day or two of each other to prevent staggered hatching) she will park herself on the nest and stay there 24 hrs a day, every day, for 21 days. Which is the approximate time it takes for the egg's embryo to develop to hatching size.

Once the chicks hatch they have 2 or 3 days during which they don't need food or water yet, this allows them to stay under mama hen waiting for later eggs to hatch. This allows mama to stay on the later eggs rather than abandoning them to find food and water for the first hatchers.

If you want further understanding of the process you need to start doing a lot of reading. There is a tremendous amount of info available in the learning center.... or even go back to the start of this thread and read a hundred or so pages, in any 100 pages of posts I think most questions are asked and answered at least once.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
shamn said:
Newbie question!!! I have a broody with a dozen fertile eggs under her. I have her in her own quiet location with food and water and she's sitting on them religiously...to the point that she won't move. I don't believe she even gets up to eat or drink as there are no droppings in her pen at all. Today is day 3. I've lifted her off the nest once for the past 2 days, even putting her beak in the water but she freaks out and runs back to the nest. I'm concerned that she is not getting off the nest at all. Any suggestions as how to deal with this? I'm worried about handling her and moving her too much as the last hen that I tried this with (thankfully before I placed the fertile eggs under her) refused to sit on the eggs after I moved her and now shows no broody tendencies after she had been sitting for about a week.
Click to expand...

It sounds like you have provided your hen with a good environment for a successful hatch.... you should be able to trust her to get up when she needs to unless she has soiled her nest in the past. With a broody's systems all being in 'slow motion' while setting their needs are reduced. I do like you have though... I make sure she has an easy source for food and water close by, but I do place a very small dish with food or high protein treats right into a corner of her nest to allow her to eat without having to get up.
Make sure the broody isn't loosing too much weight, and you can even try to offer her water while setting on the nest if you don't think she is getting up for it herself. A couple of our hens really seem to suck up the room service when offered! LOL... but a couple have turned their snooty little broody beaks up at the offer... so it depends on the bird.

Don't worry about trying to get her up every day. If she is in a nest which she can easily get into and out of, and it is in a quiet location she will get up when ready most likely. Some hens do soil in the nest, which obviously isn't desirable, but does happen and can be dealt with by removing the hen from the nest (you will smell the broody poo if she does this!), removing soiled bedding and replacing it with clean and then allowing her back into the nest. Keep a soft, clean cloth handy to wipe off any heavy soiling from the egg if needed, or use some clean bedding to do it, don't rub too much because the less you disturb the outer protection layer of the egg the better. If your hen has soiled the nest before then you are probably going to have to remove her every other day or so if you don't see signs she has been out on her own.
 
fisherlady said:
I believe that was posted on April fools day... not too sure how much I would trust that advice. If you do want to try it I would advise to make sure the hens can't peck at the foil and potentially ingest it.
Click to expand...
Oh My!!! You are right...boy the article sounded authentic. I'm glad I hadn't tried it ;)
 

Similar threads

BDutch
    • Love
    • Like
  • Poll
Natural breeding thread
42 43 44
Replies
436
Views
23K
Skyeknight
Skyeknight
peafowl_Lover
Hatching using a broody hen
Replies
2
Views
463
peafowl_Lover
peafowl_Lover
N
Question about Incubating Bantam Eggs
2
Replies
10
Views
622
Noah209
N
D
    • Like
2 broody hens pooping in their nest, one with chicks. Help
Replies
3
Views
220
dutchsilkie
D
Silverhooligan
    • Like
Three Broody Hens mixing and sharing clutches.
Replies
6
Views
673
Silverhooligan
Silverhooligan

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom