What did you do in the garden today?

[Grandmas Coop]

Does this onslaught of broodie behavior subside? Does it morph into something else? OR, will she return to some degree of normal? And, one more question: Is this a cyclical/yearly thing?

how long it depends on the breed,
I have broken a brood by--
after all the days eggs had been laid, I covered the nesting boxes so miss broody could not get in them. They want a safe hide away to nest. If I found her in a nest squawking at all the other hens to go away, I tossed her out of the nesting box. the nesting boxes stayed covered over night. That was last year 2024, I didnt want chicks.

years ago I had buff orphingtons,, some got broody and never snaped out of it
Three of my current flock in 2023 went broody, and I let them hatch eggs, after the chicks were two weeks old 2 stopped being a mother hen and one lasted 3 1/2 weeks as a mother.

this year I have had two get growly and fuss and then stop,,
I am hoping one of the 14hens takes a likening to the new 18 due tomorrow or Friday. A Mother hen ( Nanny) is so helpful.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

@Smokerbill
Tell me, I cant remember how many day it took in the past to get the chicks? I am thinking they should be here tomorrow???

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

4/4 of my cucumbers sprouted, but only 1/2 each of the melon and squash. I’m considering reseeding the duds.

 

[Smokerbill]

@Smokerbill
Tell me, I cant remember how many day it took in the past to get the chicks? I am thinking they should be here tomorrow???
View attachment 4117432

I don't know. The ones I'm getting next week are the first I ever ordered by mail. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I don't know. The ones I'm getting next week are the first I ever ordered by mail. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Oh............. ya I forgot
It is a guaranteed delivery by 72hours, but, I was just looking in all my past threads and couldnt find where I said they arrived, I know I posted it but cant find it.. I am still looking

 

[Sally PB]

So this broody hen business is a seasonal/temporary thing?

I have one hen, a Jubilee Orpington, who is my serial broody. I can tell when she's in the "thinking about it" stage: She walks around and says, "Bup-bup-bup-bup-bup-bup" all day long. Then she wants to roost in the nest box. Nope, not allowed. I put her on the roost.

I can tell when she's full-on broody: She sits in the nest box all day, and if I take her out and set her on the floor, she flattens out and screeches. I don't let her hatch, as I don't have room for more birds right now. Hatching is the "natural way" to turn off broodiness; ie, let the hen do what she wants, which is to be a mom.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/broody-breaking-ala-aart.77915/

This article tells all about using a broody breaker crate. This is what I use, and it works very well.

 

[Rick589]

Same as me. I bought very little from the grocery produce section over the last year, mainly cabbages. And if my self sustaining flock of New Hampshires works out I'm hoping they provide me with plenty of meat, along with the eggs.

I have 7 NH pullets I bought as chicks that are around 6 weeks old, and will get 15 NH males in the mail next week. I'll keep 2 or 3 of the best males for breeding and process the rest.

I’m too soft hearted to butcher so I’ll be stuck buying chicken. Are you by chance keeping track of what you’re swapping from the store to the garden?

 

[cj2024]

So, if I have a broody hen wouldn't I be seeing her in a nest box on an egg? All four hens laid eggs today but none of them were sitting on them. I'm so over my head

I only isolate my hens if they want to hatch an egg.

 

[Grandmas Coop]

I don't know. The ones I'm getting next week are the first I ever ordered by mail. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Hahahah, my old brain, I tell ya what
I should have thought of this sooner~~ I looked up my 2022 order on the website, the hatch date is listed on the box,
So, 2 days - same on my 2020 & 2021 orders

 

[Rick589]

how long it depends on the breed,
I have broken a brood by--
after all the days eggs had been laid, I covered the nesting boxes so miss broody could not get in them. They want a safe hide away to nest. If I found her in a nest squawking at all the other hens to go away, I tossed her out of the nesting box. the nesting boxes stayed covered over night. That was last year 2024, I didnt want chicks.

years ago I had buff orphingtons,, some got broody and never snaped out of it
Three of my current flock in 2023 went broody, and I let them hatch eggs, after the chicks were two weeks old 2 stopped being a mother hen and one lasted 3 1/2 weeks as a mother.

this year I have had two get growly and fuss and then stop,,
I am hoping one of the 14hens takes a likening to the new 18 due tomorrow or Friday. A Mother hen ( Nanny) is so helpful.

Outside of our one hen walking around in various stages of being fluffed up she has not done anything different with regards to the eggs or nest boxes. Once the eggs are laid by all the nesting boxes are abandoned for the day.