The trials of the first broodies - Funny story!

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I would leave her in the bottom of the litter pan until they hatch if it fits in the kennel. Then when she is ready to get off the nest (generally, for my girls it is late day two or day three), she will hop out and cluck, chicks will follow if the shavings/hay is tall enough. You can then take the pan out and just herd her into the kennel when you are ready for her to go up for the night.


I do offer my broodies food/water on the nest and when the chicks hatch, mom teaches them to eat/drink. Watching mom is what made me start dipping my fingernail into the water for incubator hatched chicks instead of dipping their beaks for them. Chicks seem to naturally follow the nail just like they do mom's beak.


I carry my broodies/clutches around in the kennel from coop to outdoor broody area, then in the evening - herd mom back into the kennel with babies. Usually mom figures it out and will have babies in kennel and ready to go in a couple days.



I have also found if I move slow - half the speed of a walking chicken - when moving my hands around the broodies and talk to them letting them know what I am doing - I do not get pecked. Might get growled at, but no peck.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I've used both to get the extra eggs. Really. Also heavy padded winter gloves.

Read about someone putting a can over their head, like a washed out soup can, and how they peck at the can while you do what you have to do. Haven't tried that.

Last time I moved a broody successfully, the chicks were hatching. There were one or two out, one pipped, one all the way zipped, and I think one hadn't started. Moved those poor fragile eggs then the hen, who evidently was more interested in the noses under her than me. It worked -- I wound up with 5 chicks, she had 6 eggs at the time, and the 6th had quit partway through.

Really enjoyed your description, though!

I had one go broody today, an EE, she's 2+ years old and has never been broody. Set my 2 eggs for the day on the counter for her. Checked on her at dusk and she was flattened out in the nest; she is a roost sleeper. Here we go again.

 

[gryeyes]

My Shirley Welsummer brooded, hatched, and raised her chicks in the kitty litter box. While she brooded, occasionally I would put another handful of pine shavings into the box. She moved it around the way she wanted it. She didn't bring the chicks out for 3 days, and they didn't try to get out until then. She spent a good long time coaxing them to get out, and they DID make it out, finally. Only twice did I have to help them get back in again at night; after that, they were able to make the jump.

 

[wood&feathers]

I am trying to picture the soup can helmet...that is hilarious!

Gritsar, you might want to purchase a headlamp. I can't imagine rural life without mine. And maybe protective eyewear?

 

[gritsar]

wood&feathers :

I am trying to picture the soup can helmet...that is hilarious!

Gritsar, you might want to purchase a headlamp. I can't imagine rural life without mine. And maybe protective eyewear?

The headlamp doesn't sound like a bad idea, but think of all the special "couples moments" I would miss by using one.

gryeyes, my litter box/nestbox is just like that. I did manage to take the top off of it before settling her back on it.

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy, the due date for the SF is January 17th (just about the time winter really arrives for us

) I've lost track of how far along the meatie is. I'll have to find the calender I wrote it down on.

Horsey and CityGirl, gloves! Now dangit, why didn't I think of that?!?

BTW, I couldn't resist and I did go back out to check on her last night; in the pouring rain. She was back in pancake mode.​

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Hey! No fair picking on the coordinationally challenged!

 

[magicpigeon]

^ Worse things happen when you've got a bucket on your head, a pair of shears in one hand and a broody in the other.

Too many cooks can kill the broth (jokes)

 

[Happy Chooks]

Sounds like my first time integrating chickens minus the broody poo part!

I love, love, love my headlamp. Handy suckers for after dark coop checks.

 

[ourlittleflock]

Quote:
DH, who stays clueless about my chickens (on purpose I'm sure) asks me on the way home if it was one of the (can't type it on BYC, rhymes with witches) was the one that was broody. He still remembers when one of the SFs tried to take a chunk outta his arm when they were little; thus earning them their nickname.
I told him it was. He told me that if she bites him again she won't live to see her children. I told him he best stay away from her then; at least for the next 20 days or so.

I told my father the same thing. He thought he could move my silkie who broods in the middle of a forest, right next to a sandstone wall teeming with spiders. Well, he moved the spiders but he didn't move the hen. They crawled into his hair and he came cursing at me 20 seconds later telling me I'D have to do it

the best laugh I have had all day and it is 1:00 in the morning

 

[NonnasBabies]

I'm glad someone mentioned the gloves!! I just used my pair of leather working gloves. Worked great!!

Having a broody for the past month has really been fun especially the past 6 days since the babies hatched!! Now I really see how people can get addicted to hatching!!

Soon you'll have this!!

And I love reading about your adventure!!