Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[jeannedeaux]

I have an unknown breed white hen who is 4 years old and the first of my mixed flock to go broody. She’s been on the nest for a week but can’t stay there as others need the boxes to lay. I have a small nursery run and tiny house I built for transitioning chicks last year that is inside the larger pen (which is about 300 square feet). I think it will work well for her to safely brood and hatch and raise the chicks. Only problem—tonight I tried to move her and six eggs and she was quiet until I left the main henhouse. She then freaked out—either waking up or feeling terrified at leaving. She evacuated all over me and the eggs in the basket, started struggling and squawking, and I had to struggle to get her into the nursery. Does this mean she’s unlikely to resettle on the nest now? And will it be a problem that some of the eggs got yoke and white on them if it dries? I’d hate to have the chicks glued inside! Any ideas much appreciated; I’m new to broody hatching.

 

[BullChick]

She should settle down. The “dirt” should not be a problem. However, you can wipe it off with a dry paper towel.

 

[jeannedeaux]

Thanks. Unfortunately she’s staying out in her tiny run, leaving the eggs inside the little house on the nest. I assume I broke her broodiness? So sad; been hoping someone would hatch eggs for so long!!

 

[Trux]

Hi all. Back in may one of my BO's went broody as she does quite frequently. I have a Roo and he has been topping some of my hens to make me some fertile eggs for the bator, and I figured what the heck and stuck 4 under my broody, moved her to another pen and here is the result

20190602_095417

• Trux
• Jun 2, 2019

20190602_134139

• Trux
• Jun 2, 2019

two of the four were quitters

 

[jeannedeaux]

Hi all. Back in may one of my BO's went broody as she does quite frequently. I have a Roo and he has been topping some of my hens to make me some fertile eggs for the bator, and I figured what the heck and stuck 4 under my broody, moved her to another pen and here is the result

20190602_095417

• Trux
• Jun 2, 2019

20190602_134139

• Trux
• Jun 2, 2019

two of the four were quitters

How did you move her? She didn't get all upset and go off the nest?

 

[Trux]

How did you move her? She didn't get all upset and go off the nest?

I use milk crates for nesting boxes, so I pulled the crate with her in it and moved it to another pen, then put the eggs under her

 

[fisherlady]

Very cute! Glad she is getting a couple of chicks to fuss over as reward for her dedication!

Hi all. Back in may one of my BO's went broody as she does quite frequently. I have a Roo and he has been topping some of my hens to make me some fertile eggs for the bator, and I figured what the heck and stuck 4 under my broody, moved her to another pen and here is the result

20190602_095417

• Trux
• Jun 2, 2019

20190602_134139

• Trux
• Jun 2, 2019

two of the four were quitters

 

[Trux]

Very cute! Glad she is getting a couple of chicks to fuss over as reward for her dedication!

Ha! had the wife hold the 2 babies whilst I did some cleaning and water changing. She was sitting in the chair holding them and momma jumped in her lap and up on her arm and covered them with her wing, so we know she is dedicated

 

[forevercamismom]

So I found this thread on my mobile phone and then it took me 5 days to find it on the laptop! Really this post is just so i can find the thread again as I am only up to page 43 in my reading of the thread.

We have 4 French Cuckoo Maran Hens, 1 Roo that at just turning 1 year old. This spring we added 15 Buff Orpies. Sadly we losted 9 of them! So we started looking for more chicks to add/replace and... bam 2 broody marans that wanted to share their nest. We left them in the main coop with everyone else. While my husband and I were on vacation the other 2 maran hens decided to be broody also.
Currently
Maran #1 Cotton- hatched 2 and moved herself to the coop floor. we believe they hatched last Monday or Tuesday.
Maran #2 Red Band- continued to sit on the clutch. hatched 1 last week, it jumped down to join Cotton. Hatched 1 on Friday (appears to be a quiter it never dried found on coop floor) 2 hatched Sunday/Monday 1 joined Cotton the other is still with Red band who is still sitting on 8 eggs!
Maran #3 & #4 seemed to give up last weekend and were outside constantly. 1 had 1 egg that we added to the main clucth. the other was sitting on 2 ceramic eggs! so we took those away also. Monday they decided nope we are broody and have been back to sitting on nothing!

 

[forevercamismom]

an a quick update!
When my hubby checked this morning at 730 am Red band was still on the clutch with 1 chick hatched. I just went to check on them at 945 am and found Red and baby on the coop floor with Cotton and the other babies! So i checked on the eggs in the clutch and Cotton came up to check them also. I tried to call my hubby and then made the executive decision to move the remain 8 eggs. I gave 4 each to the other 2 broody hens. Green was sitting on a ceramic egg. I moved it out and added the eggs 2 at a time. she tolerated then pecked me and pulled the ceramic egg back in. Purple took the eggs 2 at a time and tucked them under her.

We don't know if these 8 eggs are even fertile (dark chocolate maran eggs and we have never candled in our lives) Also because of our trip we don't know when these eggs were layed! Fingers crossed and prayers being said for a few more to hatch and helpfully break the broodiness of these last 2 hens!

The issue we are noticing in the coop is our young Buff Orpies are having trouble being allowed to leave the roost in the mornings. 3 make it out with the Maran Rooster (he is called Seven). Cotton holds the other 3 hostage until my husband comes in and lifts them down and out 1 by 1 by hand. He has noticed that it is Gimp (suffered a broken leg when we lost the other 9 in an attack) red banded Buff rooster, and purple band every morning. Cotton lunges for Gimp when he takes her down.
We really want to continue to let the chicks be raised in coop with the flock but darn is it annoying to have 3 trapped chickens every morning! Any suggestions?