Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[CoopDeDoo]

hahaha, My Bielefelder hen, originally called Clueless and then changed to Schnitzel, is once again Clueless!

She has decided to be partly broody - going to have to put her in one of the box thingies... but first I'll try taking her out of the nest box all day.

Did I mention that she hasn't been on any eggs for 3 days?

That's my silkie - took the eggs and she is still glued to nest box....and pretty darn cranky pants about it

 

[fisherlady]

That's my silkie - took the eggs and she is still glued to nest box....and pretty darn cranky pants about it

You probably won't need to do much for her as long as others aren't able to access her nest....if they can then you need to mark her eggs and check for additional eggs daily and remove them. Watch her weight and comb/wattle color to make sure she doesn't become ill, provide her a good quality feed (we give our broodies chick starter and healthy treats...if needed... to keep their condition up) and that should be about it. A good broody is hard to beat!

 

[CoopDeDoo]

Quote:
There is only one other hen with her right now because she decided to go broody while we are switching around the coops/runs to accommodate growing out are juveniles. The other hen is LF Fav that lays really big eggs (should be easy to see them since the eggs I am getting for Holly are CCL ( blueish) and bantam frizzled polish (white). We will move Lena the Fav in with the juvies about a week prior to hatch time and secure Holly and the eggs in the coop.

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
Sounds like a good plan for your set up....now for the hard part....waiting!

 

[CoopDeDoo]

The broody took all the eggs and adjusted them to her satisfaction

Now we wait..

 

[Coop de Grass]

I covered her favorite nest boxes last night, but of course she settled for another one. She did leave the nest this morning and was out with the flock. When she went back into the coop, another hen as in the box. So she sat on the coop floor patiently waiting.If I was feeling sympathetic then

but, I'm really

!

 

[nchls school]

I covered her favorite nest boxes last night, but of course she settled for another one. She did leave the nest this morning and was out with the flock. When she went back into the coop, another hen as in the box. So she sat on the coop floor patiently waiting.If I was feeling sympathetic then

but, I'm really

!

This is the hen you don't want to brood?

 

[nchls school]

My 21 week old Japanese bantam pullet has gone broody. She is overly fearful and protective; a strictly hands off bird. I don't really understand why the personality change as she is the pullet in the picture. When I went to give her real eggs instead of the dummy eggs she was brooding she went completely nutzoid. Had the eggs been real they would have been ruined. This is disappointing as I wanted to use her to hatch serama eggs. Instead I took four eggs from the fridge that were destined for the fry pan and gave the hen those. I'm hoping she will calm down enough to give better eggs.

 

[Coop de Grass]

@nchls school Yes, this is the Bielefelder hen. I am going to put her in the dog crate today. I just haven't had a chance to set it up. Not sure that I have room inside the coop, can I set her up in the run under the roof and against the side of the coop? It is predator proof and dry. Temps here in NJ are in the 40s at night and in the 50s during the day.

 

[nchls school]

@nchls school Yes, this is the Bielefelder hen. I am going to put her in the dog crate today. I just haven't had a chance to set it up. Not sure that I have room inside the coop, can I set her up in the run under the roof and against the side of the coop? It is predator proof and dry. Temps here in NJ are in the 40s at night and in the 50s during the day.

Sounds like it would work. To me the best way to break broodiness is what you're doing-a bare cage.