Questions about letting a broody hen set on eggs and raise chicks.

[TheresaV]

I have a Cuckoo Marin hen, Sidney, who is acting broody. I have a source for fertile eggs and I want to give Sidney some eggs to hatch and raise. Is this the right place to ask questions about this topic?

 

[TheresaV]

My questions:
1) How can I be sure Sidney is broody and serious about it? She was off the nest a couple times yesterday and didn't get right back to it. (I thought she had changed her mind when she took the whole afternoon off. Silly girl.) She has now spent 2 full nights on the nest and most of today. I took her off a couple times today and she did go back to it pretty quickly. I would plan to move her onto a nest in a wire dog crate inside the chicken house. How soon after the move should I put eggs under her?

2) Any thoughts on how to protect the chicks from our cat? Molly cat is usually outside all day and is a devoted huntress. When I got my original chickens last spring, I kept them in the chicken run until they were big enough that Molly wouldn't bother them. After they got big they started free ranging most of the time during the day and I would want Sidney and her babies to also be able to free range as soon as possible. I am thinking that even though the big chickens don't hesitate to chase the cat off and she does respect them, this wouldn't guarantee the safety of the chicks.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My questions:
1) How can I be sure Sidney is broody and serious about it?

There are a lot of different signs that a hen might be broody. My test is that a hen has to spend two consecutive nights on the nest instead of sleeping in her normal spot. Some day that may fail me but it hasn't yet.

I would plan to move her onto a nest in a wire dog crate inside the chicken house

On the third or fourth night I'd move her after it is really dark with as little light and commotion as you can manage. Use fake eggs or sacrificial eggs to help her accept the move.

How soon after the move should I put eggs under her?

The move is usually a case of it works or it doesn't. I don't see any reason to wait any longer than the following day.

2) Any thoughts on how to protect the chicks from our cat?

Sorry, no valid experience with that. Cats haven't been a problem but that will depend om the individual cat.

 

[TheresaV]

Thanks for the reply. I do think Sidney is broody. I found out I need to wait a day or two before I decide if I can give her eggs to hatch. Hopefully its ok to just let her alone for that long.

 

[Michelley1001]

Thanks for the reply. I do think Sidney is broody. I found out I need to wait a day or two before I decide if I can give her eggs to hatch. Hopefully its ok to just let her alone for that long.

Ridgerunner gives great broody hen advice!!

I recently let a broody hatch and raise chicks (they are almost 4 weeks old now) and I let her sit for about a week before I put the fertile eggs under her. She stayed put and did great, there were no problems with making her wait a bit for the eggs.

 

[Solanacae]

I have a broody hen also. How long would you suggest waiting until adding day old chicks under the hen?

 

[TheresaV]

Ridgerunner gives great broody hen advice!!

I recently let a broody hatch and raise chicks (they are almost 4 weeks old now) and I let her sit for about a week before I put the fertile eggs under her. She stayed put and did great, there were no problems with making her wait a bit for the eggs.

Ridgerunner gives great broody hen advice!!

I recently let a broody hatch and raise chicks (they are almost 4 weeks old now) and I let her sit for about a week before I put the fertile eggs under her. She stayed put and did great, there were no problems with making her wait a bit for the eggs.

That's good to know. I am breaking Sidney out of her broodiness this time because of other things I need to deal with. However, I do intend to have broody chickens hatch eggs in future so the more I can learn the better!