We have our first broody hen.

[Cre8joy]

A few days ago one of our gorgeous wyndotte hens went missing. I searched my yard in the dark for my missing girl. I couldn't find her. I searched yesterday in the afternoon for feathers or a sign that she had been snatched. Nothing. I was puzzled to stay the least. I was cleaning up around my garage and moved a piece of plywood and was met with a pterodactyl screech. I found my girl on a hidden nest. She was puffed and flat and hoarding 13 eggs. I picked her up and moved her and her eggs into a cat carrier. She now has a nest in a dog crate away from the rest of the flock where she is safe. This is our first rodeo with a broody hen and I'm beyond excited. I candled her eggs and she has about 2 days with them I think. I will candle them again later this week when I do the last candle with the 2 duck eggs currently in my incubator. I will keep this thread updated with pictures and progress. This is a picture of my broody mama Tiger Lily. Wish me luck!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Good luck.

 

[TwoCrows]

Aww....she is adorable. Keep us posted!!

 

[Cre8joy]

Anyone who has had a broody. Aren't they supposed to get up and leave the nest?! Tiger Lily hasn't gotten up at all. Do I make her get up? Do I move the food away from her to force her to get up?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They will get up once a day to eat, drink, poop, and dust bathe. Usually early in the morning, so it's often missed.

 

[Pretty Birds]

Anyone who has had a broody. Aren't they supposed to get up and leave the nest?! Tiger Lily hasn't gotten up at all. Do I make her get up? Do I move the food away from her to force her to get up?

She is probably getting up when you are not there to see it. They do get up once a day to eat, poop, and walk around.

 

[drumstick diva]

Sending great broody hatching vibes your way. Hope you will let us know how ti turns out and post photos.

 

[Cre8joy]

She is currently inside because there wasn't a safe place to put her in the coops. I haven't finished the big coop yet with a brooder section. It got put on hold. Anyways i got her off the nest last night but she still hasn't pooped. She did eat. There is no poop in the nest. While she was up I candled the 13 eggs she has. Its still a little bit early but I'm pretty sure she has 7 viable eggs under her!

 

[Cre8joy]

She got up yesterday! She scared the crap out of my kids who were trying to figure out what was wrong with her. She was just clucking and squawking at them. Then she took two of the hugest poops and went back to her nest. She has remained on the nest ever since.

It seems that Spring is in the air on our little homestead. Tiger Lily is brooding and now our muscovy duck Magica has taken up residence in a nesting box. I'm going to run out of room if they keep going broody. Guess this weekend is going to consist of finishing the big coop so they can move in.

 

[Phillyndilly]

Hi! I have my first broody too! Wondering what to do.. yours is adorable mine is a silkie. She is in the run in our chicken coop I put food in there for her I don’t have room to put a dog crate in the coop. I’m hoping she’s ok and does what she has to do as far as eat and drink. I didn’t want to put water in the coop because I don’t want anyone to knock it over. I think I’m going to candle in a day or so if she keeps sitting. I haven’t seen her get up at all but like others said maybe I missed it