Broodies on the Homestead

[Beekissed]

I am amazed at how many broody hens you have. Where did you get your stock at? I want more broody hens, but my girls just won't do it.

Of course, the one broody that I have is an idiot. She busted the seventh egg and apparently ate it. She now has six dirty eggs under her behind in the coop. This was her third rodeo. She is on my cull list.

It's likely that egg was not developing, so the hen eliminates it. This also gives her valuable nutrition as she sits. I always put way more eggs in the nest than I expect to hatch, as I know there will be clears that she will eat before it's all said and done. That dirt shouldn't effect the hatch unless you washed your eggs prior to her sitting on them.

 

[BarredBuff]

It's likely that egg was not developing, so the hen eliminates it. This also gives her valuable nutrition as she sits. I always put way more eggs in the nest than I expect to hatch, as I know there will be clears that she will eat before it's all said and done. That dirt shouldn't effect the hatch unless you washed your eggs prior to her sitting on them.

I did not know that! Good to know.

However, while on my trip, she had eaten three more eggs and then abandoned the nest. She is on the list to go to the pantry now.

 

[Beekissed]

I did not know that! Good to know.

However, while on my trip, she had eaten three more eggs and then abandoned the nest. She is on the list to go to the pantry now.

Were the shells thin on these eggs? Sometimes when shells are thin and easily broken by a hen getting on and off the nest, she'll eat them to keep the nest site cleaner. It's not real normal for a broody hen to just eat her eggs willy nilly...never seen that happen. Usually they are not developing or were damaged in some way.

 

[BarredBuff]

Were the shells thin on these eggs? Sometimes when shells are thin and easily broken by a hen getting on and off the nest, she'll eat them to keep the nest site cleaner. It's not real normal for a broody hen to just eat her eggs willy nilly...never seen that happen. Usually they are not developing or were damaged in some way.

I would call the shells "normal"-- I don't understand her. We incubated my eggs at school and had great fertility. I don't think it would be that they weren't developing either.

I'm thinking she is a dud.

 

[sumi]

My son's little game hen is sitting on infertile eggs somewhere… I'm hoping she will show up today, so I can catch and cage her. She's a great mom and broody, but I can't have stray sitters and definitely not on infertile eggs. It's dangerous for her out there and pointless too.

 

[NH Homesteader]

My Cornish hen is broody. And vicious. She's not a bird to be messed with right now! She's growling and making nasty noises at anything that comes near her. She's got a big pile of eggs under her but I don't want to lose my hand checking on them.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've had tons of broodies this year - just none very successful. One hen finally hatched ONE baby. But, that one baby is thriving because she is a beast, lol. She scares me more than any mean rooster ever could! One morning when I was out feeding that baby went right between my feet and I thought that mama was gonna kill me!

I've got a broody sitting in the corner of the small barn and another one in a nest box. Not sure if either will be successful... but ya never know.

 

[Mini Horses]

My Cornish hen is broody. And vicious. She's not a bird to be messed with right now! She's growling and making nasty noises at anything that comes near her.

that one baby is thriving because she is a beast, lol. She scares me more than any mean rooster ever could!

All mine have been this way this year! Talk about "on a mission", these girls are in Ninja mode But good moms who do protect the chicks.

Imagine my surprise when I got these new RIRs this weekend. 3 of the 10 hens had a few chicks -- had hatched more but -- I had 1 hen with 1, another with 3 and these were about 2-3 weeks. Hen 3 has 2 who are about 2 months now -- one appears to be a pullet and one poss roo. They are so quiet and tame, handle chicks, no issue just more clucking! This flock of 10 hens & a roo are originally from a flock that a breeder in MD area raises from heritage. They are very dark burgundy, not the orange/red from hatcheries, and they ARE docile, large and obviously have not had broody bred out of them! Old style. I really, really am thrilled. None are being run with any other roo, I am expanding their run & covering to prevent such. Since I have a broody now, I plan to pen her separate & let her hatch some of these hens eggs for me. She is not an aggressive hen, so I do not anticipate her teaching chicks to be. First time in a long time that I have been excited about a group of chickens again.

In the past I have had some equally nice BR & BO hens. I would consider those again from such heritage breeders. They are so different from what the hatcheries often provide with their tendencies to make "egg layers". I want dual purpose and broody still there!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I’d love to see pics!

 

[sumi]

X2 sounds like wonderful birds! I had hatchery quality RIR some years ago and I loved them. I can imagine the proper ones must be amazing.