Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

Mrs Fluffy-Puffy she looks VERY happy!

Did I ever tell you that I call Hermione Mrs Fluffy-Puffy when she's broody?

The Freebie Sisters turn into the Pancake Sisters when they go broody - 2 small hens can take up an awful lot of space!

 

[Fuffy]

A quick update from this side of the Big Pond:

As you know I lost one of my Bouncing Baby Buffys when I moved them out to the slightly bigger wider world.

Turns out that it wasn't the one that I wasn't sure if it was a boy or girl!!! Oh no!!! It was a girl!!!!

So I'm left rearing a girl and a boy, because otherwise, the moment Mom decides she wants to be a hen again, I'll have one on her own.

However both are healthy, happy and very friendly. They also seem to be very well marked, which is always a bonus!

They are just coming up to 8 weeks and there is no sign yet of Hermione wanting to go back with the flock

Will do pics if it ever stops raining

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
Thanks stony, I think so too!" last time we talked about your Pekins you didn't know what you had as far as males and females [I think] do you know now?

Turns out my guess was right. We have 2 females and 6 males. So far no issues being that far out of balance. Next spring I might add a few more females. No more new babies right now. I have way too much coop work to do as it is!

one of the girls should start laying eggs any day now.... can't wait!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

This is my Light Sussex hen that is setting on 1 Sussex egg and 4 Serama Eggs. They're due to hatch 8/17.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/47807_broody_light_sussex_hen.jpg

~ Aspen

Sweet picture... not long now..​

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Thanks stony, I think so too!" last time we talked about your Pekins you didn't know what you had as far as males and females [I think] do you know now?

Turns out my guess was right. We have 2 females and 6 males. So far no issues being that far out of balance. Next spring I might add a few more females. No more new babies right now. I have way too much coop work to do as it is!

one of the girls should start laying eggs any day now.... can't wait!

Always seems to go that way. Yep you'll deff. have to add more girls to the group. I'm already trying to figure out what to do with 3 boys and 6 girls not near enough girls. And nomore rooms available.

dh says we'll have to eat one of the older boys, but I have had them too long they are too much like family.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
Yes, she was setting on two fake eggs up until I decided to give her some eggs. A few days after she went broody Mrs. Fluffy Puffy went broody right beside her!

I moved her to a rabbit/chick run/shelter and gave her 3 Guinea keets and a baby chick I'd hatched from her eggs to raise. She has adopted them, and she is such a great mama!

Even when she isn't broody she'll adopt chicks (well..most of the time!

)

~ Aspen

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I was going to ask you where are the pics? will look forward to seeing your chicks.

my last 2 are still with mama and they are 8 weeks today. Both pullets. we still have 2 roos left over from this years hatch and so far they are behaving themselves, and the other adult roos aren't messing with them. I love it when they first start to crow, stony said they sound like a kazoo and they do indeed.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
I was going to ask you where are the pics? will look forward to seeing your chicks.

my last 2 are still with mama and they are 8 weeks today. Both pullets. we still have 2 roos left over from this years hatch and so far they are behaving themselves, and the other adult roos aren't messing with them. I love it when they first start to crow, stony said they sound like a kazoo and they do indeed.

I have 3 new Kazoo's this week

. Sumatra Kazoo's. The dominant youngin's are feeling their oats!

 

[Fuffy]

Will do those pics later today!

But here's a question for you all:

HOW do you break a hen from being broody?

I've heard some pretty horrendous things, but have always just let Nature get on with it. I kind of just pick them off when I'm close by or shut them out when everyone else has finished in

the nestbox.

Helen Freebie (Of the Freebie Sisters) has gone broody AGAIN! And I really would like a few eggs occasionally!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Well I have 2 that are STILL broody and it's been going on most of the summer, and they both raised a clutch. Crazy things. I am just letting them do what ever. Out of about 16 laying hens I am getting about 6 to 7 eggs a day.