Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[MargaretYakoda]

If this were possible, I would do it, but it's not.

Can you get a large dog crate and put your broody in that? That way your broody could go pretty much anywhere.

 

[Scrambles55]

@Scott H You really do need to separate them. The chicks will get trampled on and killed.

 

[Scrambles55]

This is how I separated them. Rumples and the chicks now have a broody pen until the chicks are older.

 

[TeaChick]

The only bit of advice I've got is to switch the broody's water and feed dish to one meant for cats or small dogs. I used my cat's old feeder station, which I bought from Walmart, but you could probably find something similar from many pet stores. It has a base which is darn near untippable, and holds two small stainless steel bowls. I put broody's food and water in that and she never tipped it once for three whole weeks. And she ate! Oh boy! Did she eat! LOL.

Oh, good advice. Thank you!!!!

 

[fisherlady]

If this were possible, I would do it, but it's not.

If it isn't possible to give her a spot all of her own you need to block access for other hens. Create a wire door to place over the opening of her box. Get her out once a day to stretch, eat and poo. Place a hamster type waterer at the opening of her nest so she can reach it. You will either have to find solutions to her difficulties or her brood will most likely fail no matter how hard she tries.

 

[Scrambles55]

If it isn't possible to give her a spot all of her own you need to block access for other hens. Create a wire door to place over the opening of her box. Get her out once a day to stretch, eat and poo. Place a hamster type waterer at the opening of her nest so she can reach it. You will either have to find solutions to her difficulties or her brood will most likely fail no matter how hard she tries.

 

[TeaChick]

Bella is a useless broody, I went up today and she was off her eggs. I went over to her nest and both were pretty much cold. Once I had got there she was out for a further 10-15 mins and then when she went back I got a phone call form my friend so I spoke to them and then went to check on her. I opened the door to find Daisy on her nest (not Bela's fault), so I moved Daisy and Bella was just happily sitting on nothing on the floor. She seemed to have no desire to go back so I had to put her back. She is going to be really, really lucky if she gets anything.

Chicks second day out. Look how angry she was when the phone go too close!

I like that "I'm watching you!" look!!! Cute chicks (of course!!!)

About 10 days ago, I had failed to collect eggs for a couple days in one coop and two hens went broody at the same time. So I have 2 that are at least a week in.

Yay for broodies!!!
Hopefully,

!!!

She got them to bed by herself tonight!

Yay for momma hen!!!

After a couple days of being ill, I finally got out to the coop with the boys to candle our broody's eggs yesterday. It was day 7 so we couldn't see much other than the darkness is filling most of the egg. All 8 eggs look great as far as we can tell.

Ms Broody-butt seems to be the perfect broody so far. It had been cold and rainy for several days so she was never off the nest for more than a few moments. Yesterday it was finally sunny and warmer so she ventured out and did a massive broody poop outside. It even grossed out the boys. Ha!

We bribed her off the nest in the evening with grapes to candle the eggs. She devoured the grapes and some FF. Then she was right back on those eggs. Can't wait to see how she does with her fluffy chicks!

Glad Ms Broody-butt is doing so well!!!

 

[TeaChick]

If this were possible, I would do it, but it's not.

Can you put a wire door on the nest box and place food and water inside for her. Or, if you can put some kind of a door or blockade (to keep the other hens out), would you be able to let/put her out each day (maybe twice a day)?

 

[Scrambles55]

Don't know what to do about this.....

Is that nest box removable?? Can you take it out and put it in a large dog crate like I have in a previous post? Or put it in a large cardboard box?? With food and water for her.

 

[Johnn]

I like that "I'm watching you!" look!!! Cute chicks (of course!!!)

Yay for broodies!!!
Hopefully,

!!!




Yay for momma hen!!!

Glad Ms Broody-butt is doing so well!!!

Thanks