Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Debs55]

   [COLOR=0000CD]Hi,[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000CD]  Two pullets are sitting in the same nestbox. One is sitting eggs, the other is keeping[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000CD]her company. This is the first sitting for both females. Do you think the one[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000CD]sitting eggs will leave the nest if the one keeping [/COLOR][COLOR=0000CD]her company is taken out of the coop?[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000CD]  Thanks,[/COLOR]
[COLOR=0000CD]   Karen[/COLOR]

If she is really broody (as in not currently laying more eggs, protective over what she is sitting on, and rarely getting off the nest) then she will most likely stay. However, if the other hen is causing no problems I would leave her there as she may co-sit on the eggs while mom takes a break and then co- raise the chicks. But you will still have to remove the other hens egg every day if she is laying in that nest too so mark the Broodys eggs with a pencil so you can tell them apart

 

[Pozees]

Karen I really thought I had posted a response to your dilemma last night but apparently I did not.

I think there is no perfect answer to your situation except what you intuitively sense. Junior crowding into the nest box is a threat, absolutely, but any change you make is as well. Your trio is a family unit, and I know how important these first eggs are. I guess if I was you, I would leave well enough alone unless/until you sense any conflict. If all three are content, let them be. It would be nicer if both hens were laying and brooding fertile eggs, but once this clutch hatches and you are able to observe them raising the chicks, you will know more about your birds, and they will progress as they will. Down the road, with chicks grown out, you will have more options. If they ruin the clutch with their jostling, you will be disappointed but you will still have your trio and can set them up differently, putting a hen in each coop and rotating Junior between them. JMO.

 

[3riverschick]

If she is really broody (as in not currently laying more eggs, protective over what she is sitting on, and rarely getting off the nest) then she will most likely stay. However, if the other hen is causing no problems I would leave her there as she may co-sit on the eggs while mom takes a break and then co- raise the chicks. But you will still have to remove the other hens egg every day if she is laying in that nest too so mark the Broodys eggs with a pencil so you can tell them apart

Hi Deb
The sitting hen (March) is as you descibe above. The other hen (May) is not laying either. Just keeping March company.Never occurred to me her 1/2 sis might be giving March potty breaks. March is just glued to tat nest. Hisses, pecks if I get my hand near. Never been able to see underneath her. May just sits there next to her. I know May is not laying because I opened the pop door the other day and she went out for exercise. But March never stirred, let alone left the nest.
Thanks!
Karen

 

[Debs55]

Hi Deb
   The sitting hen (March) is as you descibe above. The other hen (May) is not laying either. Just keeping March company.Never occurred to me her 1/2 sis might be giving March potty breaks. March is just glued to tat nest. Hisses, pecks if I get my hand near. Never been able to see underneath her. May just sits there next to her. I know May is not laying because I opened the pop door the other day and she went out for exercise. But March  never stirred, let alone left the nest.
Thanks!
 Karen

I would just watch them and keep an eye out for conflict before making any decisions. And no problem!

 

[CoopChick719]

Personally I don't think any question is a dumb one. I say ask away!

Amen!

I checked Topsys wound and it looked closed up and fine. So I let her roam and sure enough the large roo got on her to mate. Made me so mad! I checked after and the wound was irritated so right back into her area I put her.

Poor Topsy!!

This is my broody silkie Mel who is sitting on 4 barred rock eggs on day 8

I agree with Johnn. She is lovely!

My silkie, Janice, hatched 3 BRs & 1 EE.

 

[Debs55]

Amen! 

Poor Topsy!!


I agree with Johnn. She is lovely! My silkie, Janice, hatched 3 BRs & 1 EE.

Thank you! I'm so excited for these little ones. Hatch day is the 26th

 

[3riverschick]

Thanks Pozees and Deb.
Ok, I will just let it ride. I guess it is obvious by now I am way out of my depth on this broody hatching thang, sigh. So worrisome. Ok, at this point, I'll do nothing. Junior is out of the box and hasn't tried to get into it again for several days. I think at this point, I will open the run this weekend and let Junior out into the run. Then close the door and remove as much old shavings as I can without disturbing the girls. Then add new shavings for the chicks to tread on. That's as close as I can come to a clean new brooder.
I know to only put in chick flint the 1st day or two. Plus add Poultry Nutri-Drops to the chick waterer. I am not quite sure if the chicks will be extra needy because they aren't in my brooder. If I should buy premium chick feed instead of regular Purina to make up for that. Yeah, I am a worriwort and trying to think ahead because I found, in puppies, it is always easier to anticipate problems, than solve them once they crop up.
Thanks so much for bearing with me and helping me while I try to figure all this out.
Karen
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[CoopChick719]

13 DAYS OLD


Pitch Chipmunk Flacco Spot Mom Feb14,2013


Starting top left Chipmunk, Pitch, Flacco & Spot--Mom Janice in background.


Spot, the Barred Rock.


Chipmunk, the EE.

Tucked in under Mom's wing.

Night Night

 

[Pozees]

Thanks Pozees and Deb.
Ok, I will just let it ride. I guess it is obvious by now I am way out of my depth on this broody hatching thang, sigh. So worrisome. Ok, at this point, I'll do nothing. Junior is out of the box and hasn't tried to get into it again for several days. I think at this point, I will open the run this weekend and let Junior out into the run. Then close the door and remove as much old shavings as I can without disturbing the girls. Then add new shavings for the chicks to tread on. That's as close as I can come to a clean new brooder.
I know to only put in chick flint the 1st day or two. Plus add Poultry Nutri-Drops to the chick waterer. I am not quite sure if the chicks will be extra needy because they aren't in my brooder. If I should buy premium chick feed instead of regular Purina to make up for that. Yeah, I am a worriwort and trying to think ahead because I found, in puppies, it is always easier to anticipate problems, than solve them once they crop up.
Thanks so much for bearing with me and helping me while I try to figure all this out.
Karen
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Amen, sister!

The chicks should actually be better off than any in a brooder, because they are being hen-raised. They should be able to tolerate ventures into fresh air early and should feather out faster. If you look back through earlier pictures from this winter you will see a number of forum members posting pictures of hens out in the snow with chicks only a few days old. The exposure to fresh air and sunshine is available to hen-raised chicks because they have her there for warmth anytime they are cold, and I personally think it makes for much healthier and hardier pullets and cockerels. Just like dogs that are outdoors for several hours a day have that incredibly robust glow, so do chicks with outdoor access.

I know I already said so, but I am enormously excited for you. Really crossing fingers for a great hatch

 

[bobbieschicks]

[COLOR=CC0099]13 DAYS OLD[/COLOR]

[COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099]Pitch Chipmunk Flacco Spot Mom Feb14,2013[/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099]Starting top left Chipmunk, Pitch, Flacco & Spot--Mom Janice in background.[/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099]Spot, the Barred Rock.[/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099]Chipmunk, the EE.[/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099]Tucked in under Mom's wing.[/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099] [/COLOR] [COLOR=CC0099]Night Night[/COLOR]

Adorable! My favorite pics are the babies sticking out from various spots on the mom ones