Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ldrwnorman47]

I HAVE BABIES !

Yesterday was day 21 and no babies. At 8 o'clock i found 3 babies and 1 on the way and there was 10 other eggs couldnt tell if they were piped or such......Cant wiat to go home from work !!!!
pictures tommarrow !

 

[Jabbok]

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I have a similar situation ... my broody cochin is setting 11 fresh eggs that I placed under her last Sunday. By Wednesday, one was missing, and I had 10 eggs. Today, when I put some new hay in the nest box, which is on the coop floor, there are 8 eggs. No evidence of shells, yolks, etc. The coop is shut tight at night, and she is in her nest box almost all of the time. She has food and water within 12 inches of her nest box. The coop is in my garden, no dogs, snakes, etc. around.... I have a regular size garden in a tract house neighborhood. There are 7 other chickens around that are not broody, and do not bother her. Any idea where those 3 eggs disappeared to?

I've been thinking about this since my hens tend to eat my silkie's eggs. Hers tend to break easily and have very thin shells. I'm not sure if she just doesn't eat enough oyester shell or there's something wrong with her shell gland. But, if I get her egg first I get it in tact, but if they get to it before me it's gone. So, I'm wondering if maybe when mama is moving the eggs around in the nest, if she gets a little rough and one cracks then she goes ahead and eats it. Especially since brooding is next to fasting, eggs have plenty of liquid and convenient appealing food.

Its just a thought, I hope she stops! Does she get off the nest at all to eat and drink otherwise? I've been taking mine off the nest ever couple of days 'cause she shows now interest in taking care of herself.

The thinner shell could be what caused the eggs to break. She seems much happier since I put her in her own cage, so maybe her defending the other nest from the other hens helped in the egg breaking.

We have to hand feed and use a water dropper for our hen. She doesn't move off the eggs. I should get her up for a poo session in the coop have her stretch a little. She has food and water near her, but does not budge. How long can she be off the eggs? The other day I had to wash her eggs and her belly since she was sticky with eggs. I hope that was ok.

I really appreciate all the advice, help and ideas from folks on here. This site is awesome!

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
I've been thinking about this since my hens tend to eat my silkie's eggs. Hers tend to break easily and have very thin shells. I'm not sure if she just doesn't eat enough oyester shell or there's something wrong with her shell gland. But, if I get her egg first I get it in tact, but if they get to it before me it's gone. So, I'm wondering if maybe when mama is moving the eggs around in the nest, if she gets a little rough and one cracks then she goes ahead and eats it. Especially since brooding is next to fasting, eggs have plenty of liquid and convenient appealing food.

Its just a thought, I hope she stops! Does she get off the nest at all to eat and drink otherwise? I've been taking mine off the nest ever couple of days 'cause she shows now interest in taking care of herself.

The thinner shell could be what caused the eggs to break. She seems much happier since I put her in her own cage, so maybe her defending the other nest from the other hens helped in the egg breaking.

We have to hand feed and use a water dropper for our hen. She doesn't move off the eggs. I should get her up for a poo session in the coop have her stretch a little. She has food and water near her, but does not budge. How long can she be off the eggs? The other day I had to wash her eggs and her belly since she was sticky with eggs. I hope that was ok.

I really appreciate all the advice, help and ideas from folks on here. This site is awesome!

Last year my broody was away from the house so I couldn't see her unless I went to the top of the garden. I got her off the nest and shut her out twice a day for 10 mins. I actually used my kitchen timer just to be sure (picky, I know).
This year I have the nursery right by my living room french window. She does it all herself...I just make sure she has nice tempting treats and pick up the poop

 

[Suechick]

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I have heard people say not to bother the broody at all and I have heard of people who take them off the nest. We decided every other day would be helpful. So, we take her off the nest and let her walk around the yard. We can see how stiff she is when we first bring her out, she can barely bring herself to stand after sitting for 2 days

After a couple of minutes she starts scratching around, we discovered that she prefers to scratch up her food and not eat it out of a bowl or feeder so we scatter it on the ground for her. She eats and poops and eats and poops she doesn't drink until she's done eating. Just before she's ready to go back on the nest she takes a long long drink. After that, I make sure she gets back to the nest and watch her settle down on the eggs. She stays off the nest 15-20 minutes. I've heard 30 minutes a day is safe. Yesterday when she went back I could see she had a full bulging crop, and that made me soooo happy

I'm convinced that she eats more in that 20 minutes than she does in the 2 days of sitting. There seems to be a significant behavior change when she's off the nest, like all of a sudden she realizes that she's hungry and thirsty etc. While she's on the nest the only thing she's thinking of is those eggs. I'm hoping that by getting her out and about plus getting as much high calorie food in her as possible it will help her to have what she needs to stay on the nest.

 

[Suechick]

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Congrats!!!

 

[Jabbok]

Quote:
I have heard people say not to bother the broody at all and I have heard of people who take them off the nest. We decided every other day would be helpful. So, we take her off the nest and let her walk around the yard. We can see how stiff she is when we first bring her out, she can barely bring herself to stand after sitting for 2 days

After a couple of minutes she starts scratching around, we discovered that she prefers to scratch up her food and not eat it out of a bowl or feeder so we scatter it on the ground for her. She eats and poops and eats and poops she doesn't drink until she's done eating. Just before she's ready to go back on the nest she takes a long long drink. After that, I make sure she gets back to the nest and watch her settle down on the eggs. She stays off the nest 15-20 minutes. I've heard 30 minutes a day is safe. Yesterday when she went back I could see she had a full bulging crop, and that made me soooo happy

I'm convinced that she eats more in that 20 minutes than she does in the 2 days of sitting. There seems to be a significant behavior change when she's off the nest, like all of a sudden she realizes that she's hungry and thirsty etc. While she's on the nest the only thing she's thinking of is those eggs. I'm hoping that by getting her out and about plus getting as much high calorie food in her as possible it will help her to have what she needs to stay on the nest.

Oh that sounds great - I do feel bad for her, even though I know it's natural. lol I'll take my timer and let her out for a bit to see what happens.

**UPDATE I did take her out and let her roam the yard and she ended up dusting under the porch - good, dry dirt the chickens use under there and it's fine with me since no one looks there anyway. She was definitely stiff and she did eat some and, wow, the biggest chicken turd I've ever seen! lol She didn't drink anything though.

 

[ldrwnorman47]

This was as of 8 o clock this morning, im crossing my fingers for more when I get home !

 

[Suechick]

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so sweet!!!

 

[ldrwnorman47]

Everyday when I check my hens and boody I give them snacks. As soon as that broody hears me toss that stuff on the ground she hops of the nest for some eats a few and right back to the nest.
Before day 16 I let her out every couple days for exercise.

 

[Suechick]

Has anyone noticed the comb on their broody hen getting a little bit pale? My girl's comb just doesn't look right to me, I'm wondering if I should be worried?