Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[funkyfeathers]

Mom with babies

The insisting on being broody BCM

 

[Fuffy]

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[member 104844]

Okay, call me old-fashioned (but that's why I am following this thread!

Do you recommend waiting until a hen shows broodiness or going ahead and attempting the hatch method once she starts laying?

I just have two silkies; the roo and the hen. They are sort of free-range. I feed them chicken feed occasionally, they are loose all day in a nice size area (for 2 small bantams), and they also get table scraps if it's something they should eat (no onions, chocolate, citrus, etc.) They are 10 months old and she only started laying a few days ago. She was laying the eggs where she roosts so they were all breaking. I changed their roost, so today she laid an egg under some shrubs, but when it rains the ground gets too wet there so I put the egg inside a nest box, inside their coop where they roost every night. It looks like she spent some time in the nest because she made a nest-shape inside the box, but she is not sitting on the egg. I have checked on her a few times during the day (I shut them both inside the coop after I found the egg), and she has either been on the roost right next to the nest or roosting on the edge of the nest box. I tried a dummy egg a few days ago, but found it broken outside of the nest box (don't know who was responsible). Her own egg she hasn't broken but she isn't sitting. I can keep them in lockdown as she lays more eggs; she did three eggs once a day then took a day off and had the one egg today. But I realize the eggs even not being broken aren't going to last long if she doesn't sit on them.
I'd appreciate anyone's ideas! I really want to have chicks, but I just have my chickens as pets anyway...I don't think I could bring myself to eat the eggs if she won't sit and don't know anyone who'd want eggs like that to eat, either.
I could give in and get a bator, I am pretty sure the eggs are fertile as the roo does his job very regularly and the broken eggs have had the white spot and a very rich orange yolk. However I kind of wanted momma hen to do her job and didn't want to put so much of my own effort into it so much as I'm not a breeder.

I can't post pics yet, but I have posted some on my BYC page. Thanks ahead of time

 

[Miss Lydia]

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you can't force a hen to become broody, but being you have a silkie it probably won't be long till she will be broody. They love to be broody. Give her time and just watch, when she starts to consistantly lay her eggs in the nest box, then she'll not want to leave it. She may pluck her feathers out of her chest area so she can have contact with the eggs. She may lay eggs for a week before she starts to sit They won't start to develop till she sits consistantly. You'll know when she become broody she'll flatten herself out like a pancake over her eggs and when anyone comes around she'll try to peck or she'll holler, when she comes out of the nest box she'll be all puffed out and in a bad mood so to speak. But these things we cannot force she'll just know when the time is right. So if you notice her laying in the nest box and staying in there for a while each day then leave her eggs there and she'll start to sit probably. I don't have silkies but have read about other peoples on this thread, you have you a good one for wanting to be broody, so just give her time..

 

[member 104844]

Okay! Should I let them free-range normally then? And if so, should I keep moving the eggs to the nest if she keeps laying under the shrubs?

If she doesn't sit, when should I ditch the eggs? I have been sufficiently scared by the egg-grenade scenario I really don't want that happening!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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when you say free range how far are they going? my chickens free range but still come home to lay their eggs, does she have more than one nest box? sometimes 2 makes them have a choice and helps. how often has she laid under the shrubs, you can leave the eggs for 10 days with out them rotting and exploding unless your temps are extremely high, but even then I think 10 days would still be okay.

 

[drdoolittle]

Here's a pic. of the "washcloth" baby and some hatchmates! I think he's the one that's kind of striped.

I have another that is hatching, but not sure if any of the other eggs are any good. I'd like to put the babies under my one remaining broody hen, but I'm not sure if she will accept them.

There was one little chocolate colored chick that was hatching yesterday, and I put it under my BO who already had 4 chicks, and I went out once today and he was standing in the house looking lost while "momma" was out in the run with the other 4.

Later in the afternoon I went out to check on them and found him almost dead laying in the run. It looked like one of the hens had pecked him around the eyes and he was almost scalped. He died soon after. It's sad, he was my favorite. Now I feel as if I have to keep the rest of the chicks inside. Does anyone have advice?

 

[Fuffy]

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I should leave well enough alone, if I were you.

Give the girl a chance to find her rhythm and get her hormones sorted out.

She will go broody when she's ready, and I expect you will rue the day you tried to make her broody soon enough. You will hardly be able to get her to stop

 

[Fuffy]

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Very cute!!!

How old were the BO's babies when you put the poor little one under?

So sorry it died!!!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Broody mama got off the nest last evening for a few seconds for a BIG broody poop - NOT fun to clean up - which gave me a chance to take the 2 unhatched eggs - which did NOT amuse her at all. Whole family was in an uproar at that point - mom clucking like mad and chicks screaming. At any rate, the 2 unhatched were both clear. No dead babies. So I am considering this hatch a complete success. Way to go, Red Sex Link.

Now we get to see how long she consents to mothering them ... (and how the frizzle frizzes!)