Think I have a broody hen

[Kelly07021990]

My silkie who’s 31 weeks I’ve noticed today she’s not left the nest until I removed the eggs it’s the first day she’s done this what do I need to look out for her being broody x

 

[aart]

My go-to signs of a broody....
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

​

 

[Kelly07021990]

My go-to signs of a broody....
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

​

Hiya thank you for the reply. It’s the first day she’s done it but she screamed at me when I removed her but once she was removed she went straight for a drink and food then acted normal after so I’m
Hoping it’s a one off x

 

[aart]

Hiya thank you for the reply. It’s the first day she’s done it but she screamed at me when I removed her but once she was removed she went straight for a drink and food then acted normal after so I’m
Hoping it’s a one off x

Best leave her alone unless you find her in there at night,
some birds like to lounge before and/or after laying.

 

[Kelly07021990]

Best leave her alone unless you find her in there at night,
some birds like to lounge before and/or after laying.

Yeah it was this evening I found her there still as I was going to shut them away and she was still in the nest x

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are a lot of behaviors that indicate a hen might possibly be broody. I've had hens do most of those and not be dedicated enough to give her eggs to hatch. We tend to look for different things based on our experiences but my test to see if she deserves hatching eggs is for her to spend two consecutive nights on the nest. One night is not enough, has to be two. If she doesn't spend two consecutive nights all that other stuff doesn't count for me.

If she is broody what do you want to do? Break her from being broody, give her fertile eggs to hatch, or give her chicks to raise?

 

[Mrs. K]

I agree with Ridgerunner (as usual) many a time, thought she was...set eggs...she wasn't quite, then 3 days later, she got serious, and I didn't have eggs to set. Ugh!

WAIT if you want to hatch eggs OR if you want to get chicks to set under her. No rush, 3-5 days - then you are golden.

Mrs K

 

[Kelly07021990]

There are a lot of behaviors that indicate a hen might possibly be broody. I've had hens do most of those and not be dedicated enough to give her eggs to hatch. We tend to look for different things based on our experiences but my test to see if she deserves hatching eggs is for her to spend two consecutive nights on the nest. One night is not enough, has to be two. If she doesn't spend two consecutive nights all that other stuff doesn't count for me.

If she is broody what do you want to do? Break her from being broody, give her fertile eggs to hatch, or give her chicks to raise?

I only have females so there’s no way I could let her hatch any, she’s been ok today thankfully but I’m gonna keep a eye on still x

 

[Mrs. K]

As a classic enabler as all of us are? Do they have baby chicks coming to a feed store near you in 3-4 weeks? Cause I can help you trick her into raising them....just in case you want more chickens. NOTHING is more fun than a broody hen with chicks, and she does ALL the work.

 

[Kelly07021990]

Definitely not thanks though I’ve got 3 girls and can’t have any boys as they are on my back garden so don’t want to risk it thanks tho x