Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[nchls school]

Hey all found my golden Laced sebright on 11 eggs today only two of which were bantam eggs lol. She was actually covering them pretty well but hasn't fully committed. How can I encourage her to commit? If she is not the tamest of hens, make her nest as private and secluded as you can without changing the nest proper.Thanks for your help

X 2 on fisherlady.

 

[snlconner]

2-3 of my other hens have not laid since our one has went broody. Is this normal? We're on day 5.

 

[chickendreams24]

Thanks yeah I figured I would only give her 4-5 eggs or so, tops of 6, so she can cover them but she's not sleeping in the nest box how can I encourage her to commit moreso. I would love to have her hatch some chickies for the Easter hatch-a-long.

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks yeah I figured I would only give her 4-5 eggs or so, tops of 6, so she can cover them but she's not sleeping in the nest box how can I encourage her to commit moreso. I would love to have her hatch some chickies for the Easter hatch-a-long.

Pick 4-5 'sacrificial' eggs, mark them with a permanent marker the whole way around the center. Place them in a cushy nest in a quiet location of your preference, I prefer to use cat boxes or similar box that can be picked up and moved if needed. Lay a pillowcase or towel over the box to keep it artificially dim but still allow air flow. Show your broody the nest and see if it doesn't entice her to set. Unfortunately about the best we can do is provide enticing nest areas, the rest is totally her game.

 

[fisherlady]

2-3 of my other hens have not laid since our one has went broody. Is this normal? We're on day 5.

Brooding can sometimes be treated like a team sport by a flock, one hen does all the dirty work but everyone wants involved so their dna is passed along also so they try to add to the clutch or build a second one if another hen is getting ideas from the first. I would check under your hen for stray eggs which have been added since she began to set or look for another hidden nest. Another less likely alternative (but should be eliminated as a possibility) is that there is an illness issue, not a broody thing.... make sure there are no parasites such as lice or mites infecting the broody or other hens in the flock... stresses from parasites, illness, molting or major coop changes can all interrupt normal egging routines.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Pick 4-5 'sacrificial' eggs, mark them with a permanent marker the whole way around the center. Place them in a cushy nest in a quiet location of your preference, I prefer to use cat boxes or similar box that can be picked up and moved if needed. Lay a pillowcase or towel over the box to keep it artificially dim but still allow air flow. Show your broody the nest and see if it doesn't entice her to set. Unfortunately about the best we can do is provide enticing nest areas, the rest is totally her game.

If you could get fake eggs they would work too, Hobby Lobby has some. Are there hobby lobby's in Wisconsin?
I have some fake ceramic eggs that I used and they worked for the standard size broodies but for the bantam broodies I made smaller fake eggs out of clay.

 

[chickendreams24]

Yes we have hobby lobby's. Okay perhaps I'll try that the other question I have is that the rest of the girls are picking on her and being mean I'm sure they probably think she's ill or they want her nest box but she's mostly too little to do much other than scream. What can I do about this? Should I lovlck her in a crate before I know she's ready? She is still coming off the nest some time after she has layed...

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Yes we have hobby lobby's. Okay perhaps I'll try that the other question I have is that the rest of the girls are picking on her and being mean I'm sure they probably think she's ill or they want her nest box but she's mostly too little to do much other than scream. What can I do about this? Should I lovlck her in a crate before I know she's ready? She is still coming off the nest some time after she has layed...

They are probably picking at her because she is at the bottom of the pecking order, maybe try blocking off the nest box she is in so she can't get out and they can't get in. Open it so she can have a break when you do chores. Also broody hens don't lay.

 

[chickendreams24]

OK so she's just thinking about it so how can I encourage her to commit like I said?

 

[PD-Riverman]

OK so she's just thinking about it so how can I encourage her to commit like I said?

If you figure out a way to get her/other hens to set/commit----put that valuable info into a book and sell it!!