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Barnyard Buddies:  Broody Hens  |
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FourSeasons
Farmgirl in Training
23 Posts
Melissa
Lizton
Indiana
USA
23 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 28 2011 : 8:23:10 PM
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I now have 3 broody bantam hens. No rooster with them, so matter how hard they try the eggs will never hatch. We take the eggs EVERY day. So here is the question...Should I try to deter them from trying to hatch their eggs? If so, how do I do this? Two of the 3 are bantam cochins and one is a bantam amercauana. I hope to hatch the ameraucana bantams but I am still looking for a good black rooster. My kids show in 4-H poultry. Any advice would be welcome.
One day at a time! |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Feb 28 2011 : 9:03:52 PM
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If they are broody they are going to sit there for quite awhile eggs or no eggs under them...its a cycle they have to go thur....some people pull them off the nest & force them outside which I find cruel as they need to do this...I feel its a chemical adjustment they are dealing with & they need the time for it to stay healthy....I take all the eggs each day & just let them be....sometimes they snap out of it early instead of going the full 27 or so days...other times they will go the whole cycle....Once you find your good rooster you won't have to worry about this so much, then its hoping they WILL stay on the eggs the required time...lol...good luck & don't let it cause you stress...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2011 : 12:20:59 AM
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I totaly agreee with Michele. I have several croody hens. I just reach under them and pull eggs. I have a black cochin. He is beautiful!
Good luck in your search and enjoy!
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2011 : 05:28:34 AM
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Melissa, I know some people won't like this method but what I have had to do to get mine over it is put their back end in a bucket of cold water to cool them off. They are really warm back there for broody purposes and need to be cooled off. I found this on the Backyard Chickens website. And it does work. I had to do it several times. Every time I caught them on a nest I'd dunk them. My chickens are not really "pets" and they are working for a living here. I sell eggs. I need eggs to make money. And broody hens don't help. This may sound cruel but that's why I have hens. I do love them all but that's why they are here. To lay eggs. I have had several that went broody last year and I always get too many roosters. I don't mean to sound like I am a mean person, but this is what I have done and it works. Of course, I have a few game hens that go hide and come back with a brood of chicks. But that can't be helped when they are free ranged. And I do love the chicks, don't get me wrong. But not all the roos.
Or something else that works is put a baggie of ice in the nest. They do not like that at all. I've also tried this and it does work. Good luck.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
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RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2011 : 1:30:10 PM
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That's a good idea about the water Kris,I have never heard of that but will give it a shot,I have a little blue wyandotte that really wants to go broody and I need her to stay in production and quit hogging up the nestbox!
It all depends on what you want out of your chickens,it's no skin off my teat how someone manages thier chickens,pets,livestock,whatever but when I want to hatch eggs I will let a hen go broody and then fix her up with a brooding hut and set a number of fertile eggs under her and let her hatch them but I only do this a few times a year and as a general rule I tend to discourage my hens from going broody.
I'm dependent on the egg production because I sell eggs and depend on them for our own household use so like Kris says,my hens are punching a time clock,they're working gals so I discourage broodiness unless I want to hatch some new chicks.
I'll try the water butt bath but what I usually do is check several times a day and steal the eggs right from under her then I rudely shove the hen out of the nest box,I might even go out at three in the morning just to shove a hen out of the nest box if she's getting broody or just getting in the habit of roosting in there,it's a rude awakening for them that will usually discourage them but if done too often could really stress them out and force them into a molt.
I'm good to my livestock but I'm not always "nice" I guess we should say,I surgically castrate my goats and calves,burn thier little horn buds off,burn the spurs off my roosters and occasionally rudely shove a hen out of a nest box in the dark of night but I don't starve,beat or otherwise neglect my animals,that's what I envision to be cruel,I tend not use real strong words like that because having assisted in transporting animals from horse neglect cases,I've seen the very definition of cruel in a very extreme way so I'm very judicious in my application of the words cruel or abusive.
Anyways,that's just my view and I don't mean any offense by it,you've got some good advice here from all these ladies so it's up to you to do what's right for your little broody gal!
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Mar 01 2011 : 11:10:05 PM
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With any farm animal there are times when what you do has to be done...ie castrating...I have never found this to be cruel as you are doing a service to you & the animal....same with if you are selling your eggs...brooding hens will cause disruption in the coop as well in the amount of eggs being laid. Me, I don't sell mine so that is why I allow them to be broody if they choose to be. i barter mine & give mine away to my neighbors...I started with only 6 hens but when people realized I was a good chicken doctor is when I ended up with all that I have now. I am not complaining i love & adore them sick or healthy. Plus being a stay at home wife I have the time to deal with them whereas if I worked it would be a different story. With only 2 of us I have more than enough eggs each day for what I need or can freeze for later so I love that I am able to give a neighbor family of 6 eggs each weeks just because I can. We all do what we must & I think its a personal choice just as with raising our children or how we run our lives.....I am sorry if I offended anyone with my 1st comment....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2011 : 04:11:59 AM
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All of you ladies are great. I know none of you are cruel.I was just accused of being abusive. I found a box, I could here mice in it. I took it straight to the burn barrel and set it to fire. This to me was not cruel, I want mice gone! They are nasty, and so full of disease. But this girl had a heart attack. She even said she should put me in a box and set me on fire! I was not offended by her. She is use to the pet store mice. That is all fine and good. But they are not the same as the barn mice!
I sell eggs too. We have banties to show and for "pets". But I do let my banties go broody. I have a really hard time selling their eggs anyway!
I will have to remember the ice or water bucket thing! That is a great idea.
Come visit my blog
http://angieruralliving.blogspot.com/
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
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RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2011 : 07:28:30 AM
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Hi Ladies!
Michele I wasn't offended at all and didn't mean to sound scolding,I just wanted to share my perspective a bit about the word "cruel" because there are alot of varying perspectives as to what is cruel or abusive and alot of that depends on our background,alot of routine farm activities are often viewed as cruel by people who are unfamiliar with thier purpose so I used those as an example just to illustrate why I feel there should be clarification.
I think true cruelty to animals is an unmistakable thing so I avoid the word except for in extreme cases where there is animal starvation or physical abuse.
One example is that there are some people in the Equestrian world that think all whips,spurs and certain types of bits are cruel and I'm of the view that these are all tools used by horsemen that in incompetent or angry hands are capable of inflicting pain or fear upon a horse but used with refinement and care can be a valuable aid to a horsemen and not bother a horse at all,alot of it depends on how these things are used.
Anyways,alot of us keep chickens for different reasons,I don't make alot of money with my eggs and alot of them I donate to needy families or homeless shelters,the few dozen I sell helps to defray my feed costs so I'm able to do those things.
I do appreciate my broody hens but they can sure cause some mix-ups in my coop,sometimes if I have a real persistent broody and the weather is moderate I'll set her up in a brood hut and let her set a few eggs.
My mom relates to her chickens more as pets and she'll keep a hen that hasn't layed for years until they die a natural death and I think that's sweet but I don't keep those hens around when they're not laying.
I do give away some hens that have slowed down in production but are still laying,alot of backyard chicken keepers like these hens because they produce just enough eggs for thier needs so some go in the stockpot and other lucky hens find retirement pet homes,I try to do right by my good hens when I'm able to find such homes for them.
I'm sure your hens are happy and healthy and I'm glad you have them and they have you!
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
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rschaaf
True Blue Farmgirl
174 Posts
Renee
Wooster
Ohio
USA
174 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2011 : 12:10:33 PM
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I had a broody buff orpington and she would peck at anything that came close to the nest. For awhile I let her be. But, she was sspending so much time on the nest she wasn't eating properly and started losing weight. So when I went out in the morning, I would carry her off the nest and put her out to eat. Then while she was busy, everyone else took advantage of the free box. It wasn't long after she stopped being broody.
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
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batznthebelfry
True Blue Farmgirl
1257 Posts
Michele
Athol
Ma
USA
1257 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2011 : 1:36:37 PM
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Oh thats funny Renee, that sounds like that was the favorite box & they were all glad to see her moved....lol...yes mine tend to lose weight so everyday I put a small dish of food in front of her so I know she is at least eating that.....Mother, the one that is broody should be close to hatching a few of the eggs soon...I haven't decided when I should move her down to the ground in a cage yet...its one of those things I hate to do but has to be done for the safety of the chicks.
Oh I am sure that girl had a cow or two when you dumped that box that may have had mice in it into the fire....but you did what you thought must be done angie......Me I am sooo bad I hate the mice that run thur my art shop but if I catch one I take it out to the woods we have...yeah I know they will just come back but I used to have pet mice & their little eyes get to me every time...lol....I am the same way with snakes & rats......but in the spring when the snow melts the 3 cats take care of the mice so I get little furry dead presents at my door....so at least they keep the population down for a bit for me.
I know you weren't scolding me Kathyrn...I just try to be careful with what I say because I know everyone is different & their view points are also different...plus at my age a scolding won't bother me...lol anyway I think you are correct with what you said.....& I even own a pair of spurs...but I trained horses for years & am one who knows the right way to use them.....I have seen boys get on horses with them on & think they are a toy to use to show off.....needless to say thats when I would like to use the whip & its not for the horse!! :)
I am thankful we have this area to write in about our little chickens, from the sounds of it we are all in love with raising them...I know that I am...I call them my saving grace as they are the one thing that can calm me down & give me peace quickly.
everyone have a great weekend...Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
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LakeOntarioFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
933 Posts
Brenda
North Rose
NY
USA
933 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2011 : 11:41:27 AM
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This is all very interesting to read, as we have 26 hens, and several of them are showing signs of going broody on me! We only have 8 nesting boxes, and I am wondering what's going to happen if they all decide to go broody at the same time!!! I like the idea of the ice baggies, because personally there are some of them that I don't like to pick up. Some I don't mind, but others....
One of my Buff Orpingtons has been setting on a nest all day today. Normally I can just move their butts aside and take any eggs our from under them, but today she decided I couldn't have them, and kept biting at me. I had pretty thick mittens on(still cold here), so it didn't hurt, but I don't want her doing that. Do I just force my hand in there, take her out of the box, or what to get her to stop biting?
I love all of your advice girls, and Kristin, I cannot imagine anyone in the world thinking you are mean! I know all your animals are working animals, but I also know that you care about them! :) I have belonged to chicken forums before, but whenever I really want to know something I come here!
Brenda
FarmGirl # 711
"If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down. "~ Mary Pickford
http://theviewfromhere-brenda.blogspot.com/ |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 05 2011 : 12:05:11 PM
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Brenda, I just put my hands around their bodies and pull them out. Then if you dip their back ends in the bucket, you just keep both hands around them up higher and dunk. keep them in a few minutes to cool them off. Then throw them outside. They'll shake off what little water there is on them. Not much. Or if you want to put the baggie of ice under them, just pick them up and put the bag in the nest. They will get up after awhile of that.
I guess that's why I don't have a horse anymore. Cuz we couldn't eat her! I love all my animals but when they aren't pulling their wieght, they gotta go. Feed just costs too much anymore.
I have nests all over the place. There is a box on a shelf in the garage that about 5 hens are laying in. It's so funny to look in there and there's a line waitong. My hubby hates it because they poop all over the garage. I also have all my feed in there. He's not here much. But when he wants to get the Harley out to ride, I have to move all the feed out of the way. I gotta get a new set up, I think. And he'll shut the garage door all the way and I have to go back out and leave it open a little so my gorls can go out and get in their box.
I do try to have on thick leather gloves because those hens have some tough beaks and that does hurt. I hope all this helps, brenda. Good luck.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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FourSeasons
Farmgirl in Training
23 Posts
Melissa
Lizton
Indiana
USA
23 Posts |
Posted - Mar 08 2011 : 6:49:23 PM
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Thanks to everyone! Took me awhile to get back here... they are still broody so I guess I will wait them out at this point. But this leads me to another question....Has anyone put new chicks under broody hens with success? I just got 5 new chicks (3 days old)....could I fake them out and just give them some chicks to take care of for me? FYI: The hens are bantams, the chicks are large fowl egg layers.
One day at a time! |
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chickenjanedoe
True Blue Farmgirl
96 Posts
Sandy
Claypool
Indiana
USA
96 Posts |
Posted - Mar 10 2011 : 07:52:58 AM
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We have done this for the last 4years. At night put a couple of chicks under select hens and in the am if they are ok then that night they get about 8 more. Usually works just fine,
sandy |
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Barnyard Buddies: Broody Hens |
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Broody Hens
