Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[A6chickenhome]

At this stage, probably take the stress off of her as most broodies are very stressed with the flock around their babies especially if they are on the low end of the pecking order and the other hens are being pushy with the babies.

I'd move and watch and see how she takes it. Then have a plan of re-integration so that she and babies can be integrated back into the main flock, often as a sub-flock within the main flock. That helps a lot with the lower on the pecking order reintegration...they go in as a group. I like to integrate with free range conditions in the yard (if you can)...with lots of elbow room. There will be some small skirmishes, but the subflock will stick together as a group making them more formidable to the more aggressive hens. Always have hiding places where a bird can duck and cover if she gets chased by an aggressive hen. Never allow an overly aggressive hen to draw blood or terrorize a more submissive hen...those meanies are best in soup!

Lady of McCamley

Thanks for all that good advice. Up till now my hens have been very sweet with each other, aside from the normal reinforcement of each hens place in the flock.
I was surprised when the one hen started that behavior.

 

[vpatt]

There is no doubt about the last egg......ewwww it was rotten!

 

[A6chickenhome]

There is no doubt about the last egg......ewwww it was rotten!

Congrats on the hatch!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

There is no doubt about the last egg......ewwww it was rotten!

Yep... momma knew. When they leave an egg like that, that shows no signs of pipping, I've always found it to be rotten or dead chick.

Congratulations on your 3 new little ones!
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thanks for all that good advice. Up till now my hens have been very sweet with each other, aside from the normal reinforcement of each hens place in the flock.
I was surprised when the one hen started that behavior.

Anytime a hen leaves the flock for an extended period of time (such as 3 weeks brooding), she has to work her way up the pecking order again and will be met with resistance from the current flock members.

Anytime the top hen (or rooster) is removed, the shuffling begins and snotty behavior emerges. If you aren't seeing it, the pecking order is blissfully established and everyone knows their place.

Law of the pecking order. It can work against you (brooding) or for you (aggressive hen removed for "time out" and reintroduced placing her on the bottom...can work or not).

Lady of McCamley

 

[TeaChick]

If she is laying, then she is not in a deep brood. Bummer. BUT, she is infrequently laying, and willing to sit for extended periods, so she could still be contemplating it as hens do "pre-brood" by laying a few to the clutch, while collecting eggs, sitting for a period, then out and about, then finally settling into a deep brood to get down to business.

How long? I guess it depends on the viability of the eggs and the mood of the hen. You've had to use fresh eggs, and typically 2 weeks is the cut off point of fertility in the egg under ideal conditions. Since you've started, I'd let it run its course if the hen is semi-cooperating and not getting really frustrated or annoyed at being coaxed to brood. She may settle and you may get some chicks yet. I would not expect a high percentage rate with this hatch as the eggs have been sat on, then off, but then again I've been amazed that any hatched when I had some non-ideal conditions...they can be amazingly hardy.

So...when to give up? When the hen does and no longer wants to play along or the eggs are clearly going bad. I'd probably pack it in after 2 weeks with these eggs as it is highly unlikely anything will develop even if she sits steadily at that point (but it HAS happened).

My 2 cents
Lady of McCamley

Thank you so much for your 2 cents!
I was talking to my DH about the hen this morning, and what you just said is about what I said to him.
Thank you!!!

 

[TeaChick]

There is no doubt about the last egg......ewwww it was rotten!

Sorry about that!
But

about the ones that did hatch!!!

Anytime a hen leaves the flock for an extended period of time (such as 3 weeks brooding), she has to work her way up the pecking order again and will be met with resistance from the current flock members.

Anytime the top hen (or rooster) is removed, the shuffling begins and snotty behavior emerges. If you aren't seeing it, the pecking order is blissfully established and everyone knows their place.

Law of the pecking order. It can work against you (brooding) or for you (aggressive hen removed for "time out" and reintroduced placing her on the bottom...can work or not).

Lady of McCamley

Another member of BYC is having trouble with an aggressive hen. Do you mind if I PM her this quote?

 

[vpatt]

Mama and her babies are so cute today. Learning to eat and drink. Two are black with yellow bellies and one is solid black.

 

[TeaChick]

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Another member of BYC is having trouble with an aggressive hen.  Do you mind if I PM her this quote?

That would be fine if you think it helpful.

Illness, cramped quarters due to winter, feed and water over competition should be ruled out as well as flock behavior can be stressed if free range has been limited due to weather conditions.

Think back to what has changed in the flock or environment if flock behavior becomes suddenly unsettled....molting can cause significant crankiness or loss of pecking order as birds become stressed by the prickly process or are viewed weaker by the others.

If molting woes, I have recently begun Nutrena's Feather Fixer which is toted to help with molt stress...comments are good but we will see if it helps my girls through this lingering molt (ie never ending!)

Lady of McCamley