Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PD-Riverman]

I really want them to go broody so I can sell and raise chicks

You can make a incubator go broody any time. I built a cabinet incubator and started setting eggs---I sold over 5000(five thousand) in my first year---I did sell and raise chicks----on a small scale---LOL.

 

[Alex1010]

You can make a incubator go broody any time. I built  a cabinet incubator and started setting eggs---I sold over 5000(five thousand) in my first year---I did sell and raise chicks----on a small scale---LOL.

Yeah I might look into buying a incubator

 

[matt4068]

Yeah I might look into buying a incubator

If you can read a tape measure and use basic hand tools. Then you don't need to buy one and can save money by just building one. Plenty of DIY info here. I too would prefer a broody. But I'm building my coop and incubator first.

 

[butterfliesdoku]

Ok so I had a broody this morning, she was making the broody momma noises at any hen that tryed laying in her nest and kept scooting new eggs under her. I moved her to a safer location along with her nest and now she doesn't want to sit back down! Should I move her back or keep her at the new location and wait and see? I didn't know broodies were so delicate!

 

[nchls school]

Ok so I had a broody this morning, she was making the broody momma noises at any hen that tryed laying in her nest and kept scooting new eggs under her. I moved her to a safer location along with her nest and now she doesn't want to sit back down! Should I move her back or keep her at the new location and wait and see? I didn't know broodies were so delicate!

Move her back. If possible let her brood eggs there. If there will be disturbances from the other chickens, move nest/eggs/and hen when it is dark. A dog crate works well for this as she can be kept locked in.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Ok so I had a broody this morning, she was making the broody momma noises at any hen that tryed laying in her nest and kept scooting new eggs under her. I moved her to a safer location along with her nest and now she doesn't want to sit back down! Should I move her back or keep her at the new location and wait and see? I didn't know broodies were so delicate!

From experience many years ago---moving a broody and nest in the daylight does not work most of the time and yes put her back if you want her to stay broody. You can stick her in a cage and lock her up but making her "set" on them eggs does not work---unless she wants to. I Move EVERY broody hen to a private "hatching pen". I do this after dark and if you want more details just ask. I moved a little over 60 last year and not a one abandoned their nest.

 

[butterfliesdoku]

I moved her back around three hours ago and she still hasn't sat back down. Are some hens really this easy to break?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I moved her back around three hours ago and she still hasn't sat back down. Are some hens really this easy to break?

Yep!

 

[Paganrose]

Quote:
Some hens take there time deciding if they truly want to be broody. Some of my hens used to stay on the nest for a few hours everyday while deciding. I had one that would go broody twice a year, and whenever she started a couple other hens would copy her until they made up their minds. Give it some time she may try again.

 

[fisherlady]

Our hen, Jo, hatched 3 chicks Saturday night, a full day early, just like her mama does. She is currently in our play pen brooder due to some temporary roosters being kept in the coop for a couple of days, she and the chicks will move back out when the roosters are gone....