Seems like I got a broody...

[ChickenSahib]

So it's been almost a full year since I've gotten my chicks and now they are all grown up.

Now I got one of my hens being broody for about 2.5~3 weeks. My family have tried breaking her by taking eggs, locking her out of the nest box, and that sort of stuff.

I'm only home for weekends at a time until summer school is over. But I'm thinking of just going to the feed store and buying 2 2day old chicks and putting them under her at night.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for the advice

 

[CarolJ]

I always feel sorry for broody hens & want them to be able to hatch some eggs since they seem so determined to do so. I'd find a few fertile eggs to put under her. I'm not sure how she'd handle the chicks. I haven't tried that before - although I've put eggs under broody hens several times now. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[CarolJ]

By the way - I think a broody hen is a wonderful way to get new chicks. The broody does all the work - takes care of the chicks and introduces them to the rest of the flock. You don't have to set up a brooder with a heat lamp - no worrying about when and how to put the new chicks in with the flock. And while she's brooding the eggs, there's very little to do - just make sure she has food and water nearby. She only gets off the nest for a few minutes every day or two. It's great.

If you put new chicks under yours, I hope it works out wonderfully. Looking forward to hearing how it goes.

 

[qldchook]

So it's been almost a full year since I've gotten my chicks and now they are all grown up.

Now I got one of my hens being broody for about 2.5~3 weeks. My family have tried breaking her by taking eggs, locking her out of the nest box, and that sort of stuff.

I'm only home for weekends at a time until summer school is over. But I'm thinking of just going to the feed store and buying 2 2day old chicks and putting them under her at night.

What do you guys think?

Thanks for the advice

Hi, be very careful doing this (putting in chicks). It can often work well but may not and the hen may kill the chicks. The best success, I have had when doing this is with VERY young chicks (24-36hrs). Place them under her at night with as little disturbance as possible and remove the eggs at the same time- remove egg place chick under her, keep everything as dark as possible BUT it still may not work.
Your other option is remove the eggs at night & early morn take the little ones and place near but not under her, she may choose to accept. If you do get fertilized eggs which is safest option, get them very near to hatch as she cannot be expected to do another 21 days of brood. They lose a lot of condition brooding.Good Luck. You will continue obviously having these problems with your hens over the years.

If you want to break the brood, you will need to completely change that nest box around and prevent her sleeping there at night. If it is really nice and hot and she has good acccess to sun for the rest of the day, you can combine the box removal with also dipping her in a bucket of water (not her head) my grandpa used to this & it works quite well.

 

[ChickenSahib]

Ok, it turns out it's only been a week. My brother doesn't really have a good sense of time.
I'll try and find some fertile eggs on the forum.

If not, I'll try the bucket thing tomorrow, but that makes me kind of sad since she's pretty determined

EDIT: I will be doing the bucket thing first thing in the morning.

I realize that I don't have the time to deal with the broodiness this way and if the adoption method fails, no one will be able to take care of the chicks.

Wish me luck!


EDIT: Turns out they tried breaking her broodiness and after several attempts failed.

I think I'll just try and give her 2day old chicks at night next week.

 

[qldchook]

Good luck, at least you can guarantee hens that way. If it doesn't work, the chicks don't take up much time. Warmth, water, food & each other is fine.

 

[ChickenSahib]

Just put the chicks under her and took out the eggs.

Hopefully everything goes well.

I have one concern though... The coop is above ground and has a ramp leading up to it. Do you think this would be a problem?

 

[qldchook]

Yes, it would be depending on height. Once she has accepted the chicks you can move her, as she will go with them. Can you cover her area with netting or shade cloth? Make sure any water bowl VERY shallow. They will need food & water asap as they are not new hatch. At very least pile staw around and under ramp so no one is hurt if they fall. You will need to keep a close but unobtrusive watch.

 

[qldchook]

Hi, did it go ok?