trying the broody thing

User avatar
KimChick
Head Chicken
Posts: 1454
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2016 8:00 am
Location: Rideau Lakes
x 1313

Re: trying the broody thing

Post by KimChick » Thu Jun 14, 2018 10:07 am

Day 2 - 8:00 am
The hen is on the eggs!
Also did not turn the light on, even though it's another dim day. I figure she knows its daytime.
1

User avatar
KimChick
Head Chicken
Posts: 1454
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2016 8:00 am
Location: Rideau Lakes
x 1313

Re: trying the broody thing

Post by KimChick » Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:58 pm

Well, that didn't last long; she couldn't wait to get out of being isolated. She is back with the flock.
Now, I'm thinking that I may not have a particularly broody hen at all.
2

User avatar
Ontario Chick
Poultry Guru
Posts: 5397
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 10:12 am
Answers: 2
Location: Carp - West Ottawa
x 9618

Re: trying the broody thing

Post by Ontario Chick » Thu Jun 14, 2018 3:15 pm

Better to find out now, then half way thru a hatching period.
In general terms, when hen is good and broody, she isn't easy (or pretty much impossible) to discourage from sitting.
When you take a broody of a nest, even if she is sitting on a golf ball or nothing at all, she will got thru heck and high water to get back to that nest, or at least one close by.
If she isn't totally committed to the job, it's not going to turn out well either way.
4

User avatar
KimChick
Head Chicken
Posts: 1454
Joined: Mon Nov 14, 2016 8:00 am
Location: Rideau Lakes
x 1313

Re: trying the broody thing

Post by KimChick » Fri Jun 15, 2018 2:11 pm

And, wouldn't you know it, that same hen wanted back into the barn hen house today. It's most likely, a case of "old habits die hard" because that was the winter and early spring place to lay. The hen has a choice of 5 nesting boxes in the coops outside, within the enclosure. Like a friend said, "her GPS is a bit mixed up". She'll eventually get caught up with the rest and know what's what.
0

User avatar
windwalkingwolf
Poultry Guru - pullet level
Posts: 3567
Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 1:31 pm
Answers: 3
Location: Frankville, Ontario
x 4899

Re: trying the broody thing

Post by windwalkingwolf » Fri Jun 15, 2018 6:07 pm

Yep, if she's laying eggs, she's not broody. Leave her eggs be to pile up, and she may go down yet.
0

User avatar
Farrier1987
Stringy Old Chicken
Posts: 1537
Joined: Fri Jan 15, 2016 5:46 pm
Answers: 1
Location: Chatham-Kent
x 3533

Re: trying the broody thing

Post by Farrier1987 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 9:22 am

Those broodies. They scream at you. They bite you. They yell at you. Whenever you put a hand anywhere near them on the nest. You can take them off and they get back on. Put some golf balls in for a couple days to see if they really mean it. But I have found no way of encouraging them or making them broody. Its when THEY decide, not you. And they won't negotiate. Its a girl thing I think. Fondue is hatching today. Dedicated mom. Last year, three clutches. First one this year, probably another one in August or Sept.
3
Farrier1987. South of Chatham on Lake Erie. Chickens, goats, horse, garden, dog, cat. Worked all over the world. Know a little bit about a lot of things. No incubator, broody hens.

Post Reply

Return to “Brooding and Broodies”