Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Tumbleweed Farm]

Thanks John

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
My broody only got off the nest every 3 days or so and she was fine. Raised a fine brood as well. I put a small dish of food and water within her reach when we were about half way through. I noticed the water going down a tiny bit but she barely touched the food. This was full heat of summer as well. Once the chicks hatched, however, different story!

Good luck!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My goodness I go way for 1 night and look what happens,

Robin, stony and poor BG with all the chicks she has hatched she is now wanting to go on a road trip to get more. I know broodys are the best. Ya'll keep up the good work cause I am having to live the broody life to ya'll right now!

 

[Niss]

Quote:
I'm going to have to plan a broodie kidnapping road trip! I'm SOOOOO jealous. And my incubator is loaded yet again. You with all your cuteness and stony with cuteness due any day now ... <sigh>

I can only hope my tiny puff ball 4 week old Silkie in the basement is FEMALE ....

Congrats, by the way, and I hope more good news is on the way

(Freddie, my Frizzle, isn't going to be brooding eggs any time soon, that's for sure!

At least he's entertaining - and, he comes when he's called!!!

)

My happy discovery? White Silkie "Fluffy Ball" getting it on with roo "Columbia" this weekend...Broody in the making , I hope!
Lastnight I had 3 hens sleeping in nests that don't usually do that and I got all excited, but I think they were just cold

 

[lswatson111304]

Hi, I thought I'd pop in here and ask a broody question. I'm not getting much response in behaviors and egglaying. I was wondering what is the youngest a hen can go broody? I have one that has only been laying for a month and is acting very broody for the past 3 days. She won't get off the nest and puffs up when I try to get near. I'm scared to gather her eggs.
Also if she is broody how soon would i need fertile eggs to put under her?

 

[Johnn]

Quote:
I think they can broody as soon as they start laying

 

[lswatson111304]

Thanks!

 

[artsyrobin]

ny silkie hen flo went broody within a month of laying the first time, she has now hatched 3 times... don't know that there is an age limit

 

[lswatson111304]

Thank you! I didn't know if they needed to be more "mature". This is my first possible broody ever and I'm excited! How soon do I need to get eggs under her? What do I need to know about that. Will she need a broody box? Will it need to be isolated, or will she still need access to the run? I don't know how I'd isolate a box and still have her in the run. My coop is pretty small.
I do have a brooder that is a gutted old console TV. I wonder if that would be big enough? I don't have any chicks in it right now...

Thats my 6 and 4 year old in front of it.
I'm a handful of questions, I hope thats ok?

 

[artsyrobin]

That would work, i have my broody in the spare bathroom tub, basically she will stay put except for maybe a ten minute break a day- she will stay put as long as it takes- i am in the same situation as one of my broodies wants babies so bad, and the eggs i gave her didn't hatch, so i need to give her another go- questions are always welcome!!