Broodies on the Homestead

[frustratedearthmother]

Farming ain't for the faint of heart.

Agree!

 

[Beekissed]

I had a similar problem this year....hen #2 abandoned a nest of eggs to "help" hen #1 with her brood. I took the eggs inside and kept them warm under a heating pad until that night and then pulled one of the hens off some chicks and blocked her into the nest of eggs.

Wrong hen. It was hen #1 and she was no longer in the mood to sit eggs, so had to switch them out...by the time I found out the mistake, some of the eggs were cold where she had buried them under the hay and only sat on half the eggs.

Hen #2 is no longer inclined to sit on the eggs because she wants to co-brood the chicks, so she is blocked into that nest in the dark until her job is finished. That will be on Thursday of this week...don't know if those cold eggs will make it, but I'm going to buy a few chicks from the feed store and slip under her to replace those cold eggs if they don't make.

Every time I've housed broodies together without separate penning around the nest, I have this problem....either they hatch and then raise the family together or they start sitting on one nest together and I have to move all the eggs to one nest, which risks getting them broken as two fat hens move around on top of them.

It's always a mess. Broodies...can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

 

[Mini Horses]

Right Beekissed....and I want them to do their job.

Successfully got another chick moved to that hen#1. Hen#2 still on eggs & another was hatching. Maybe she'll get a few more out in a day or so. Hopeful.

Just in from giving one of the trip goat kids a bottle. She had been less aggressive than other two & I milked side not being used as much, fed her @9:30 & took more of her mom's milk to her @1:30. Couple supplemental & I think she'll get stronger in line up. Also milked 1/2 gal from one side of the other doe who has 2 using one faucet! First yr in long time I've had so many of these at one time. So it goes. It'll be fine shortly.

Bed is calling me!!!!

 

[sumi]

Our broody seems happy (or resigned?) with the relocated nest, but the moment she gets a gap, she's out and on her original nest. She's talkative when I check on her to feed and top up her water, with the usual broody Godzilla in-between. I'd like to get her some fertile eggs to hatch, but I need to know she's 100% sure about this, not just toying with the idea of brooding. I don't like the idea of keeping her caged up for the duration, which is what I have to do at the moment.

 

[Mini Horses]

I find the broodies only get up occasionally -- eat, drink, poop and back to the nest! We are talking close as possible for these activities and angry talk the whole time, ruffled & ready to fight. The controlled area does not need to be large. My set up is a large doghouse with a fenced area about 2X4. Like a large rabbit cage? They can go into hiding in the nest, get food/water in the cage area. They WANT to be concealed and isolated, dark is good to them. She was hidden, you didn't see her for days, that is what they want/do. Don't feel badly.

MY problem this year -- I know better & should have caged them at day 3! It controls extra eggs, nest helpers, etc. As you know, night is best time to relocate with a chicken...nest, eggs, chicks, catching a bird, etc.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I need to do a better job of broody management too...ugh. I didn't even WANT broodies this year, lol. I counted eggs under one yesterday morning when she got up to eat....9 eggs. Not bad. Counted again this morning and there are 12. I never got out to candle last night but going to have to make myself do it this evening.

 

[sumi]

Our broody wanted to get up, so I let her out… First thing she did was beat the tar out of my Sussex hen. They usually get along just fine. I separated them, put the Sussex in my kitchen for a few minutes, so the mad thing can eat and do her business. After a few minutes I put the Sussex back outside and gave them both something to eat. The Sussex bawked a bit, then beat up the broody! lol

The broody decided after all she's not really keen on sitting and hasn't been back to either nest. I do and don't mind. I would've loved for her to hatch some chicks, but as long as she's o.k. and happy, it's o.k.

 

[CrealCritter]

Baby chicks sure are cute when they are first born.

 

[sumi]

You'll make me go plonk that hen back on the nest @CrealCritter!

 

[CrealCritter]

You'll make me go plonk that hen back on the nest @CrealCritter!