Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[BullChick]

I want the ducks to get used to me and be really comfortable with me. Do you think I could achieve that if I let her raise them outside? If she does mourn how long will it last?

Mine have mourned for up to a year. It was pitiful.

 

[Faraday40]

Mine have mourned for up to a year. It was pitiful.

Oh NO!

I sadly did that to my hen when I didn't know any better. I let her hatch eggs and mother the chicks for about 2 weeks. All the chicks were healthy and doing well. Because I couldn't increase my flock size then, I sold all 5 chicks. My poor hen was so depressed, stopped eating, and spent most the day calling for her missing chicks. She stayed in the darkened coop and mourned all day. She started to moult and looked even more pathetic. It took 1-2 months before she began to snap out of it. In the meantime I was so afraid I'd lose her to the awful depression. It was completely my fault and since then, I always keep at least one chick for mama.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

So an unforeseen side effect of a hen going broody. I was getting 8 eggs a day. Minus 1 hen I should be getting 7 eggs a day. But sometimes as little as 4. Maybe they found a good hiding place? I check whenever possible and they are not under broody hen. Just seems like hormones in the air messing up other layers? Anyone have a better understanding or experience of this?
Thanks

 

[Molpet]

So an unforeseen side effect of a hen going broody. I was getting 8 eggs a day. Minus 1 hen I should be getting 7 eggs a day. But sometimes as little as 4. Maybe they found a good hiding place? I check whenever possible and they are not under broody hen. Just seems like hormones in the air messing up other layers? Anyone have a better understanding or experience of this?
Thanks

Broodiness can be contagious
But with the heat I am not getting many eggs.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

Broodiness can be contagious
But with the heat I am not getting many eggs.

I didn't factor in heat. That is probably a lot of the problem.
Thanks

 

[CindyinSD]

So an unforeseen side effect of a hen going broody. I was getting 8 eggs a day. Minus 1 hen I should be getting 7 eggs a day. But sometimes as little as 4. Maybe they found a good hiding place? I check whenever possible and they are not under broody hen. Just seems like hormones in the air messing up other layers? Anyone have a better understanding or experience of this?
Thanks

I think it's just too hot.

 

[Faraday40]

So an unforeseen side effect of a hen going broody. I was getting 8 eggs a day. Minus 1 hen I should be getting 7 eggs a day. But sometimes as little as 4. Maybe they found a good hiding place? I check whenever possible and they are not under broody hen. Just seems like hormones in the air messing up other layers? Anyone have a better understanding or experience of this?
Thanks

Yep. It happens!

Broodiness can be contagious
But with the heat I am not getting many eggs.

x2
I have 3 hens with chicks and another 3 sitting on eggs. It's crazy!!!!

 

[Molpet]

Yep. It happens!



x2
I have 3 hens with chicks and another 3 sitting on eggs. It's crazy!!!!

LOL
5 turkeys are on their 2nd round
9 are co raising poults

6 chickens on the nest and 3 with chicks, another chicken broke all her eggs and gave up

 

[centrarchid]

At this moment I have one hen with 12 chicks, another hen due to go hatch 7 eggs on July 22 and another has 10 eggs dues to hatch on about July 19. Three more hens are in a holding pattern to go broody in about 2 weeks.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I know its day and candle pics are tough but I just happened to catch her out of the nest. Do these pics look ok?