Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Faraday40]

Cookie's at it again!!!!

After a few days of screaming at me whenever I enter the coop (& spending most of the day in HER nest box), she refused to go up to the roost yesterday. This time, I' didn't waste a moment. After dark, I moved her to a large crate with a cardboard box nest & slid some eggs under her. So far, she staying on those eggs.

Last time I spent the first 1-2 weeks trying to break her before coming around. She showed me & changed her mind just as I gave in to her broodiness. Has anyone ever had a "Boomerang Broody"? She's either going to be a broody queen & mother everything she sees...... or just a royal pain in the butt. (She's almost 1 yr old & has tried to go broody 3xs.)

This was taken last week when Cookie started thinking about it. Back then she was spending 4-8 hrs per day in the nest but still laying eggs & sleeping on the roost. In the beginning she was grumbly at everything, but a few days ago it changed to all out screaming.

 

[Faraday40]

Great pics! The one above is my fav.
I see you had a Cream Crested Legbar & Orpingtons. Did you ever hatch any of those crosses? If yes, could you send me a pic?

 

[Kaylish]

Cookie's at it again!!!!

After a few days of screaming at me whenever I enter the coop (& spending most of the day in HER nest box), she refused to go up to the roost yesterday. This time, I' didn't waste a moment. After dark, I moved her to a large crate with a cardboard box nest & slid some eggs under her. So far, she staying on those eggs.

Last time I spent the first 1-2 weeks trying to break her before coming around. She showed me & changed her mind just as I gave in to her broodiness. Has anyone ever had a "Boomerang Broody"? She's either going to be a broody queen & mother everything she sees...... or just a royal pain in the butt. (She's almost 1 yr old & has tried to go broody 3xs.)

This was taken last week when Cookie started thinking about it. Back then she was spending 4-8 hrs per day in the nest but still laying eggs & sleeping on the roost. In the beginning she was grumbly at everything, but a few days ago it changed to all out screaming.

She sure looks settled. What breed is she? I've got a silkie cochin cross (Storm - really dark blue) that's just started her 2nd brood at almost 9 months old. It's been six weeks since her last chicks hatched so she might give Cookie some competition

 

[Kaylish]

Speaking of which, here is my Storm

And her sister broody, my 1st timer.

 

[Faraday40]

She sure looks settled. What breed is she? I've got a silkie cochin cross (Storm - really dark blue) that's just started her 2nd brood at almost 9 months old. It's been six weeks since her last chicks hatched so she might give Cookie some competition

Cookie's an English Bantam Orpington. She's our only bantam but she doesn't seem to know that she's smaller. She acts like a pampered queen & the big girls let her get away with it. This is going to be her 1st time being given the chance to brood. (She tried in Nov & again in mid Jan during a polar vortex. Not the best times!)

Here's the flock in the fall.


Here's Cookie when i caught DD playing Barbies with her.


Here's a rare sight of Cookie's feet. She has clean legs but A LOT of fluff, so she looks like a cochin.

 

[Faraday40]

Ooohhh.
I really like the look of Storm. Is the fluff up top from the slikie? Does she feel softer?

 

[Kaylish]

Yep, she's got a little poof; small enough that it doesn't impair her vision. My daughter calls it her "hairdo". Her feathers are softer and more fluffy than the pure cochins I have.

 

[Kaylish]

Here's Storm, her sister Sky, and Elsa, my broody bunch.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Cookie's at it again!!!!

After a few days of screaming at me whenever I enter the coop (& spending most of the day in HER nest box), she refused to go up to the roost yesterday. This time, I' didn't waste a moment. After dark, I moved her to a large crate with a cardboard box nest & slid some eggs under her. So far, she staying on those eggs.

Last time I spent the first 1-2 weeks trying to break her before coming around. She showed me & changed her mind just as I gave in to her broodiness. Has anyone ever had a "Boomerang Broody"? She's either going to be a broody queen & mother everything she sees...... or just a royal pain in the butt. (She's almost 1 yr old & has tried to go broody 3xs.)

This was taken last week when Cookie started thinking about it. Back then she was spending 4-8 hrs per day in the nest but still laying eggs & sleeping on the roost. In the beginning she was grumbly at everything, but a few days ago it changed to all out screaming.

I'm so glad you are getting some broodies again...hopefully not too late for your daughter's science project.

I find that if I try to break a broody, if it is the determined kind, I end up prolonging it and getting a very cranky hen that is on again off again. The commercial breeds who contemplate being broody but aren't really serious break easy enough, but the determined kind I think are best to let do what they do best...brood....otherwise you frustrate them and set in bad habits which confuse them. I find they are much happier after they hatch a clutch of chicks, and then frequently settle into a nice brooding pattern every 3 or 4 months. A few are more seasonal, maybe twice a year.

Go Cookie! I hope she has a nice clutch hatch.

LofMc

 

[Jack-Girl]

Im new at this! I have a broody Chocolate Orpie, she is sitting on 7 eggs...3 Spangled & 4 Blue Splash Orpie eggs...I am going to build a screened in area around her because she is very cozy where she is.
Babies due Easter Sunday...Wish me luck♡