Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ChickyChickens]

The chicks are veeeeery cute! I LOVE them!!

 

[bumpercarr]

The last time I broke the brood in one of my Dorkings, she was laying again in 2 weeks. I was quite surprised that it was so quick, and am not sure that it was typical. I'm sure that it depends on how long they've been brooding before you break them, what breed they are, whether it's early or late in the laying season, etc. But I would think it would always be sooner than if they were to hatch out a clutch, since they don't have to raise the chicks.

Thanks Sydney. I don't usually break broods, but when I went to pick up my new chickens, one of the hens that I chose was co-brooding. Naturally, she broke her brood on the 10 hour drive home, but she hasn't laid yet. It has only been 5 days, so I was wondering how long I should go without worrying about why she isn't laying. I think the move may also have pushed her into a light moult, so I may have that working against me as well. I'd like to get a few eggs to check fertility....but, I guess it will be on her time not mine.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Yes, there are a lot of factors going on with her besides just breaking her brood. Rehoming is a huge stress, especially if a hen is in the middle of a brood at the time. Now that the stress has produced a molt, it's more of a question of how long after a stress-induced molt do they start laying. That would have a lot of variables, probably too many to account for.

Poultry patience, please hover over and embrace me now!!!

You can't always control how their reproductive cycle goes. But minimizing her rehoming stress however you can, and encouraging her to eat good quality food (with extra protein to support the molt) can help her through this, and hopefully get her back into production sooner.

 

[bumpercarr]

Yes, there are a lot of factors going on with her besides just breaking her brood. Rehoming is a huge stress, especially if a hen is in the middle of a brood at the time. Now that the stress has produced a molt, it's more of a question of how long after a stress-induced molt do they start laying. That would have a lot of variables, probably too many to account for.

Poultry patience, please hover over and embrace me now!!!

You can't always control how their reproductive cycle goes. But minimizing her rehoming stress however you can, and encouraging her to eat good quality food (with extra protein to support the molt) can help her through this, and hopefully get her back into production sooner.

I feed everyone Flock Raiser and leave some oyster shell out for free choice. I find that works the best for me, higher protein and more good stuff for growing chickens and doesn't seem to bother the older ones. I'm thinking moult (although it is light) just because she (and the cock bird that I brought back with her) seem to be losing feathers in a few places that indicate moult to me (like under the chin). But it looks like it is a light one and you are right, stress induced. Frankly, I've never really had any of my birds go through a moult that was bad, I'm pretty careful about feeding really high quality feed which helps I think. I have some Feather Fixer, which would help them out I'm sure but you aren't supposed to feed it to the chook under 16 weeks. I've got some 6 week olds in the pen so Feather Fixer is probably not an option right now.

I've also placed an egg where I want her to lay (since she is now in a new home), maybe that will give her the hint.

Poultry patience, LOL. It is pretty hard to have, isn't it?

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

How often do hens generally leave the nest during the day?

My golden sebright hen is broody for the first time. She is sitting on two eggs. I moved her nest last night (a nest box constructed out of cardboard sitting inside a dog crate with food and water. It is elevated inside of the coop so she can still socialize with the flock during her breaks.). One of her eggs is on day three today and the other egg is on day one. I know it is some what staggered, but she laid her first egg and began sitting on it before I realized.
Today she has gotten off the nest two times, each time being close to an hour. Is this typical for a broody? Is a break longer than an hour ok? She seems to want to take a break a little longer than this, but I make sure she goes back in her nest before I leave the coop, because she gets confused since she is still getting used to her new nest location and I don't want her sitting on the wrong nest by mistake.

If it matters any, the outside temperature is in the 70F-80F.

Thanks.

 

[Johnn]

Bella and chick are enjoying being outside again

Managed to get a hold of Bella today and check her wound, it's healing really well. I have put another later of spray on though just to me on the safe side

 

[lilstarshine7]

I got my cochins because I want to experience the mother laying and hatching her own eggs. I am new to all of this so I have been reading and learning. My question is my cochins both hens are 4 months old and the rooster is the same. When do I put in the nest box? Do I put the nest in the coop with all of them, they are all cooped together? Do I start introducing laying feed now, can you guess I am a newbie...lol. Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Gardenlady2]

I have a Welsummer sitting on 4 eggs. Monday was day 20, and I was away from home all day. I went out Tuesday morning, day 21, and found a tiny black head peaking out from underneath mama hen's feathers!!!! I haven't seen any others yet. I'm afraid to move her to check in case others are trying to hatch. This is my first broody so I'm excited & nervous!
When is it okay to move her? How long do I wait after first chick hatched before giving up on other eggs? Today is day 22. The one I've seen likely hatched on day 20 or very early on day 21. She's in a nest box 2ft above ground so I have a box ready to set up on the floor for her & the chicks.
This morning, day 22, I couldn't see any chicks, but I heard mama talking a lot and saw an egg shell neatly tucked into the corner of the nest.

 

[Gardenlady2]

Sunny: my broody often took long breaks. It's in the 80s here. A few days ago she was off her nest for 2 hours or so......and yesterday morning I found a baby chick under her! So yes it's possible that the eggs are fine. This is my first time with a broody, so I'm no expert, but wanted to let you know my experience

 

[K Epp]

Leave her alone. She will bring the baby out when she is ready. When that happens check the other eggs and if they are still alive put them in a incubator to hatch then sneak them back under her at night after they are up and moving.