Wait what? ( broody hen ?! )

[emmalemons]

Weirdest thing happened today... I went outside to find my broody hen out of her own space and hanging out, a distance from the other chickens ( their free range) I chased her back to the coop and she immediately went to go back up top to where the eggs are. I left her be up there, making sure she couldn’t hop out again. When I checked back, she started making the noise broody hens are supposed to make. Is there an explanation for this?!?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Perfectly normal.
A setting hen will sit 24/7 except for a foray every day or two to eat, drink, defecate and stretch. It isn't always when we see it.
My advice is to do your best to not try and control that. They know what the temperature is and how long they need to stay on the eggs, how often to turn them, when they need to eat and drink, etc. We don't. Especially when we aren't sitting there watching them 24/7.

 

[L1sa]

Perfectly normal.
A setting hen will sit 24/7 except for a foray every day or two to eat, drink, defecate and stretch. It isn't always when we see it.
My advice is to do your best to not try and control that. They know what the temperature is and how long they need to stay on the eggs, how often to turn them, when they need to eat and drink, etc. We don't. Especially when we aren't sitting there watching them 24/7.

X2

My girl's got into quite a routine. First thing in the morning she's out and about eating, drinking, socialising, and generally being a chicken. And all the time making the soft clucking noises only broodies make. And again around 5pm. Sometimes she'll be out for an hour, sometimes only 20 mins. And on warm days she'll be out in the middle of the day too. There are times that I've checked on the eggs and they actually feel cool to the touch, but she soon hops back on them and re-warms them.

I'm pretty sure she knows what she's doing, but I know that I get so excited waiting for the chicks that sometimes I do wonder!!

 

[emmalemons]

Thank u so much

X2

My girl's got into quite a routine. First thing in the morning she's out and about eating, drinking, socialising, and generally being a chicken. And all the time making the soft clucking noises only broodies make. And again around 5pm. Sometimes she'll be out for an hour, sometimes only 20 mins. And on warm days she'll be out in the middle of the day too. There are times that I've checked on the eggs and they actually feel cool to the touch, but she soon hops back on them and re-warms them.

I'm pretty sure she knows what she's doing, but I know that I get so excited waiting for the chicks that sometimes I do wonder!!

This is very reassuring and I definitely feel u when u say u get over excited! This is my first time and very exciting!!

 

[L1sa]

Thank u so much


This is very reassuring and I definitely feel u when u say u get over excited! This is my first time and very exciting!!

There's nothing wrong with being excited! This is my 2nd time and it feels just as exciting as my first time!! Maybe I'm just easily excitable!! I had all the intentions of being so cool and laid back this hatch when I set the eggs, as I'm no longer a first timer lau) but that has not worked for me at all!!!

5ish days to go.

Good luck with your hatch

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is exciting to have a broody hen.
It doesn't always go well but IMO, the worst thing one can do is intervene. Given a good nest and fresh fertile eggs, and predator proof area, you should have chicks, unless you find her on the roost occasionally.
The best success I have is when I put the hen and eggs into a small housing unit with room to move around. I give her food and water, remove feces every two or three days and ignore her till time to count chicks.
My broody apartments are about 4'X5' with a nest, roost, fresh bedding, bulk feeder and a water fount.

 

[lissalischicks]

@emmalemons I had my first ever broody hen this year and I actually had a different reaction. Mint (the broody) didn't leave the nest for 3 days after I put eggs under her and I had to hold myself back from pushing her off. When Mint left, I almost threw a party!!!

 

[L1sa]

It is exciting to have a broody hen.
It doesn't always go well but IMO, the worst thing one can do is intervene. Given a good nest and fresh fertile eggs, and predator proof area, you should have chicks, unless you find her on the roost occasionally.
The best success I have is when I put the hen and eggs into a small housing unit with room to move around. I give her food and water, remove feces every two or three eggs and ignore her till time to count chicks.
My broody apartments are about 4'X5' with a nest, roost, fresh bedding, bulk feeder and a water fount.

You are so right, I am actually on my way to pick up a rabbit hutch right now to use as a brooder/nursery when hopefully the chicks hatch in a few days.

I've had 2 disasterous attempts at trying to relocate broodies, so this time I just left her where she was in GP. I'm now wishing I had moved her when I had the chance.

I'm guessing it would not be advisable to move her now as she is into the latter stages of sitting? I'm hoping when the chicks have hatched she may be easier to move?