Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ChickyChickens]

X2

 

[poodlechicks]

Stopping by to check on all the wonderful broodies and to wish good luck to all.

 

[Onebeautflday]

I definitely have a broody hen.... Sleeps in the nesting box and I doubt there is more than one or two eggs under her as she just started yesterday not leaving the nest. My main concern is that it is now fall... Should I be concerned about temperature outside? I could easily move her to the other side of the pen where my 3 ducks sleep (when I can get them to come in)....I have 16 chickens and two roosters so most eggs are fertilized. They free range all day and I don't see anybody bothering the broody... Not even the roosters but think I should still move her for safety. Still debating if I should break her cycle until spring

 

[MrsBachbach]

Yes, maternal instinct can be a very strong urge in some cases..

My mare once caught sight of a rocking horse (it was quite a realistic furry one) when I was riding in the back street of a residential area and became desperate to adopt that! She refused to leave it and even though I let her sniff it to try to convince her it was not real, she refused to walk away. Myself and two other experienced horsemen could not get her to move and in the end they had to put the rocking horse in a garage out of sight. She then screamed and screamed for it and although I eventually managed to ride her away, she was totally distraught.
She has had 7 foals, so I have allowed her to indulge her maternal instinct up to a reasonable point. It's now 5 years since I weaned the youngest and she is still producing milk and I have problems with mastitis nearly every year! And she's over 20years old. She just doesn't understand when to stop!   

Awww, cool story and cool mare you have their. Maybe she will adopt a goat kid or something similar?

 

[cwrite]

Yes, maternal instinct can be a very strong urge in some cases..

My mare once caught sight of a rocking horse (it was quite a realistic furry one) when I was riding in the back street of a residential area and became desperate to adopt that! She refused to leave it and even though I let her sniff it to try to convince her it was not real, she refused to walk away. Myself and two other experienced horsemen could not get her to move and in the end they had to put the rocking horse in a garage out of sight. She then screamed and screamed for it and although I eventually managed to ride her away, she was totally distraught.
She has had 7 foals, so I have allowed her to indulge her maternal instinct up to a reasonable point. It's now 5 years since I weaned the youngest and she is still producing milk and I have problems with mastitis nearly every year! And she's over 20years old. She just doesn't understand when to stop!

Wow! I imagine a horse screaming is pretty scary. She certainly knows what she wants.

 

[AmericanMom]

X2

went out to gather eggs... I HEAR CHIRPING!!!!!!

Quietly left the coop, she is shut into her nesting box, I don't believe she would leave now even if I opened it up...I'll check again tomorrow

 

[maranfarmer563]

One beautiful day,what state are you from,getting late for northern chickys. Don't want to have to knit them booties

 

[AmericanMom]

One beautiful day,what state are you from,getting late for northern chickys. Don't want to have to knit them booties

I'm in Oregon... Although I don't know that it would matter, the Momma hens keep those babies nice and toasty and hen raised chicks are much better acclimated o the weather, they feather out faster and seem much hardier.. I would allow a broody in the coldest part of our year which is Jan-march

 

[fisherlady]

I'm in Oregon... Although I don't know that it would matter, the Momma hens keep those babies nice and toasty and hen raised chicks are much better acclimated o the weather, they feather out faster and seem much hardier.. I would allow a broody in the coldest part of our year which is Jan-march

I also have had numerous winter broodies, and agree that the youngsters certainly do seem amazingly hardy... however, I do believe certain coop set ups are much more friendly to winter hatches than others. Having a coop which allows plenty of room for the broody and youngsters to move around and still be somewhat protected from inclement winds and weather greatly helps the chances of a successful brood. A broody will do her best no matter what the circumstances, and will certainly keep the youngsters warm... but her job can be made much easier.
Our coop has a large open floor area and we use a sand floor. We are able to spread scratch in the broody's area for her to begin teaching the little ones without having to go out. We do have a partially covered outside area and the broody is able to stay under roof or go out, depending on her preference.
Last winter we had a hatch on December 1st, and right now the 2 hens from that hatch are raising their own chicks.... another hatch on Feb 14th was 6/6 and had no problems... I prefer the hatches during better weather, but haven't had problems when broody mamas decide to set during the winter. Maybe the hens are bored and figure if they are stuck with limited activity when the weather is poor they may as well set on a nest of eggs!

 

[ChickyChickens]

went out to gather eggs... I HEAR CHIRPING!!!!!!

Quietly left the coop, she is shut into her nesting box, I don't believe she would leave now even if I opened it up...I'll check again tomorrow

Ahhhhh! I hope that all of the eggs have hatched/ are hatching! Update us tomorrow when you go and check up?

I also have had numerous winter broodies, and agree that the youngsters certainly do seem amazingly hardy... however, I do believe certain coop set ups are much more friendly to winter hatches than others. Having a coop which allows plenty of room for the broody and youngsters to move around and still be somewhat protected from inclement winds and weather greatly helps the chances of a successful brood. A broody will do her best no matter what the circumstances, and will certainly keep the youngsters warm... but her job can be made much easier.
Our coop has a large open floor area and we use a sand floor. We are able to spread scratch in the broody's area for her to begin teaching the little ones without having to go out. We do have a partially covered outside area and the broody is able to stay under roof or go out, depending on her preference.
Last winter we had a hatch on December 1st, and right now the 2 hens from that hatch are raising their own chicks.... another hatch on Feb 14th was 6/6 and had no problems... I prefer the hatches during better weather, but haven't had problems when broody mamas decide to set during the winter. Maybe the hens are bored and figure if they are stuck with limited activity when the weather is poor they may as well set on a nest of eggs!

this year most of my hens decided that winter was the time to be broody! I had about 20 go broody in the whole of the winter. The cold has never bothered my chicks (it was those **** eagles)