Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Excellent first time I have heard the story. Short version... Son Falls in love with Mother. There is actually a name in Psychiatry for it .... The Oedipus Complex. Pronounced Edepus.

deb

 

[grannychicken54]

I am going to use an incubator for the first time because I ordered eggs and none of my girls are broody right now when I have been fighting them the last few months to not brood. I have never used an incubator but maby someone will decide to want to be a mama before the eggs get here. Right now I 3 bantam chochins that all have babies at the same time. When my go broody we just build a pen around them.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

I am pleased to report my almost 12 week old chicks are finally claiming some independence, and Mamma has left them to their own devices. They sleep together but apart from Mum, and she no longer terrorizes the rest of the flock for getting too close to one of them. They have moved to the bottom of the pecking order, and the biddies are not amused by their shenanigans. They have to fight for food, a roost spot and everything else for themselves, now.
Now, if Mamma could just commit herself to laying, again...

 

[bobbieschicks]

chicks-19 weeks now and still with the mother, seriously when will i get to say they have left her?!!, Bobbiechicks, how is Topsy and Vanilla ice doing with the chick raising??

The chicks are doing great. Momma and momma helper are keeping them busy and warm. Topsy takes two under her at night and Vanilla Ice has two as well. Then they both snuggle up close so they are keeping each other warm.

They had the babies out in the yard following the rest of the flock freeranging today. I thought at first Topsy would get upset with Vanilla Ice's involvement, but she has shared the duties with no problems or squabbles. It's like she knows its a good thing for them to work together on this.

So cute to hear Topsy cluck the broody cluck and watch the babies rush over to take food from both "mommas" to eat. I've also noticed that Smokey hasn't been coming around to beat up on Topsy, so maybe that's another perk of having the two together.

 

[Johnn]

The chicks are doing great. Momma and momma helper are keeping them busy and warm. Topsy takes two under her at night and Vanilla Ice has two as well. Then they both snuggle up close so they are keeping each other warm.
They had the babies out in the yard following the rest of the flock freeranging today. I thought at first Topsy would get upset with Vanilla Ice's involvement, but she has shared the duties with no problems or squabbles. It's like she knows its a good thing for them to work together on this.
So cute to hear Topsy cluck the broody cluck and watch the babies rush over to take food from both "mommas" to eat. I've also noticed that Smokey hasn't been coming around to beat up on Topsy, so maybe that's another perk of having the two together.

sounds good then! , does Smokey not like Topsy??

 

[Johnn]

went to give the hens a treat before, they were in the nest box! the mother at the back, fella snuggling in behind her. There wasnt enough room for Asparagus so he slept in the middle (he got out when i went), which was also the nest box he fell out of when he was a day old!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

sounds good then! , does Smokey not like Topsy??

Smoke HATES Topsy for whatever reason - maybe she thinks Topsy is trying to be over her in the pecking order. But every chance she gets she will get on Topsy's back and peck her like a rooster does a hen. If Smokey didn't lay such pretty green eggs she would be stew.

 

[farmer boy]

i really need help with my rooster he is a silkies rooster .. he has gotten more aggressive i went out side and he ran at me and kept tying to bite me .. my older sisters friend put the birds in last in and there are different pens that they need to go in and he might have put him in with other roosters and got in a fight idk but when ever i go near him he puts his head to the ground and gets his feet stomping and idk what that means so idk so i need help i don't want to get rid of him either

 

[elsfieldchickens]

here is my hen petel and her to babys

 

[Miss Lydia]

i really need help with my rooster he is a silkies rooster .. he has gotten more aggressive i went out side and he ran at me and kept tying to bite me .. my older sisters friend put the birds in last in and there are different pens that they need to go in and he might have put him in with other roosters and got in a fight idk but when ever i go near him he puts his head to the ground and gets his feet stomping and idk what that means so idk so i need help i don't want to get rid of him either

Go out with the broom, when he comes at you give him a good shove with the broom, lifting him off the ground if you can then stand your ground, if he comes again use the broom again give him a swat, not hard to hurt him but just letting him know you are boss roo not him. He's probably feeling his hormones and just needs to be taken down a peg or 2.