Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stone_family3]

When I have tried to move my broodies they freak out and refuse to lay on the eggs. They are both already about a week into sitting on them.

If they are laying in her box and succeeding I would attempt to move her. I may have to my Barred rock she is in the lead hens favorite nest box. But the lead hen doenst make her move she just waits until she is off for a water break then plants her big bottom down. Then I cant get her eggs before Momma (Barred rock) sits down again! Then I have to upset her.

Chicken soap opera....

But I absolutely love it!

 

[hennypenny99]

I have a new broody. A little white silkie. I have a quad of Silkies in a tractor. It's about 4 x8 and they have a large doghouse for their coop that they sleep in at night. Well yesterday I went to gather eggs in the doghouse and she was sitting in the doghouse. So I waited and fed everyone. They were really hungry but she wouldnt come out of her doghouse so I left her alone last night and this morning I brought her 2 more silkie eggs from my other birds and sat them beside her. She didnt do anything at first but I tried to push them towards her with a stick and she pecked at the stick. Hopefully she didn't crack one of the eggs. She did peck at it pretty hard. Then she realized those were eggs and tucked them underneath her.

Should I move her? I have some dog carriers. I could put one in there and move her nest so she will be alone and the others won't be crowding her to come sleep with her at night. I heard her last night growling at them.

 

[Tripp16]

When I have tried to move my broodies they freak out and refuse to lay on the eggs. They are both already about a week into sitting on them.

Same here. I made a nice and cozy nest for Henrietta because I was planning to move her but she freaked and started clucking and trying to get back to the other nest. So sunday she will be on the eggs a week so far she has been a good momma. It just took her a month to finally give in!

 

[ChicKat]

Psst - I know the secret to making a hen go broody...

1. You have to have a breed that is prone to broodiness - like EE, Cochin and Silkies - to name a few. Order some and then wait.
2. Make sure you have an inviting nest with fake eggs (golf ball, ping pong ball, ceramic egg, plastic egg or something else that looks egg shaped). Put the fake eggs in the nest box and then wait.
3. Watch her carefully and the 1st time you notice her staying on the nest all day long - give her a special treat to eat, like mealyworms or such, and then wait.
4. Watch her each night to see if she spends the night on the fake eggs or returns to the roost, and then wait.
5. Watch to see if she's stopped laying her own eggs, and then wait.
6. Once she stays on the nest all night long for 3 nights in a row - call her a broody - your wait is over! Celebrate, you have a broody!

Then decide whether to leave her where she is or move her to another location. If you are going to move her - do yourself a favor and do it at night under cloak of darkness. Trust me on this one. Put a small towel over her head so she can't see anything and move her along with some of her bedding to the new nest. Put the fake eggs under her and watch to see if she stays there the next morning. You can test her resolve for a couple of days - or if you already have a bator as backup go ahead and move forward with your plan to get eggs under her. Order your eggs and let them sit for 24 hours before placing them either in the nest when she's out eating/pooping or in front of her to let her scoop them under herself. Once the eggs are under her begin the 21 day count down and wait for the chicks to hatch!

The actual time between wanting a broody and having a broody may vary - the waiting time of somewhere between "now" and "never" are normal. However, do not give up hope. Trust in the process and wait patiently grasshopper - all things come to those who wait...

OMG-- Bobbies Chicks---
I'm following your secret formula -- Started this morning before I read this. (well sort of following).

I moved the hen that was showing signs of being broody, [hanging out a long time on the nest, scolding when I looked in-- trying to peck my hand etc.] into a little pet carrier with--you guessed it 1/2 dozen fake eggs. It kind of follows that theory that circulates about the boy who learned the trick from his grandfather about the tar paper covered dog crate-- I'm sure you've all have heard it. ;O)

She has feed water a space to get out of the nest, a cardboard "broody box" inside the pet carrier. She's isolated from the rest--and thus not hogging the nest box....so they have better access.
If she seems broody, then the small space won't be a big problem, if she isn't then I will give up on her. I think by this weekend I want to know is she or isn't she. There isn't much else she can do in there except sit on the nestbox...or drink, eat and poo in the rest of the available space.

If she is broody, then she is already where she will be for the duration. --so no need to move her.

But she isn't a broody type breed---so maybe it's all futile. Cannot believe what you posted, then cannot believe it was just joking. :O( ====> when, cooincidentally, it was my way to determine if she is or isn't. When she is out she just dust bathes or roosts someplace, but she doesn't stay on the nest all day.

to be continued......................

 

[bobbieschicks]

I have a new broody.  A little white silkie.  I have a quad of Silkies in a tractor.  It's about 4 x8 and they have a large doghouse for their coop that they sleep in at night.  Well yesterday I went to gather eggs in the doghouse and she was sitting in the doghouse.  So I waited and fed everyone.  They were really hungry but she wouldnt come out of her doghouse so I left her alone last night and this morning I brought her 2 more silkie eggs from my other birds and sat them beside her.  She didnt do anything at first but I tried to push them towards her with a stick and she pecked at the stick.  Hopefully she didn't crack one of the eggs.  She did peck at it pretty hard.  Then she realized those were eggs and tucked them underneath her. 

Should I move her?  I have some dog carriers.  I could put one in there and move her nest so she will be alone and the others won't be crowding her to come sleep with her at night.  I heard her last night growling at them. 

You don't have to move a broody. If she's safe from harm and it's working, leave her. At least until the chicks hatch. If she's in danger or someone else is harassing her or breaking her eggs, move her. But do it at night with no light and cover her head with a towel when you do it. Move some of the bedding with her and she should sit still. Do it during the daylight hours and you'll get mixed results.

 

[bobbieschicks]

OMG-- Bobbies Chicks--- 
I'm following your secret formula -- Started this morning before I read this.  (well sort of following).

I moved the hen that was showing signs of being broody, [hanging out a long time on the nest, scolding when I looked in-- trying to peck my hand etc.] into a little pet carrier with--you guessed it 1/2 dozen fake eggs.  It kind of follows that theory that circulates about the boy who learned the trick from his grandfather about the tar paper covered dog crate-- I'm sure you've all have heard it.  ;O)

She has feed water a space to get out of the nest, a cardboard "broody box" inside the pet carrier.  She's isolated from the rest--and thus not hogging the nest box....so they have better access. 
If she seems broody, then the small space won't be a big problem, if she isn't then I will give up on her.  I think by this weekend I want to know is she or isn't she.  There isn't much else she can do in there except sit on the nestbox...or drink, eat and poo in the rest of the available space.  

If she is broody, then she is already where she will be for the duration.  --so no need to move her.  

But she isn't a broody type breed---so maybe it's all futile.  Cannot believe what you posted, then cannot believe it was just joking.  :O(  ====> when, cooincidentally,  it was my way to determine if she is or isn't.  When she is out she just dust bathes or roosts someplace, but she doesn't stay on the nest all day.  

to be continued......................

Oh I wasn't joking, those are the steps for a broody. The only joke was the wait part because we all know you can't force a chicken to go broody. But you can certainly try to encourage her and watch for the broody signs. I hope she stays put for you! Let us know if my secret formula worked for you. Fingers together here and praying.

BTW what breed is she?

 

[ChicKat]

Thanks for the good wishes.

She is Ideal 236 (white leghorn hybrid)-- there are some pictures in my "blog of sorts" down by signature. Time will tell! :O)

 

[aoxa]

I think my silkie may be contemplating motherhood. She is making clucking sounds when she walks like my broodies do.

Mom looks tired lol

dad's turn to babysit

 

[boysnoise210]

We are first timers also and we left our broody in her nest which is about 18 inches off the floor. She just hatched the last one late last night. Hatchings started sunday night, so as I learned the hard way just be patient. I thought they would all hatch within hours of each other but in reality it takes days. Our girl is still in her box we just screwed a board to the edge so there is a higher lip so the chicks don't fall out. We will move her and her chicks to a box at ground level this afternoon. Good luck with the hatch and post pics please!

Thanks for the replies; I would LOVE to leave her alone, but our nest boxes are metal and 36 inches from the ground, and not very spacious. I may wait until dark tonight and move her to the rabbit hutch, or even better, I may "fence" around the box that's in the coop and put her in there until she's hatched out all she's going to. I really don't want to separate her from the rest of the flock, then have to reintroduce her and her babies. Blah.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Lily with her brood

Last chick hatched last night, another black Araucana- poking it's head out from under mama!

Aww they are so sweet.