Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

quite adorable

This is Macey [my granddaughter named her after her] LOL and her little one, theres another in there under all that fluff.

 

[stonykill]

My black broody, Princess, taught me all about this brooding with a hen... Her first hatch I took from her, thinking that was the right thing. Nonono! She went wild. Second hatch, I isolated her. She was very unhappy. Third time she disappeared during a snow storm in Febuary and, after I mourned her, she reappeared with a string of babies. I gave up. She raised so many babies I can't count. Often twice a year. Now when one goes broody I put some medium to large hard shelled marked eggs under her & wait. Up high? No problem, chicks bounce on the deep straw bedding. Ramps? Mama will teach them, like Princess taught me.... Mama knows best. No separating, they'll blend into the flock under Mama's eye. Don't worry if she lets them chill a time or two. This current broody panicked me becausee she must have chilled those eggs 3 times at least. Grrrrr. They still hatched, but a few days later than I thought they should. I should know by now. Trust Mother Nature and your broody.

very well said

 

[prairie]

Hscsusiq,
Thanks for the tips!! I typically don't get too wound up taking care of the ladies but would rather let them sort things out and fend for themselves in free ranging for much of their nutrition in bugs/grasshoppers/ticks etc but my broody mama's are different. Guess it is because this is my first hatch and first broody's!

But after reading so much her on this long post ---- I do think I will quit worrying about them and just let them handle things! Thanks for the reassurance!

My black broody, Princess, taught me all about this brooding with a hen...

 

[stonykill]

yup, that's my dance I do when "Mama" one of our Blue Sumatra hens goes broody.

"Mama" last summer with last years 2nd of 3 broods.

 

[bobbieschicks]

  quite adorable

Xs2! Too cute!

 

[Miss Lydia]

yup, that's my dance I do when "Mama" one of our Blue Sumatra hens goes broody.

"Mama" last summer with last years 2nd of 3 broods.

How many broods has she had this year stony, she is my favorite I love her color.

 

[stonykill]

How many broods has she had this year stony, she is my favorite I love her color.

this will be her 2nd brood this year. Thanks! She is a beautiful girl

 

[Johnn]

Went to my hens today after being away for a couple of days, found my Buff Orpington and cream legbar broody!, Ivegfot a problem htough i think they might have lice because a few other hens do, should i use powder and risk scaring them off by handling them or should i put a tray in their broody shed with lice powder in so they can have a dust bath in it? Also can i just get eggs out the nesting box's the hens lay that day and put them into their nest? they have not got any eggs yet that they will be keeping

 

[BarnGoddess01]

My Blue Copper Marans is DEFINITELY broody. She left the nest for most of the day yesterday then hunkered down last night and hasn't left so far today so I'm still hoping I'll get one more egg from her to add to the clutch I'm collecting for her. And already the nonsense has begun with the other ladies climbing all over her so I'm thinking I'll get her locked up before I give her her official eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Went to my hens today after being away for a couple of days, found my Buff Orpington and cream legbar broody!, Ivegfot a problem htough i think they might have lice because a few other hens do, should i use powder and risk scaring them off by handling them or should i put a tray in their broody shed with lice powder in so they can have a dust bath in it? Also can i just get eggs out the nesting box's the hens lay that day and put them into their nest? they have not got any eggs yet that they will be keeping

If i was you Johnn I would take both hens out put them into a dog crate or box that you can close up then take all the bedding in their nests out and get rid of it don't dump outside though or you'll just be adding lice or mites to the yard bag it up and haul away. then dust the nest boxes real good add fresh bedding, the eggs you want them to sit on then take each hen and dust her real good. i use Epernix pour on on my hens when they go broody, mostly because i don't like the dust that comes with the well dust. also add something for them to dust bathe in while brooding. then put the hens back on the nest. you may want to wait to give them their eggs after they have gotten all settled back in. Good luck and keep us posted. Be sure to get rid of these pests because brooding alone is rough without having to deal with pets too.