Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Sometimes two will work better together and sometimes a rooster interferes with a broody staying broody - you may just have to play it by ear. If he starts to interfere - then you might want to move him. But if they work well together - leave them alone and he can help with the babies once they hatch. Keep us posted!

I have a pair of black silkies. They are in a good sized chicken tractor alone. Fred and Wilma are their names. Wilma has stopped laying because I changed her nest box. She is super broody though. My question is, Do I need to remove Fred or will he be fine if I place eggs under Wilma?

 

[Miss Lydia]

A WHOLE bunch of future broodies ....

A lavender Silkie



The Blues Brothers



Splash Silkie cuteness

Gorgeous Silkies BG, I'm thinking some Silkies are in my near future..

 

[bobbieschicks]

So adorable! I love the topknots on those blue brothers.

A WHOLE bunch of future broodies ....

A lavender Silkie



The Blues Brothers



Splash Silkie cuteness

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I may have my 3rd broody of this year, my bantam hen Issabelle who has faithfully gone broody in the last 2 years she has lived, was sitting on duck eggs so I only had 2 chicken eggs to give her but I picked her and the eggs up and moved her to the small coop, she was in one of the ducks bedroom. She settled right down on them so we'll see in the morning if she stays. and my duck is sitting on 4 eggs in her bedroom, it's not for sure she's full out broody but i think she maybe headed in that direction. Anyone need ducklings? I have 7 to hatch on the 22nd. Ain't it grand.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Awwwhhh - can't wait to see the pics of the baby ducks - they are always so cute. Maybe even cuter then chicks?

Well I may have my 3rd broody of this year, my bantam hen Issabelle who has faithfully gone broody in the last 2 years she has lived, was sitting on duck eggs so I only had 2 chicken eggs to give her but I picked her and the eggs up and moved her to the small coop, she was in one of the ducks bedroom. She settled right down on them so we'll see in the morning if she stays. and my duck is sitting on 4 eggs in her bedroom, it's not for sure she's full out broody but i think she maybe headed in that direction. Anyone need ducklings? I have 7 to hatch on the 22nd. Ain't it grand.

 

[perchie.girl]

Oooh I like that Wicker next basket..... Is it a nest box or just something to slip a pot into.... Here in the desert I like to think of fresh air for my girls.

Ohh sheesh I reread your post and totally missed the cat bed....

deb Off to go look for wicker cat beds.

Here's one of my broodies playing nice with one of her hatchmates (broody on right, egg layer on left). The other broody is in the cat bed to the right but you can't see much of her - she's snuggled in there good and tight. Wish it was a better pic but only had my phone on me.

 

[featherz]

I threw that thing out last year since our cats didn't like it and I was trying to clean up. Then a chicken found it before it went to the dump and went broody in it.. Not sure why it hadn't occurred to me to make it a nest box before that, but it's the favored egg spot now. And it's a big fat chicken in it so it's fun watching them squash in there.

Oooh I like that Wicker next basket..... Is it a nest box or just something to slip a pot into.... Here in the desert I like to think of fresh air for my girls.

Ohh sheesh I reread your post and totally missed the cat bed....

deb Off to go look for wicker cat beds.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oooh I like that Wicker next basket..... Is it a nest box or just something to slip a pot into.... Here in the desert I like to think of fresh air for my girls.

Ohh sheesh I reread your post and totally missed the cat bed....

deb Off to go look for wicker cat beds.

That is an awesome nest box er basket.

 

[needler]

my answer may be in this thread but reading over 800 pages is a bit daunting! I have my first brooding hatch in the process and it hasn't gone so well. Out of the two little ones that have hatched so far one fell out of the nest box and didn't make it and last night another hatched but mom squished it. Is this commom place and can I expect squishing to happen all the time? If that is so I guess I'll have to never let her stay broody

It's really sad to see her go through the sitting and finding squished babies. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[Miss Lydia]

my answer may be in this thread but reading over 800 pages is a bit daunting! I have my first brooding hatch in the process and it hasn't gone so well. Out of the two little ones that have hatched so far one fell out of the nest box and didn't make it and last night another hatched but mom squished it. Is this commom place and can I expect squishing to happen all the time? If that is so I guess I'll have to never let her stay broody

It's really sad to see her go through the sitting and finding squished babies. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

sorry about the chick falling out of the box, I always take mama and chicks out of the nest box and place them all on the floor that way no one falls out and dies. I learned that the hard way. as for squishing is she in a small nest box? I don't think this happens that often, hope she has more eggs to hatch, but i would deff. place her where she has more room and where chicks have acsess to her at all times. don't give up on the broody hen just learn from this and work out the problems. I know its very hard to lose them.