Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Everybody's broodies are different, but mine would never tolerate being around other broodies.  They're fine with non-brooding birds, but the moment two broodies are within sight of each other there's a fight. 

One of my broodies has 2 chicks that are 24 days old, and they're old enough that they're living all day in a fenced-off  area in the garden that's about 36 X 10 feet.  That temporary fence is about 3 feet tall, and there's plenty to do in there so they stay put (so far).  They'll be joining the main free range flock when they're big enough to no longer be a cat treat.   My second broody has 13 chicks that are 14 days old.  They've been living in the broody run in the barn, and yesterday I set up an outdoor run on grass for them.  The temporary run is about 4 feet wide and 100 feet long, and uses the permanent garden fence as one of its sides.  It is not anywhere near the first broody's run (about 75 feet away), but it is within sight.  I needed to weight and evaluate and adjust the leg bands on all the chicks, which was difficult with mom in the pen, so I just did the first five chicks and took them plus mom out to the temporary run, then went back to the barn to work with the other 8 chicks.  I was in the barn about 25-30 minutes, and when I came out with the other 8 chicks I found the two broodies fighting through the fence.  Luckily none of the chicks were injured, but broody #1 had flown over her 3 foot fence and was trying to steal some of the 14 day old chicks, and broody #2 wasn't going to tolerate that.  Luckily the chicks couldn't get through the fence, and the broodies couldn't seriously injure themselves, but they were totally exhausted and their faces were really bloodied. 

So all my broodies are kept separate, starting on day one of the brood.  It would be so nice to have communal brooding, but that just isn't going to happen with my overprotective girls.

Wow. Yea that definitely sounds like some major fighting.

So far I haven't had any bloody broody brawls. I've had multiple broodies with chicks before and usually the chicks stay close to their momma. But occasionally I'll get one that tries to switch camps and a small ruckus happens. But the silky moms have been good about maintaining the pecking order.

 

[Johnn]

Everybody's broodies are different, but mine would never tolerate being around other broodies. They're fine with non-brooding birds, but the moment two broodies are within sight of each other there's a fight.

One of my broodies has 2 chicks that are 24 days old, and they're old enough that they're living all day in a fenced-off area in the garden that's about 36 X 10 feet. That temporary fence is about 3 feet tall, and there's plenty to do in there so they stay put (so far). They'll be joining the main free range flock when they're big enough to no longer be a cat treat. My second broody has 13 chicks that are 14 days old. They've been living in the broody run in the barn, and yesterday I set up an outdoor run on grass for them. The temporary run is about 4 feet wide and 100 feet long, and uses the permanent garden fence as one of its sides. It is not anywhere near the first broody's run (about 75 feet away), but it is within sight. I needed to weight and evaluate and adjust the leg bands on all the chicks, which was difficult with mom in the pen, so I just did the first five chicks and took them plus mom out to the temporary run, then went back to the barn to work with the other 8 chicks. I was in the barn about 25-30 minutes, and when I came out with the other 8 chicks I found the two broodies fighting through the fence. Luckily none of the chicks were injured, but broody #1 had flown over her 3 foot fence and was trying to steal some of the 14 day old chicks, and broody #2 wasn't going to tolerate that. Luckily the chicks couldn't get through the fence, and the broodies couldn't seriously injure themselves, but they were totally exhausted and their faces were really bloodied.

So all my broodies are kept separate, starting on day one of the brood. It would be so nice to have communal brooding, but that just isn't going to happen with my overprotective girls.

Thats a shame. My broodies all bring up chicks around each other and sometimes join together.

 

[KendyF]

My Broody Hen jumped off her nest this afternoon and started running around with the flock, up until now she has only gotten off the nest to eat, drink and poop once a day. She has been off for 2 hours and the chicks have 12 days to go. When do I worry. It is very hot outside, should help the eggs stay warm.

 

[ochochicas]

My Broody Hen jumped off her nest this afternoon and started running around with the flock, up until now she has only gotten off the nest to eat, drink and poop once a day. She has been off for 2 hours and the chicks have 12 days to go. When do I worry. It is very hot outside, should help the eggs stay warm.

The same exact thing happened to me! At 5:00 my broody, who never leaves the nest box, got up and started running around. After eating, drinking, and dust bathing repeatedly, she finally headed back after about 40 minutes. It was a good thing she got up because one of the eggs had gotten pushed out to the corner of the box and was getting cold.

Did your hen ever head back?

 

[rebrascora]

Check the nest for red mites. My neighbour's broody hen behaved the same whilst they were away on holiday and I was looking after them. When I went back later to check on her to see if she had returned to the nest, I was horrified to see the nest and eggs crawling with mites. I dusted the hen and nest with DE but she wouldn't go back after that and the eggs had to be discarded as I didn't have access to an incubator.

 

[KendyF]

Check the nest for red mites. My neighbour's broody hen behaved the same whilst they were away on holiday and I was looking after them. When I went back later to check on her to see if she had returned to the nest, I was horrified to see the nest and eggs crawling with mites. I dusted the hen and nest with DE but she wouldn't go back after that and the eggs had to be discarded as I didn't have access to an incubator.

She got back on, but I will check for mites in the AM. As she did seem very itchy looking!

 

[Johnn]

She got back on, but I will check for mites in the AM. As she did seem very itchy looking!

You will usually see redmite on a night time if you take your torch out. They live in the cracks and corners or stuff and come out to feed on the hens when they are perching.

 

[bobbieschicks]

My Broody Hen jumped off her nest this afternoon and started running around with the flock, up until now she has only gotten off the nest to eat, drink and poop once a day.  She has been off for 2 hours and the chicks have 12 days to go.  When do I worry.  It is very hot outside, should help the eggs stay warm.

It's okay for them to do that. The eggs will stay internally warm for quite some time. My RIR and Maran both did it around that same time frame. If it's very hot outside they will leave or stand more often. I'd trust her. If she doesn't return to the nest by nightfall then I'd be worried that the eggs weren't good and candle them.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Momma and chicks enjoying some dried mealworms on the coop floor.

 

[ochochicas]

My broody hen seems to be doing a good job and is much smarter than I gave her credit for. I check the nest this morning - no mites and all eggs look great. It was cold (in the 50s) and she jumped right back in. In the evening when it is hot she spends more time out and I'm not worried about the eggs getting cold.

However, I'm worried now that she might have sour crop. When I pick her up the crop is always large and fluid filled. Is this normal for a broody hen? She shakes her head more than what I think is normal. Yesterday when she was drinking water she put her beak in the bucket but didn't seem to be actually swallowing any water. She is eating though; ate quite a lot yesterday. Does their crop empty more slowly when they are broody?