Should I Let Her Hatch Eggs?

[Dippydo]

Our Buff Orpington has gone broody a couple times. We just isolated her in a wire bottom cage for two or three days with food and water and she snaps right out of it. We did the same for our Silkie and it worked like a charm. Good luck with whatever you decide for your feather baby.

 

[danielkbrantley]

That's what I was hoping to hear! I'm just gonna let her do her thing and after 3 weeks see what happens. Another quick question (sorry to bother, but you are all very very helpful!): If there is no chick after 21 days, at what point do I pull the egg and see if a) another will work or b) she's ready to stop being broody?

Oh yeah, another question - if the chick hatches, do I need to get special feed for mama to feed the baby or just use the layer pellets she already has access to?

Thanks again and happy chickening!

 

[aart]

That's what I was hoping to hear! I'm just gonna let her do her thing and after 3 weeks see what happens. Another quick question (sorry to bother, but you are all very very helpful!): If there is no chick after 21 days, at what point do I pull the egg and see if a) another will work or b) she's ready to stop being broody?

Oh yeah, another question - if the chick hatches, do I need to get special feed for mama to feed the baby or just use the layer pellets she already has access to?

Thanks again and happy chickening!

At about 23 days, I'd check to see what's going on under there and maybe candle then.
Not sure what 'another will work' means.
If the eggs hatch, she'll come off the nest with the chicks when she knows it's over(any unhatched eggs can be discarded).

I feed an 'all flock' type of feed to all the birds and provide oyster shells in a separate container for the ones who are laying.

 

[Ridgerunner]

 
That's what I was hoping to hear! I'm just gonna let her do her thing and after 3 weeks see what happens. Another quick question (sorry to bother, but you are all very very helpful!): If there is no chick after 21 days, at what point do I pull the egg and see if a) another will work or b) she's ready to stop being broody?

Oh yeah, another question - if the chick hatches, do I need to get special feed for mama to feed the baby or just use the layer pellets she already has access to?

Thanks again and happy chickening!

At about 23 days, I'd check to see what's going on under there and maybe candle then.
Not sure what 'another will work' means.
If the eggs hatch, she'll come off the nest with the chicks when she knows it's over(any unhatched eggs can be discarded).

I feed an 'all flock' type of feed to all the birds and provide oyster shells in a separate container for the ones who are laying.

I agree with this. Do not feed them Layer, the extra calcium can be bad for the growing chicks. Since Mama is not laying she does not need the extra calcium either. I raise mine with the flock and feed all mine Starter or Layer with oyster shell on the side. Not Layer, Grower. Thanks for the catch Aart.

 

[danielkbrantley]

Thanks!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Ditto on the feed. I mix layer and a high protein game bird feed. The layer is pellets and the game bird is crumbles. That gives them a chance to get little bites that they need.

Good luck!

I have my broody in lock down, or I should say lock out to keep the other birds away from her. Tomorrow is day 19 and the last three broods that I had began hatching on day 19 so, fingers crossed, I should have some fluffy butts by the weekend.

 

[danielkbrantley]

Ditto on the feed. I mix layer and a high protein game bird feed. The layer is pellets and the game bird is crumbles. That gives them a chance to get little bites that they need.

Good luck!

I have my broody in lock down, or I should say lock out to keep the other birds away from her. Tomorrow is day 19 and the last three broods that I had began hatching on day 19 so, fingers crossed, I should have some fluffy butts by the weekend.

Ha! Very fun! Here's to a healthy batch!

 

[danielkbrantley]

So she's still hanging out on top of the egg all day, every day.

Last night, just to make sure she wasn't wasting her time, I decided to candle the egg. However, the egg was too dark for my light to get through.

Should I...

A) Get a brighter light and try again?
B) Just let her continue to day 21 (or beyond if needed) to see if something hatches?

The egg did not smell rotten, so I'm guessing all is well.

 

[dogkahuna]

I'm happy to find this thread! I've got a BR hen who has gone broody and I want to let her set. She is one of 10 hens of various breeds (and one rooster), who reside in a coop with multiple box-nests. The flock spends their days going from their coop to their electro-net enclosure and back. I thought I needed to build her an isolated nest, but now I read that it might not be necessary. Ridgerunner, and anyone else...can you give any more info about letting a broody hen remain with the flock while setting? Thanks!

 

[danielkbrantley]

I'm happy to find this thread! I've got a BR hen who has gone broody and I want to let her set. She is one of 10 hens of various breeds (and one rooster), who reside in a coop with multiple box-nests. The flock spends their days going from their coop to their electro-net enclosure and back. I thought I needed to build her an isolated nest, but now I read that it might not be necessary. Ridgerunner, and anyone else...can you give any more info about letting a broody hen remain with the flock while setting? Thanks!

I had to separate mine. She was sitting on the one nest box all the chickens prefer. Which meant the chickens weren't allowed to lay. Since production went down in my little flock, I had to move her. Wound up getting a small dog crate and putting her in there with some food and water. Every few days, I clean out the massive poops she does. And she's in the crate in the coop with the rest of my girls. That way, she doesn't have problems integrating back into the flock once she's done doing mommy business.

I'd love to learn more about how to just let a broody do her thing and keep the rest of the flock laying.