Broody Chickens

I want to thank all of you for your discussions on broody chickens. This has been a somewhat frustrating occurrence for me, as I only have 5 hens and many times they'll all go broody at once. Instead of letting them be and let nature take its course, I've tried all types of maneuvers to get my babies to abandon this most basic of instincts. I am ashamed to say, I took one person's advice and isolated them into cages outside on colder nights. (I was told this would lower the temperatures in their breasts) When I read the other day, the obvious joy y'all had over your chicken's broodiness, I had my epiphany and I will no longer fight this. Yesterday, I changed out all their nest with fresh bedding, placed my fake eggs into each nest and let them go at it. I now have a happy crew. My nesters are happy, my little rooster is happy, and I am happy. I love my chickens! They give me such joy, to just take a few minutes a day and watch them. I recently just received a whole passel of chicks from McMurray hatchery last Monday and am eagerly watching their progress daily. My next challenge is incorporating them into the regular flock.

Many Thanks, Cathy

Good for you, Cathy! They just love to brood, don't they? What breed are they?

You are clearly a caring chicken mama. You'll do fine introducing your new ones when they are big enough.

I have Dark Brahma Bantams. They're pretty gals and one very handsome, very small rooster. They are housed in the Fort Knox of Chicken Chateaus. We have many things that would love to make a quick snack of them. I let them out when I'm there to keep an eye and chase away the hawks. I'm trying to get a picture of the deer touching nose to beak . Deer are very curious and the chickens are proving irresistable. I ordered the mixed brahma bag from McMurrey and honestly, it's like Christmas, trying to guess what I'm going to eventually get!

What kind of chickens do you have?

Welcome, Cathy. Sounds like you a great chicken mama! You'll do just great and certainly will fit in around here. Glad you hopped in and shared your chicks with us. I would love to see the deer/chick pic if you are able to snap it. Too cute - - - by the way, where is Eagle Rock? My son went to Mount Olive on a BBall scholarship. The only red headed, 6'10 kiddo with SNOW white skin, like the rest of us! lololololol He made LOTS of great friends there, and found NC people to be very kind, caring, and friendly. Besides the surroundings were astounding to him, being from a small Texas town (where anything green in the summer is hard to find).
Belinda

I thought about the same things you did, how to get a broody to stop being broody, then I decided to let them go, what the heck, it's in there genes. We all love babies and broodys, they make great mommys. I'm glad they didn't breed out the broodyness in all the chickens. My large chickens RIR and White Leghorns have never gone broody, there not supposed to and they don't. My 2 little bantams still have not been broody, they are now 1 year old, but I'm expecting they will soon. I will probably give them fake eggs to sit on, I think I'll have more than I need. I found an auction that sell chickens and eggs every Friday, so if I need to, I'll take some there. I'm hoping to find some local people to take my extra chicks. Have fun with you chickens, you'll be surprised how much you learn from them.

Welcome to the poultry forum!!

Cathy

Heyyyy Cathy and Welcome!!! And to all the rest I'M Ba-a-a-a-a-ack!!! Did you all think I had deserted you? WE had a family Medical emergency over the Easter Holiday and wound up at the Hospital with My Mom, while she had emergency Gall bladder surgery! Shes is fine and recovering wonderfully Now!
Its so good to read up on all the posts to see what I have missed! As for the "Broodies", My sweet Mama Barred Rock has been on her nest of eggs for9 days! We might be getting at least 4 barred Rocks, 2 Sultan/Polish crosses and I think 2 little Japanese White /Blacktails! I hope !

Eufaula sorry to hear about your mom, glad she's ok. I was wondering were you were. Your going to have some great babies and soon. YAY more baby pictures. My Ameraucana and 4 silkie eggs are due to hatch on the 16th, can't wait.

Cathy

Eu, Cathy, good morning.. How are the Ladys today?? Did you get more snow??? Hope it goes a way soon for you and the girls... silkies are mad at me for not letting them out in the rain ... Barred rocks ,red sex links are mad too .. But rain keeps them in the warmth.. NO eggs Yet... PHOO!!!!
Tracey

Well, Im just astounded!!! Mama B.P.R. is working real hard, she has not left her nest in 10 days now and is only sneaking a drink at night! She is a steadfast mama. She does love her eggie babies!
But......... Peyton Place ...has nothing on this farm! While mama is in confinement, her ole DH , Cockle LooLoo, has taken up with one of the Partridge Girls from the "Bantie" side of the tracks! Wouldnt you just know it! They were spotted down in one of the local dusting places!

We will just have to bear with the sadness of his fickle love, and not tell Mama ! but I think she knows something isnt quite right on the home front!

She looks like she going to start singing a Patsy Cline song, love your descriptions - once again you have made my day Eufaula.

All my best to your folks. Was sorry to hear that your mom was hospitalized but was glad to hear your dad took it as well as he did.

Thanks all! They are all on nests now and Toby, my dark brahma rooster is guarding them carefully, albeit, he is a bit lonely these days. I take out my hens twice day to free roam a bit pick at some greens, and dust their feathers, but otherwise they are devoted to their nests!

Loved the pics. Glad to participate in this forum! Look forward to future posts. I'll keep my camera out for the deer/hen meetings.

Those dusting pics are by far one of my favs - - - - they woller like nobobdy's business when they get started! DH thought they were having a "fit" as he called it! lolol Eufaula, glad you're back, you were missed...........especially those cute tales of yours!
Belinda

Hi Belinda, For some reason, they have chosen under my gardenia shrub as the best place to perform this ritual. I went ahead and gave them this bed, but have pretty much trained them out of my flower beds - most of the time.

I'm actually in Apex, NC. For some reason, the internet zipcode system always puts us in Eagle Rock and I haven't a clue where that is. I've lived in NC all my life and even with all the changes (growing by leaps and bounds), it is still the people, plants, and climate that will keep me here.