Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Lady of McCamley]

My Broody Blues
I mentioned before that my bantam orp has been toying with being broody. (Staying in nest box, screaming, etc.) At first she was laying, but her last egg was Jan 27th. It seemed like she was totally ready because last week she was trying to hatch invisible eggs. I added some golf balls & fake eggs to her nest & made arrangements to pick up some fertile eggs this weekend. Now I am finding her out of the nest box during the day & only in there at night. Can I coax her back into the mood?

Today, I put her in a storage tub cage in the garage (dark quiet place away from the flock). 1/2 is a nest box & the other 1/2 has food, water, & floor space to poop. I moved some of her feathers & some dummy ceramic eggs into the box. Could the ceramic eggs be an issue? Is there anything else I can do to persuade her?

Try some store bought eggs or some eggs out of your flock you don't care if they get abandoned.

Ceramic eggs shouldn't make a difference, but I suppose there is a chance.

Most likely she is just being a bit temperamental especially if she was disturbed from the idea when she wanted to start.

Keep trying...the dark garage with some real eggs may do the trick.

good luck
LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Just set 3 Isbar and 2 Olive Egger (Isbar/Marans) eggs 3:30 pm today. New broody "Queen Mum" took them in stride with the obligatory peck at my hand...lookin' good!

...21 days and counting.

Feels good to be "back in business" again.

LofMc

 

[Watermelon123]

I think Rebrascora gave some good thoughts as to the possibility that he may be just clinging so close being a "lonely only" that he's being dense to the point of really frustrating mom.

But I personally would watch her if you use her again just in case. I've had hens fledge and make a real point of it, but never drew blood....but I've never locked them in with a single chick they couldn't escape from...I've always let mom out if she shows she is done with the whole brooding thing and they free range with ability to move away if they want. If she has ability to move away, then I would still be a bit leery if she is drawing blood.

Hopefully you can find some hatch mates for the little guy so that he isn't so desperately lonely.

LofMc

Thank you so much!

 

[JadedPhoenix]

My silkie hatched 8 large fowl eggs in January 2 years ago, I have never given her more... I think she could get a stone to hatch if I gave it to her though!

I mean I have never given her more than 8 eggs at a time... she broods 4 times a year for us...

Thanks. I hope my silkie does as well. Just a few more days!!

 

[Kaylish]

It's been a crazy couple of weeks for me so I apologize for any repeated info but I wanted to give an update on my 1st time co-broodies - the 3 ladies hatched all 19 eggs and after a little bickering have settled in to sharing all the chicks! 1 mom will leave to get a treat or a quick dust bath while the other keep watch and then they will switch. A few days ago they had the babies out for some sunshine and my coat blew off the fence, they must have thought it was a hawk because 1 mama had all the babies covered against the coop and the other 2 mamas and my roo were trying to chase my jacket away. I was truly impressed. Here's a not so good picture of the happy family.

 

[Faraday40]

It's been a crazy couple of weeks for me so I apologize for any repeated info but I wanted to give an update on my 1st time co-broodies - the 3 ladies hatched all 19 eggs and after a little bickering have settled in to sharing all the chicks! 1 mom will leave to get a treat or a quick dust bath while the other keep watch and then they will switch. A few days ago they had the babies out for some sunshine and my coat blew off the fence, they must have thought it was a hawk because 1 mama had all the babies covered against the coop and the other 2 mamas and my roo were trying to chase my jacket away. I was truly impressed. Here's a not so good picture of the happy family.

That's so funny!

The Predator Parka swoops down off the fence as the flock bands together to defeat the evil coat!

 

[fisherlady]

It's been a crazy couple of weeks for me so I apologize for any repeated info but I wanted to give an update on my 1st time co-broodies - the 3 ladies hatched all 19 eggs and after a little bickering have settled in to sharing all the chicks! 1 mom will leave to get a treat or a quick dust bath while the other keep watch and then they will switch. A few days ago they had the babies out for some sunshine and my coat blew off the fence, they must have thought it was a hawk because 1 mama had all the babies covered against the coop and the other 2 mamas and my roo were trying to chase my jacket away. I was truly impressed. Here's a not so good picture of the happy family.

I am glad your group has it figured out... watching a broody is great, but watching a group brood can be an exceptional experience! Thank you for sharing the picture and awesome story! Gotta love it when they defeat the coat monster!

 

[fisherlady]

Duplicate post from the other broody thread, but figured I'd share for those who don't frequent both...

Gracie is at it again, so far she has 5 out of 7 barnyard mixes hatched.... I'm not holding out a lot of hope for the last 2 since she normally hatches hers out pretty close together but she can keep them for another day as long as she wants to stay on them.

A few of them have been very active, spending nearly as much time out roaming around the nest area as they have underneath of her. Seems to be a hardy little group...

 

[ChickenLady2014]

...

Duplicate post from the other broody thread, but figured I'd share for those who don't frequent both... Gracie is at it again, so far she has 5 out of 7 barnyard mixes hatched.... I'm not holding out a lot of hope for the last 2 since she normally hatches hers out pretty close together but she can keep them for another day as long as she wants to stay on them. A few of them have been very active, spending nearly as much time out roaming around the nest area as they have underneath of her. Seems to be a hardy little group... So darn cute, I want a broody

 

[Faraday40]

Thanks for the adorable pics. I needed it today.

My broody changed her mind a few days ago & I can't get her back into the mood. (And, I was going to pick up my eggs tomorrow!) DD wants to compare broody hen vs incubator. I thought it was a cute idea. Since the hatching is for my daughter's project (and not just to add to the flock), we'll have to wait for the next broody. I think I'm having chick withdrawal!

It's funny b/c at first I didn't want to start the project due to the weather. Then I started reading more & decided to give it a try. Once I made the plan for the eggs, the hen changed her mind. I put about 9 eggs in a nest box to see if we get another volunteer.