First hatch with a broody!

[Lazy Gardener]

I've broken a broody several times by removing her from the coop every day. I place her in a tractor, so she's safe from predators. Then, at the end of the day, I escort her to the coop and make sure she gets up on the perch instead of into a nest box. I usually block off ALL the nest boxes every night when I have a broody. In the morning, I snag her up, place her back into the tractor. Rinse and repeat until she's had the desired attitude shift. Takes about 3 - 4 days. I've heard it said: The longer a hen has been broody, the harder it is to break her. So... unless the season and timing are right, it's best to break her as soon as the behavior is noticed.

 

[Beekissed]

Also best not to do broodies in the fall...wrong time of year to have chicks, for sure. A good broody breaking place is essential and I agree with everyone else...get some air and solitude in a broody and it can be as fast as 2 days or as long as 4-5. I don't bother with food...if they are truly broody they won't eat or drink anyway and if they aren't, it will break them much faster if they are hungry and can hear the flock eating without them.

The hen is likely eating her eggs, especially if they are not fertilized. That's natural, as was stated. Not likely to be rats unless your other eggs are disappearing also.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Also best not to do broodies in the fall...wrong time of year to have chicks, for sure.

Depends on your climate I think. Where I am, fall chicks are desired - especially if hatched by a broody who does all the work. She'll raise 'em up and keep them warm so I don't have to run a brooder - and the pullets will start laying by spring.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

I've been on BYC hoping to find out more info, and I think I know. She ate one of the eggs about 1-2 weeks ago and it was probably a dud, then she found out the next one was a dud and ate it too. Now only one left and she's sitting on it...? Well, maybe, just maybe it will hatch.....

 

[Mini Horses]

It will be exciting for you, I know. So hope the lone egg is viable. Love to watch a hen and chicks! Real teaching there.

FEM -- you bring up a valid point. Some of us have GREAT weather in the "Fall"... you do for things like this. It's cool, not cold, here. Could hatch but, I generally don't let them.

 

[Hinotori]

As long as I dont hatch between late November and mid January, the silkies do just fine raising chicks. Their habit of sleeping in piles makes a big difference if the broody is with the flock. I always set two at a time now anyway as they do co-booding very well.

One of my large fowl easter eggers has 3 week old chicks. I wouldn't hatch any large fowl any later in the year unless silkies were raising them.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Thanks for the info guys. The chick should hatch (if its going to hatch) any day from Saturday to Monday. Wish it luck!

 

[PatriciaPNW]

Good luck! I’ve proven that the more I stay out of the process except to have food and water available in chick-sized containers the better. That includes moving them to a cage, checking eggs, etc.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Today is day 19. Should hatch in two days, but to bad I'm sick right now.

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Ended in tragedy:

I started with 3 eggs but then egg #3 was a dud and Dazzle ate it. About a week later, Dazzle ate egg #2....which was probably a dud too. The last egg kept growing and started to hatch on day 21. But then, the sad part: The other chickens saw it hatching (Dazzle was off the nest for some reason) and started eating it. They all fought over it and ate it. I was mad at them for two days...but now I understand and "forgive" them. I'm super sad just talking about it and hope I will be successful next year. It was a sad week for me.