Topic of the Week - Broody hens

[crealbilly]

She hatched 2 chicks about 9 weeks ago (a hen and a roo) and momma still spreads her wings at night. Shes a good momma, maybe too good... the roo is getting pretty big but she still momma's him. She's a very happy hen thats for sure.

 

[crealbilly]

Hi BYC friends!

Thank you so much for all this great info, it is so helpful for those of us still learning!  

I have a question about my Buff Orpington Momma who has been broody for at least 16 days (she began setting while we were out of town so we're not sure exactly when she started) -- She is nice and comfy in one of the nest boxes inside the chicken house, near the food and water, safe from predators, and with 9 other boxes free for the other girls to lay in.  So my question is this, do I need to separate her from the other girls and the rooster?, now?, or after the chicks hatch?  Will the others in the flock harm the babies once they hatch?  (Do I need to be watching/"policing"?)  Also, the nest she is setting in is not at "floor level", it's up on the second row of nest boxes ... when they hatch do I need to move them down onto the floor of the house?  Will Momma do that?

OK sorry, that is more than one question.   :/   But thank you in advance for any advice!!  This is our first hatch and our whole family is so excited!  I just want to make sure we know what to do. 

Thanks y'all!!

I built a removable cage to fit over the nest box opening inside the coop for my broody. It has a removable sliding floor for easy cleaning and a door so i could give her food and water, it worked out very well... she had her own private water and feed and was totally protected from the rest of the flock.

It's totally reusable and fits over my nest box opening with two wood screws. I like to build once and reuse whenever possible.

 

[stuckinthecity]

omg theyre huge! haha Surely she will wean them soon.

 

[Ren2014]

She hatched 2 chicks about 9 weeks ago (a hen and a roo) and momma still spreads her wings at night. Shes a good momma, maybe too good... the roo is getting pretty big but she still momma's him. She's a very happy hen thats for sure.

That is just too funny and PRECIOUS!

 

[Teila]

She hatched 2 chicks about 9 weeks ago (a hen and a roo) and momma still spreads her wings at night. Shes a good momma, maybe too good... the roo is getting pretty big but she still momma's him. She's a very happy hen thats for sure.

Aaaaw, that is adorable!

I hope everyone does not mind but I would also like to share a picture of Cilla who has issues with 'cutting the cord'

 

[crealbilly]

Lol - i guess the Momma force is strong with thia one.

I've been thinking I might build a box with a roof over it, fill it with hay and stick a handfull of fertile eggs in there and see what she does with them.

 

[crealbilly]

Better pic of momma and her two chicks. They are getting kinda big.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Just had a game hen come off the nest w/ 5 chicks. I thought she was sitting on her own eggs (RIR roo x), but she ended up with 2 RIR x Speckled Sussex, 2 RIR x Dominique (girl and boy) and one of her own. I'm hoping her chick is a boy.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Awww too cute

 

[ChickenChaser43]

Depends on breed.
White Leghorns are probably the least broody of all.

Have 6 Ideal 236 pullets, basically their White Leghorn. The one went broody after approximately 2 weeks after she started laying. Unfortunately she decided to do so on the back porch and a raccoon visited overnight and destroyed the nest. And roughed her up a little. I did not deter her though. Put her and her nest in an enclosure gave her some fertile eggs from other chickens and she successfully hatched 7 of 10 eggs. 2 died and she has 5 left. Eggs were all from hens that just started laying with young roosters the same age. Racoon has died from lead poisoning.

Was trying to quote RezChamp at beginning of my post. Phone app is not cooperating.