Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

What does everybody use for nesting material when using a broody?

I thought I had read that shavings are bad, but can't remember why????
Thanks for any and all input!!

I started with straw because that's what I have in the nest boxes. But when I provided her a nice straw nest area lovingly placed over pine shavings, she simply moved the eggs and made her own nest in just the shavings.

 

[stonykill]

I started with straw because that's what I have in the nest boxes. But when I provided her a nice straw nest area lovingly placed over pine shavings, she simply moved the eggs and made her own nest in just the shavings.

I have always used pine shavings without issue.

Now I've had girls hatch in nests in dirt no problem, currently have a hatch happening in shredded paper,

3 broody's last year hatched in nests in the dirt in the woods, much to my dislike. So I don't really think the nest material is important. The broody is the important part.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Moved the broody succesfully to new location, looks like she's sitting tight. I'm not sure if I want to try the chick test right now or wait until tomorrow. hmmmm.

Oh, and after VMDanielsen's comment, I switched the shavings out of her box and put straw in. Just in case.

Too funny, AFTER writing this, I read that the shavings were fine.... oh well.

 

[vmdanielsen]

Thanks guys! I put in some hay, I think in the morning I will put in fresh shavings because that is what she has in her regular nesting box. This girl has been acting broody for almost 3 weeks. I have 7 eggs in the incubator that are due Tue/Wed. If she is still broody In her new coop and has not broken, I will put the chicks under her. If she breaks( I hope not) the brooder is ready to go!

 

[This_chicks_place]

sounds lovely..

She really is my most beautiful bird. Light dove gray colored and big!!! I'll post pics!

 

[stonykill]

Thanks guys! I put in some hay, I think in the morning I will put in fresh shavings because that is what she has in her regular nesting box. This girl has been acting broody for almost 3 weeks. I have 7 eggs in the incubator that are due Tue/Wed. If she is still broody In her new coop and has not broken, I will put the chicks under her. If she breaks( I hope not) the brooder is ready to go!

why not just slip her a couple of eggs from the bator now?

Last year my best broody "Mama" was sitting on 13 eggs. I didn't know where her nest was until she started sitting. I noticed for a few days another hen was sitting nest to her to lay. Then this hen went broody near the end of mama's sitting. Mama hatched 7 eggs. I took the new broody's golfballs, and gave her mama's remaining eggs. less than a week later she hatched all but 1.

 

[vmdanielsen]

why not just slip her a couple of eggs from the bator now?

Last year my best broody "Mama" was sitting on 13 eggs. I didn't know where her nest was until she started sitting. I noticed for a few days another hen was sitting nest to her to lay. Then this hen went broody near the end of mama's sitting. Mama hatched 7 eggs. I took the new broody's golfballs, and gave her mama's remaining eggs. less than a week later she hatched all but 1.

I really did not think that she would stay broody. She is only 10 months old. I just moved her to a separate coop and if she stays broody with the change I may stick an egg or two under her. she has wooden eggs right now.

 

[stonykill]

I really did not think that she would stay broody. She is only 10 months old. I just moved her to a separate coop and if she stays broody with the change I may stick an egg or two under her. she has wooden eggs right now.

cool! I've had mixed results adding chicks to a broody, but great luck giving them eggs ready to hatch.

 

[vmdanielsen]

cool! I've had mixed results adding chicks to a broody, but great luck giving them eggs ready to hatch.

Maybe if she is happy and sitting when I get home on Tuesday, maybe I will slip a few under her!

 

[meowmmy65]

So, after hatching last night and this morning, we have 3 healthy little fuzzy butts. I've moved Mamma and brood into an old dog crate because our nesting boxes are up a little high, and the other hens kept joining her in the box to lay their eggs. This made Mamma crazy. When we first moved her over, she was frantic. Fortunately, it didn't take long for her to settle down and relax.

The babies are one Maran, and two Easter Egger/Maran mixes.





This picture is a little fuzzy, but I was not able to get all three babies in one shot.

I just love this picture with baby peeking out. Those two eggs in the front did end up being duds. The other shells are just broken pieces.



This was our first baby - and wow is (s)he a little stinker. This baby keeps pecking Mamma's comb, as if it were a worm. She is driving Lucy crazy.

So - our hens are almost one year old, and this is our first experience having hens, and thus, our first broody and first experience with hatching eggs. Amazing! We are thrilled with 3 healthy babies,and now are crossing our fingers, hoping they are all girls. (Unlikely, I know.) But we can't have roosters in they city.