Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[AnnieBLix]

Why oh why can't I seem to move my broodies?

I wait till dark, I keep it dark in the coop. I pick them up and put them in the cage on top of the eggs and then they refuse to sit. I really want them to hatch some eggs, but they keep moving to different boxes. Broodies are frustrating.

Would you consider leaving them where they are? Is that an option for you? My broodie refused to be moved, so we worked around her - stubborn little madam!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I am happy to report - Topsy is still stuck like glue to her nest! Although she did move the "egg" to the front of the nest - she is still sitting on it - which matters the most.

I guess the combination of night time move, covering her with the towel so she couldn't see anything, moving her nesting materials and the "egg" - all worked together this time!

So hopefully once those eggs get here Mon or Tue - I can do a switch with her and put some of them under her to hatch. They are silkie eggs - so I'm guessing I will put 4 under her as that's how many she was sitting on to begin with. The rest I'll put in the bator - I think she could handle 4 silkie chicks with the mild weather we're having - so once we see who is hatching I'll figure out whether to do more switching.

I think she'll be a good protector - she puffs up big and sqwaking loudly now when she's off the nest and anyone tries to come close to her.

 

[aaggjg]

Okay this morning I went down and feed the chickens .... Popcorn still sitting like glue on her eggs....
Well just now I heard a ruckus down in the coop and I went down to see what was going on.... Well there were 3 eggs in the empty nest boxes the only problem is there were 2 bantam eggs and with popcorn broody that leaves me with 1 bantam.... I looked and sure enough 1 of the bantam eggs was moved from under popcorn to this nest! And I looked at popcorn and she has a bloody comb... so I don't know if this means Nugget is still thinking about going broody and now stealing eggs?? And when I pushed popcorn to see what was under her she jumped up and went outside.... She has never budged in 7 days when I shoved her. I have to run back down and see if she is back on the nest. The bigger question is what should I do? I don't really have anywhere to move her.... And she isn't in the favorite nest box anymore..... Poor Popcorn sucks to be low man on the totem pole.

 

[bobbieschicks]

can you make a wired off area in your coop? That's where Topsy is - I just wired off from the top and under the manure box. She's in the what used to be called the supply storage area - haha - I don't remember ever getting to actually store anything there except chickens!

Okay this morning I went down and feed the chickens .... Popcorn still sitting like glue on her eggs....
Well just now I heard a ruckus down in the coop and I went down to see what was going on.... Well there were 3 eggs in the empty nest boxes the only problem is there were 2 bantam eggs and with popcorn broody that leaves me with 1 bantam.... I looked and sure enough 1 of the bantam eggs was moved from under popcorn to this nest! And I looked at popcorn and she has a bloody comb...

so I don't know if this means Nugget is still thinking about going broody and now stealing eggs?? And when I pushed popcorn to see what was under her she jumped up and went outside.... She has never budged in 7 days when I shoved her. I have to run back down and see if she is back on the nest. The bigger question is what should I do? I don't really have anywhere to move her.... And she isn't in the favorite nest box anymore..... Poor Popcorn sucks to be low man on the totem pole.

 

[karlamaria]

Okay this morning I went down and feed the chickens .... Popcorn still sitting like glue on her eggs....
Well just now I heard a ruckus down in the coop and I went down to see what was going on.... Well there were 3 eggs in the empty nest boxes the only problem is there were 2 bantam eggs and with popcorn broody that leaves me with 1 bantam.... I looked and sure enough 1 of the bantam eggs was moved from under popcorn to this nest! And I looked at popcorn and she has a bloody comb... so I don't know if this means Nugget is still thinking about going broody and now stealing eggs?? And when I pushed popcorn to see what was under her she jumped up and went outside.... She has never budged in 7 days when I shoved her. I have to run back down and see if she is back on the nest. The bigger question is what should I do? I don't really have anywhere to move her.... And she isn't in the favorite nest box anymore..... Poor Popcorn sucks to be low man on the totem pole.

I put my girl in a rabbit hutch on my front porch, took out to poo and eat and back she went. It has worked out extremely well. She ate and pooped and drank every day for 10 minutes, then I picked her up, put her in the nest shut the door ! She can not go anywhere but sit and we now are the proud parents of 2 healthy chicks, waiting on 3 more!

 

[featherz]

broody baby! =)

Mama looks haggard, but it's almost all over now. =)

 

[bobbieschicks]

broody baby! =)

Mama looks haggard, but it's almost all over now. =)

Awwwhhh!

 

[bobbieschicks]

broody baby! =)

Mama looks haggard, but it's almost all over now. =)

Awwwhhh!

 

[Funky Feathers]

One of my broody hens hatched out 3 call ducklings!

 

[stone_family3]

Would you consider leaving them where they are? Is that an option for you? My broodie refused to be moved, so we worked around her - stubborn little madam!

The other girls push her out of the nest, Sunshine is a big girl too so I'm surprised she stands for it. I really hate to just let her do whatever since i actually had to pay for fertile eggs.