Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[winc564]

Hi. I am new here. I wanted to see what everyone thinks about my hen. She is a golden comet. Last night, at bedtime, I was startled to find her nesting rather than roosting. This morning, she was still nesting. When I came home, she was up. She ate and then at bedtime returned to the nest. I spied and watched her rearrange the nest, pick at the nesting materials, and it looked like she was picking up pieces of chips and tossing them onto her back. From what I have read, she is preparing to set. She has two eggs right now.

First, do you agree that she is broody or becoming broody? Second, what should I do? I would like to let her hatch eggs. Do I let her keep those two and add more?

 

[suchcutenails]

I just wanted to quickly update: we had four babies hatch over the weekend! She had eight eggs, but with candling, I thought we had four coming. When they were done hatching, she moved them to a corner of the crate, and covered the other four eggs with bedding. It has been fascinating to watch her with them

They are all back out in the coop with the rest of the big girls (in the crate). This was a little scary because we are getting below freezing temps overnight, but mama is doing a fabulous job! They have mingled a bit with the big girls (mama's doing!) and everything went well. I'm so glad I decided to let this happen! It is not the best time of year, but she is a great little mama, and everyone is doing well!!! Thanks for your tips and advice on this thread!

 

[h2oratt]

I just wanted to quickly update: we had four babies hatch over the weekend! She had eight eggs, but with candling, I thought we had four coming. When they were done hatching, she moved them to a corner of the crate, and covered the other four eggs with bedding. It has been fascinating to watch her with them

They are all back out in the coop with the rest of the big girls (in the crate). This was a little scary because we are getting below freezing temps overnight, but mama is doing a fabulous job! They have mingled a bit with the big girls (mama's doing!) and everything went well. I'm so glad I decided to let this happen! It is not the best time of year, but she is a great little mama, and everyone is doing well!!! Thanks for your tips and advice on this thread!

It is amazing isn't it?

 

[karenerwin]

Hi. I am new here. I wanted to see what everyone thinks about my hen. She is a golden comet. Last night, at bedtime, I was startled to find her nesting rather than roosting. This morning, she was still nesting. When I came home, she was up. She ate and then at bedtime returned to the nest. I spied and watched her rearrange the nest, pick at the nesting materials, and it looked like she was picking up pieces of chips and tossing them onto her back. From what I have read, she is preparing to set. She has two eggs right now.

First, do you agree that she is broody or becoming broody? Second, what should I do? I would like to let her hatch eggs. Do I let her keep those two and add more?

It sounds as if she is going broody. I would give her a few more days to see if she sticks with it. Then I would give her fertilized eggs all at the same time. You can store them in the house as you collect them. This way they have a better chance of all hatching at the same time. If they are due on different days she could abandon them when the first eggs hatch. Good luck!

 

[sjturner79]

Shadows and cuddles with a dozen eggs

 

[winc564]

It sounds as if she is going broody. I would give her a few more days to see if she sticks with it. Then I would give her fertilized eggs all at the same time. You can store them in the house as you collect them. This way they have a better chance of all hatching at the same time. If they are due on different days she could abandon them when the first eggs hatch. Good luck!

Thank you. She stayed on the nest overnight. I have a few more questions (sorry!):

1. If I take the eggs that she has, will that cause her to leave the nest?
2. At what point do I give her eggs?

 

[fisherlady]

Thank you.  She stayed on the nest overnight.  I have a few more questions (sorry!):

1. If I take the eggs that she has, will that cause her to leave the nest?
2. At what point do I give her eggs?  

Check to see if she is pooping in the nest...if she is then she has just decided she prefers it as a cozy place to sleep or hide. A real broody does not routinely soil her nest.

If she is broody consider your options...do you have a set up which is chick friendly during cold weather? What are you going to do with cockerels? Do you want her to sit where she is or does she need moved to a more private location? Can you finish the incubation and raise the chicks if she quits?
Figure out the logistical problems before you give her eggs...there is always a chance that a hen's broodiness will break when she is moved. Sometimes they just give up for no reason, it happens...thankfully it doesn't happen often!
Give her a couple of days of solid sitting in whatever location you want her to brood before giving her eggs, give the eggs all at once and mark them with a solid line the whole way around the middle of the egg so you can quickly check her for 'foreign eggs' if her nest can be accessed by other hens.

 

[winc564]

Check to see if she is pooping in the nest...if she is then she has just decided she prefers it as a cozy place to sleep or hide. A real broody does not routinely soil her nest.

If she is broody consider your options...do you have a set up which is chick friendly during cold weather? What are you going to do with cockerels? Do you want her to sit where she is or does she need moved to a more private location? Can you finish the incubation and raise the chicks if she quits?
Figure out the logistical problems before you give her eggs...there is always a chance that a hen's broodiness will break when she is moved. Sometimes they just give up for no reason, it happens...thankfully it doesn't happen often!
Give her a couple of days of solid sitting in whatever location you want her to brood before giving her eggs, give the eggs all at once and mark them with a solid line the whole way around the middle of the egg so you can quickly check her for 'foreign eggs' if her nest can be accessed by other hens.

This is extremely helpful. I believe I have answers to these questions, but let me know if you see any problems:

As far as poop, I have seen none in the nest. On the other hand, I wasn't going out of the way to check for it. I will look tonight.

Chick-friendly set up: I have a chick brooder that would hold mom and babies inside my garage if necessary. At the moment, we are having exceptional weather for our area with warmer temps than usual, so I could keep her where she is for now.

Cockerals: I have the space and means to house them if necessary. I live in a chicken - friendly area, so there are lots of chicken homes. I live on a farm and we are not necessarily opposed to having them end up in the freezer if there are no other options. (Sorry if anyone is opposed. I don't mean to be offensive.)

Location: Where she is nesting, I have the ability to construct a dog crate around her. I can actually set it down over her and give her a space within my existing coop. From what I have read, this would be good for her, since this is the place she picked for herself. I also have the supplies to give her food and water in the space. (It's a large dog crate.)

If she quits: I do own an incubator that I can have on stand by.

 

[fisherlady]

This is extremely helpful.  I believe I have answers to these questions, but let me know if you see any problems:

As far as poop, I have seen none in the nest.  On the other hand, I wasn't going out of the way to check for it.  I will look tonight.

Chick-friendly set up:  I have a chick brooder that would hold mom and babies inside my garage if necessary.  At the moment, we are having exceptional weather for our area with warmer temps than usual, so I could keep her where she is for now.

Cockerals: I have the space and means to house them if necessary.  I live in a chicken - friendly area, so there are lots of chicken homes.  I live on a farm and we are not necessarily opposed to having them end up in the freezer if there are no other options. (Sorry if anyone is opposed. I don't mean to be offensive.)

Location: Where she is nesting, I have the ability to construct a dog crate around her.  I can actually set it down over her and give her a space within my existing coop.  From what I have read, this would be good for her, since this is the place she picked for herself.  I also have the supplies to give her food and water in the space. (It's a large dog crate.)

If she quits: I do own an incubator that I can have on stand by.

Sounds like you are well organized to let her brood...so decide where you want to get eggs from and have those arrangements on standby so you can set her once you have confirmed that she is serious...

GOOD LUCK! And remember to post pictures when she hatches!

 

[karenerwin]

Thank you. She stayed on the nest overnight. I have a few more questions (sorry!):

1. If I take the eggs that she has, will that cause her to leave the nest?
2. At what point do I give her eggs?

When you mark her eggs, the ones you give her to hatch, be sure to make your mark very obvious! I have overlooked my mark before and was so upset with myself when I figured out I had pulled the wrong eggs and killed some otherwise very healthily growing embryos.