Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Niss]

The problem was that she won't sit in any of the nest boxes I have (even added a cardboard box full of hay with only half a side open on the floor in case she didn't like being up so high. But she is definitely broody

--at bedtime she had somehow found an egg and moved it to her spot...broke it in the process, but was sitting on it anyway. DH recommended putting a shoebox on top of the cage, since she is determinded to be there. I let her have 3 eggs in a box. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, but she seemed willing to compromise just now. My plan is to swap the eggs out for chicks as some as one of the breeds I want comes in. However, I gave her real eggs instead of falsies as a back up in the event TSC doesn't get what I want.

ok, she is a silkie, synonomous with broooddddyyyy....LOL!! my flo will mope around like that a few days, i will find her the dog carrier, pop a couple eggs in there and she pops in there no matter what.... this has happened 3 times in the last year... she is happiest being a mama- sooo... i'd give her a nestbox, and try her with a couple eggs and see if that is her plan...

 

[Tripp16]

The problem was that she won't sit in any of the nest boxes I have (even added a cardboard box full of hay with only half a side open on the floor in case she didn't like being up so high. But she is definitely broody

--at bedtime she had somehow found an egg and moved it to her spot...broke it in the process, but was sitting on it anyway. DH recommended putting a shoebox on top of the cage, since she is determinded to be there. I let her have 3 eggs in a box. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, but she seemed willing to compromise just now. My plan is to swap the eggs out for chicks as some as one of the breeds I want comes in. However, I gave her real eggs instead of falsies as a back up in the event TSC doesn't get what I want.

Congrats on your broody!! Mine first broody mama is on day 6! I cant wait until Monday when I can candle. I know I dont have to but I cant wait!

I have 8 silkies but they will be 3 months old this tuesday! Cant believe it and I still cant really pick out the roosters from the hens. I think I have at least one. Which mean I will have to find him and the other roos a home..... No roosters allowed sadly!

Anyways! Good luck with your broody and hope you find out how and where to get her to sit successfully! I am counting down the days!

 

[Niss]

Thanks Scarlett! I know what you mean about sex though! It was about 7 months until I was SURE both silkies were girls, haha.
This is my first broody this year after having two last fall. I can't get enough though. I was thinking of selling off some of my year old birds in the hope of hatching more chicks this spring...or I could just hope the girls go broody crazy and buy a pressure canner in the fall. Bottom line is I love fuzzy butts but I never want to have one in the house again--nature has a much better way!

 

[bobbieschicks]

This is Laura. She has layed eggs right here in the past.

Since the rain last week I've been noticing she is ALWAYS sitting right here. I've moved her to nests and she growls at me either jumps right back or sulks out of the coop. Until today. She sat down and bulldozed an egg underneath her. It was classic; her entire head and neck disappeared. I was about over the moon excited, since TSC could be getting the chicks I want at any time. I came in the house, assembled a lasagna, and then took the boy out to show him our new broody.

But she was here:


So what do you guys think? Is she broody? Should I crate her? Or does a watched hen never brood? Thanks folks!

She looks broody or she's asleep? Either way that cage can't be all that comfortable. Hope she's broody for our sake

 

[bobbieschicks]

I've told her a dozen times she can't hatch babies or raise them on top of this cage, but she doesn't listen. Would locking her up help her settle on to a nest she could have chicks in safely?

Can you put a box up there for her to nest in? Edited because I see in a later post you are trying the box on top idea already. Hope it works.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Congrats on your broody!! Mine first broody mama is on day 6! I cant wait until Monday when I can candle. I know I dont have to but I cant wait!

I have 8 silkies but they will be 3 months old this tuesday! Cant believe it and I still cant really pick out the roosters from the hens. I think I have at least one. Which mean I will have to find him and the other roos a home..... No roosters allowed sadly!

Anyways! Good luck with your broody and hope you find out how and where to get her to sit successfully! I am counting down the days!

We could guess the sex of our silkies pretty early, maybe around 6-8 weeks old, by the topknot shape and overall size of the silkies. We could also tell by their demeanor and comb size/width. But not until after the kids had named them. Our rooster is Daisy and the pullet is Topspin. Lol.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

He is VERY handsome, stony!!

<sigh> All those broodies ....

I was just going through my pictures. Found this picture of this handsome young man!



and my favorite picture. "mama" with her 2nd brood of last year. Mama is the blue. And her broody buddy. They hatched a few days apart last summer and did everything together. Somehow the chicks knew who was who. Although"mama did steal one blue chick from the black!

 

[Miss Lydia]

ok, she is a silkie, synonomous with broooddddyyyy....LOL!! my flo will mope around like that a few days, i will find her the dog carrier, pop a couple eggs in there and she pops in there no matter what.... this has happened 3 times in the last year... she is happiest being a mama- sooo... i'd give her a nestbox, and try her with a couple eggs and see if that is her plan...

X2!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

He is VERY handsome, stony!!

<sigh> All those broodies ....

I agree he is a handsome boy, and the 2 pics of mamas and chicks is precious, I love those Blues... one day I may have all blue chickens...

 

[Niss]

Wow Stony, those are handsome birds!

Here is the update on Laura: When I opened the coop the box was knocked over and the eggs were cool. I righted everything and once she ate (less than 5 mins) she sat back down next to the box, but /i put her in it and she settled right down.