Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[MistyMountain]

I've got a first time broody LF cochin. I hatched 9/10 under an EE with a MUCH smaller build last summer. How many eggs would you all put under a big fluffy LF Cochin?

 

[chicknmania]

That's true that some are more susceptible than others. We had a brood of eight last fall. Of those, four came down with the disease. One died, I had two euthanized. The other survived and now seems happy and healthy, I used vitamin concentrates and Hypericum and lots of TLC to get her back to good health. Other than that, though, we've had less than five cases, that I remember, in the ten years we've had poultry.

 

[kattington]

Can someone give be some advice on my broody hen? She has been broody for at least a week. I was out of town for a couple of weeks, so I really don't know how long she has been at it. She seems serious about it though and sleeps on the nest at night. She comes off the nest a few times a day to eat, drink, and forage for a few minutes. I moved her and her nest into a dog crate last night, and now this morning she will not sit on the eggs. She has been off of them for over 3 hours. I don't have a rooster, so I had arranged to up some fertile eggs for her this evening., but now I'm afraid I have broken her broodiness when I didn't intend to. Should I keep her in the crate for awhile and see if she decides to sit? Or let her back into the coop and see if she will sit in the nest box again?

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Can someone give be some advice on my broody hen?  She has been broody for at least a week.  I was out of town for a couple of weeks, so I really don't know how long she has been at it.  She seems serious about it though and sleeps on the nest at night.  She comes off the nest a few times a day to eat, drink, and forage for a few minutes.  I moved her and her nest into a dog crate last night, and now this morning she will not sit on the eggs.  She has been off of them for over 3 hours.  I don't have a rooster, so I had arranged to up some fertile eggs for her this evening., but now I'm afraid I have broken her broodiness when I didn't intend to.  Should I keep her in the crate for awhile and see if she decides to sit?  Or let her back into the coop and see if she will sit in the nest box again?

Hello! I had the same problem, if I move my broody and her "eggs" (golf balls), she gets very disturbed and won't have it. I let her go back to her regular nesting box and she is happy as a clam, now with eggs under her.

 

[kattington]

I couldn't stand it, so I let her out of the crate. She went right back to her nest box. She is in one of the larger duck nest boxes, which of course is the chickens' favorite nest box. I figured out a solution though. I put a large dog crate with the door open to the nest box. It keeps everyone else out, and I put food and water in the crate for her. I was so afraid the other hens were going to trample to eggs. She has 4 Wheaten Marans eggs and 6 Olive Egger eggs under her as of last night. I hope they all hatch!

 

[HannahLB]

I've got 13 eggs under my broody BO, and today is day 21. I don't hear any chirping and there are no holes. should I candle? If so what should I look for?

 

[mylittlehippie]

I have run into a problem. I usually move my broody into a small enclosed run attached to the lower level of my two story coop to brood and hatch eggs. This time she was simply not having that for some reason and repeatedly escaped. In an effort to not lose my eggs I simply allowed her to stay in the main coop area to brood. As of this morning I may have one chick hatched under her. I have not been able to confirm anything past an open shell but I will check on her the rest of the day and tomorrow. However I have a big concern. Two days ago a coyote breached my fence for the first time and got to my chickens. My rooster was lost in the process of defending my girls. My broody usually brings her chicks out to sleep outside on the ground a day or so after they have all hatched. I cannot allow that this time since she will not be confined. I do not want to risk losing them all. I need to move her and any chicks into the smaller enclosed run. I do not know how she will react to that though. I do not want to cause her to abandon chicks. When should I move them to ensure the smoothest transition? Has anyone else moved a broody and chicks with success? Thank you!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Update on my broody: she is still broody and has 13 eggs under her. She has been very diligent and she only has 6 days to go! I know there are different opinions on leaving a broody in the coop or separating. I've chosen to leave her in the coop. This is mostly for my convienience I must admit. Here are some pictures of her side of the coop. I use a window screen to keep the other chickens from bothering her.

Looks like a great setup!

I have run into a problem. I usually move my broody into a small enclosed run attached to the lower level of my two story coop to brood and hatch eggs. This time she was simply not having that for some reason and repeatedly escaped. In an effort to not lose my eggs I simply allowed her to stay in the main coop area to brood. As of this morning I may have one chick hatched under her. I have not been able to confirm anything past an open shell but I will check on her the rest of the day and tomorrow. However I have a big concern. Two days ago a coyote breached my fence for the first time and got to my chickens. My rooster was lost in the process of defending my girls. My broody usually brings her chicks out to sleep outside on the ground a day or so after they have all hatched. I cannot allow that this time since she will not be confined. I do not want to risk losing them all. I need to move her and any chicks into the smaller enclosed run. I do not know how she will react to that though. I do not want to cause her to abandon chicks. When should I move them to ensure the smoothest transition? Has anyone else moved a broody and chicks with success? Thank you!

With my Broody, which was my first experience, I was able to successfully move her after the chicks hatched. My girl hatched her eggs on Dec. 25th (the virgin hatching! They weren't her eggs, lol). It was around freezing temperatures outside and we lost two chicks to the cold temps, as she did not get them if they wandered out from under her (I believe). We moved her in a decent sized animal crate inside and she was fine to do her motherly duties, so long as her chicks were with her. Hope you do well with her!

 

[Kaylish]

Update on my broody: she is still broody and has 13 eggs under her. She has been very diligent and she only has 6 days to go! I know there are different opinions on leaving a broody in the coop or separating. I've chosen to leave her in the coop. This is mostly for my convienience I must admit. Here are some pictures of her side of the coop. I use a window screen to keep the other chickens from bothering her.

Looks like a great set up!

I have run into a problem. I usually move my broody into a small enclosed run attached to the lower level of my two story coop to brood and hatch eggs. This time she was simply not having that for some reason and repeatedly escaped. In an effort to not lose my eggs I simply allowed her to stay in the main coop area to brood. As of this morning I may have one chick hatched under her. I have not been able to confirm anything past an open shell but I will check on her the rest of the day and tomorrow. However I have a big concern. Two days ago a coyote breached my fence for the first time and got to my chickens. My rooster was lost in the process of defending my girls. My broody usually brings her chicks out to sleep outside on the ground a day or so after they have all hatched. I cannot allow that this time since she will not be confined. I do not want to risk losing them all. I need to move her and any chicks into the smaller enclosed run. I do not know how she will react to that though. I do not want to cause her to abandon chicks. When should I move them to ensure the smoothest transition? Has anyone else moved a broody and chicks with success? Thank you!

Wait until all the chicks have hatched; then you should be able to move mama and babies fairly easily. Night time is best as they will just settle down where you put them and then wake up in their new home. If you have a way to lock them in at night it will help with the transition period. I have moved several broodies and babies this way with little issue.

 

[mylittlehippie]

Looks like a great setup!
With my Broody, which was my first experience, I was able to successfully move her after the chicks hatched. My girl hatched her eggs on Dec. 25th (the virgin hatching! They weren't her eggs, lol). It was around freezing temperatures outside and we lost two chicks to the cold temps, as she did not get them if they wandered out from under her (I believe). We moved her in a decent sized animal crate inside and she was fine to do her motherly duties, so long as her chicks were with her. Hope you do well with her!

Thank you! I am going to have to move her today because some of my other hens are bugging her too much too now as well. I hope I have success as well!!