OMG!! I have a BROODY!!! HELP!! PICS ADDED pg 4

[Sunny Side Up]

Congratulations to you & your broody!

If at all possible, try to block assess to her nest box so the other hens don't try to get in there & lay their eggs too. There's something about a brooding hen that makes all the others want to lay their eggs in her nest too. Sometimes eggs get cracked in the struggle, or the broody hen gets confused on her way back from a break & goes to set in a different nest, letting her developing eggs go cold. Maybe just some wire or boards to make a barrier.

Since it's cold you can add insulation around her nest box with blankets, sleeping bags, cardboard or straw. She will be able to keep her eggs & chicks warm enough. But she may not want or need to eat & drink as much as usual, and may not want to leave the nest for very long. Put her food & water nearby & just keep an eye on her condition. Check to see if she's made a big smelly broody poop every day or two. If you feel you MUST take her off the nest do it during the warmest part of the day.

Let us know how well this concludes!

 

[Keri78]

Hey Guys! Must be contagious b/c I just went out to the barn and my girl is acting broody AGAIN! She was very brrody last Friday all day until she decided to take a potty break and then when she saw all of her buddies playing in the leaves she decided she was done with the whole "I wanna be a MAMA Hen thing"!!!

and went to join them in their search for bugs!!!

So I did what all good BYC goers would do and I scooped her up and gave her her own chickie tractor and put her eggs in the hutch with her and trie to persuade her that she wants to be a Mama!

But..no go the "broody phase " was over and by morning she was fretting about being all by herself! Sooo I put my fertile eggs in the bator on Sat evening and what do ya know???? Sunday morning she's back to her old tricks again...completely broody not budging all day long! Soo I have ignored her broody spells and she has not "remained" that way for longer than a day. Soooo today I just went out to the barn and she's back at it AGAIN!!! This time...I tried moving her to a small dog crate with hay and her "eggs" ...wood eggs mind you!

She snuggled right in and began fixing her nest sooo we'll just wait and see how long this spell lasts??? I have a small dish of food and water in there with her but the crate is really small for her b/c she's HUGE! Should I just open the door at times and see if she wants to get out and stretch her legs? I guess I will need to clean it every couple of days? I'm searching for an old port a crib that nobody wants b/c I think this would give her some room to move around? She's seriously scrunched in there...but happy and content right now? What's your thoughts?

Thanks, Keri

 

[Southernbelle]

I let my broodies hatch eggs all last winter, they had no problem keeping the eggs warm enough to hatch and keeping the new little chicks warm enough even when it was freezing cold. Congratulations!

 

[muddipuppy]

My 7 month silkie just went broody on me, too, about 4 days ago. I don't have a roo so I ordered her some silkie eggs. I have a second coop that is more insulated. So i could move her, but I only have one other chicken and the two of them are very close. I think she might be depressed (well, both of them) if I segregated them for so long. Word from the experts, please.

 

[muddipuppy]

I just opened the coop and lo and behold, my silkie came busting out of there and has been romping around the yard for the last half hour. Does this mean the broody spell is over?

 

[Damummis]

I was in the bathroom "thinking". "Thinking" with the farmers almanac, and I read a blip on setting eggs by the moon. I did the math and my eggs should hatch under a Pisces moon. YEAH!!!

Anyone else ever set by the moon????

 

[TexasChick09]

I have a Bantam hen that went broodie as well. She gets off the nest every day around noon time and eats and drinks and takes care of business. I marked her original 8 eggs, so I will steal any extras that get put in there when she is off of the nest. She is going to think she has monster chicks though as none of her eggs she is sitting are bantam eggs. She has 4 EE eggs, 3 brown eggs, and 1 white, all med to large size. She lays a small ivory colored egg.

I had planned to take her eggs, but when I went to pick up the horse's hay, the people there (who have chickens) talked me into letting her try and hatch them. They said that Bantams make the best broodies and that I should "give her a chance"..lol. She has been on the eggs almost a week now. I'm not sure how to do candling exactly, so I will have to look it up and do that. I have 3 roosters- 2 EEs and 1 I Dont Know (came from hatchery in Rainbow Layer mix), but who knows if they are taking care of business or not. It seems like they fancy a few of the hens but the rest never let them get close. Anyway, I will let you know if I get chicks!

 

[Scoop]

I'm certain mine is broody now. I've let the others out free-ranging and sure enough she is still in there sittin in the box! So the rooster is outside with them too, and I will let him bunk with the girls for a spell and then start setting aside eggs for the hen to hatch. Mine is a mottled java. She's a pretty sweet hen. Only 10 months old! Can someone tell me how long I can save the eggs for her to hatch? (I know not to wash them)

 

[cluckoldhen]

My Bantam broody is due to hatch tomorrow!! I put 3 BO eggs under her ..2 are left...I think one exploded yesterday...not even positive they were fertile.
Maybe since its been extra cold here they wont hatch..but hey its just an experiment and I did not have to sit on them all this time!!!

 

[Damummis]

Just went to lock the coop, Bell (figured if she is gonna be a mom she needs a name) was still hunkered down. I don't know if she ate/drank today. I didn't see her out of the nest. The next couple nights are going to be cold. Single digits.

I think I'll make a blanket for her. I have extra fleece hanging around. I think DH will think I went off my rocker for sure. Bubble over DH's head will read.........."Crazy chicken lady, good thing she can cook".