Claire Thompson
A broody hen is a hen that wants to sit on eggs and hatch them. This instinctual behaviour is essential for the survival of the species. However, over the years, the broody instinct has been bred out of many chicken breeds in favour of egg production. While some hens make excellent mothers, not all broody hens will sit, and not all will be good mothers. Introducing older chicks to a mother hen is generally not recommended, but it can be done, especially if the hen has raised chicks before. If you're considering taking chicks away from their mother hen, it's important to consider the potential impact on both the hen and the chicks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mother hens sitting on chicks | Natural and beneficial |
| Broody hens | Instinctual behaviour essential for species survival |
| Broody hen characteristics | Inclined to sit on eggs and hatch them |
| Protective | |
| Teach chicks about food, drinking, resting, exploring, and roosting | |
| Risks of separating chicks from hens | Cruel and unethical |
| Hens may become depressed | |
| May cause psychological issues | |
| Risks of hens sitting on eggs | Eggs may be kicked out of the nest |
| May be exposed to predators, elements, and bacterial contamination | |
| May fall out of the nesting box |
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What You'll Learn
Broody hens are protective mothers that know best
Broody hens will take care of their chicks, teaching them what they can and can't eat, and guiding them through drinking, resting, exploring, and roosting. They also protect the nest by ruffling their feathers to make themselves look bigger and scarier.
It is important to ensure that broody hens have everything they need, such as nutritious food and fresh water, and to keep their living area clean by removing any broody poops from the brooding pen on a regular basis. Broody hens may not leave the nest for the first few days after being given their clutch of eggs, so it is important to keep an eye on their food and water levels to ensure they are getting up to eat and drink periodically.
Broody hens can be susceptible to lice and mites, and they may be bullied by other hens in the flock. It is important to check the health of a broody hen before assuming that she is broody, as she could be feeling ill or recovering from a predator attack. If a hen is bullied, it is best to separate the bully from the flock rather than the broody hen, as the bullying may worsen if the broody hen is isolated.
In conclusion, broody hens are protective mothers that know best when it comes to hatching and raising chicks. They have instinctual behaviours that ensure the survival of their chicks, and they are able to provide guidance and protection that an incubator cannot. While it is important to provide support and care for broody hens, they are generally well-equipped to care for their chicks and should not be separated from them unless necessary.
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Some breeds are better mothers than others
While some sources suggest that chicks are healthier when raised by a mother hen, not all hens are good mothers. Some breeds are more inclined to be broody than others, and certain breeds are known to be better mothers. For example, Silkies are known as the 'Broody Queens of the chicken world' and are very reliable when it comes to broodiness and their tendency to set. They are protective, gentle, and rarely break eggs. However, they are not productive egg layers, averaging only around 90 eggs per year. Other good mother hens include Cochins, which are beautiful, gentle, calm, and cold-weather hardy birds, and Frizzles, which are delightfully feathered and reliably broody. Bantams are also known to be extremely likely to sit on their eggs and make great mothers.
Buff Orpingtons are another breed that makes great mothers. They are very popular and have a quiet disposition. Brahmas are also good mothers, known as the gentle giants of the poultry world. They are very friendly, exceptionally quiet, and easy to handle. Their large size and heavy feathering make them almost immune to cold weather.
It is important to note that broodiness is a natural instinct that hasn't been bred out of some hens. Maternal behaviour has been selected out of commercial laying hen strains and is now often only found in heritage or bantam breeds. Additionally, some light breeds, such as Mediterranean or Continental breeds, are less likely to want to brood a batch of chicks.
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Hens need nutritious food and fresh water
It is perfectly natural and okay for a mother hen to sit on her chicks and take care of them. This instinctual behaviour is essential for the survival of the species.
To ensure the hen and her chicks are healthy, it is important to provide nutritious food and fresh water. Hens require unique nutrients at the correct levels, and a complete feed is formulated to meet these demands. Hens should eat a mix of grains with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Healthy treats can be fed in moderation, following the 90/10 rule: 90% complete feed and a maximum of 10% treats each day. Natural, healthy treats for hens include plants, whole grains, beans, sprouts, and seeds.
Water is the most essential nutrient for hens. It is the single greatest constituent of the body, representing about 70% of total body weight. Hens need easy access to clean, fresh, and good-quality drinking water. Water intake stimulates feed intake, and both are necessary for the development of chicks and the production of eggs. Lack of water can cause a decline in egg production, and in extreme cases, can lead to paralysis and death. Water quality should be regularly checked, and the water system should be closed to prevent outside contamination.
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Chicks benefit from being raised by their mother
Broody hens are protective of their chicks and will ensure they have the right conditions to hatch. In the last three days of the incubation period, the hen will not leave the nest at all to ensure the eggs have the correct temperature and humidity for hatching.
After the chicks hatch, the mother hen will continue to care for them. She will teach them how to dust bathe and protect them from danger. Chicks that are raised by their mother hen also benefit from the bond they form with her. It can be stressful for both the mother hen and the chicks if they are separated after hatching.
In addition, allowing a mother hen to raise her chicks can save time and effort for the chicken owner. The hen will do most of the work in raising the chicks for the first six weeks after they hatch. The owner's main responsibilities are to ensure the hen has everything she needs, such as nutritious food and fresh water, and to occasionally clean the brooding pen and check on the hen and chicks.
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Moving a broody hen is easier at night
A broody hen is a hen that wants to sit on eggs and hatch them. This instinctual behaviour ensures the survival of the species. However, broodiness has been bred out of many chicken breeds in favour of egg production. Broody hens will sit on eggs for days, leaving the nest briefly to eat, drink, and relieve themselves.
Moving a broody hen can be tricky, as they are attached to their chosen location. If you simply move her to another spot, she will abandon her eggs and return to the original location. Moving a broody hen is best done at night when she is less likely to be upset by the change of scenery. The key to success is for the hen to be moved and settled into a new nest before she ever wakes up. It is recommended to wait until the hen is at least 10 days into sitting before moving her. You can also opt to move her as late as the day the chicks hatch.
To move a broody hen, gently lift her out of the nest, supporting her legs and holding her wings down under a towel. Some people have had success moving their hens in a shallow flexible bucket or a plastic bus tub. It is important to have feed, water, and a makeshift run in place before the move.
Once the hen has been moved, she may protest her new nest. This isn't necessarily a sign of failure, and many hens will settle in and return to brooding. However, if after a few days of protest the hen is clearly uninterested in hatching the eggs, return her to the flock and try again next time.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it is not recommended to separate chicks from their mother hen immediately after they hatch. Hens can become stressed and depressed if their chicks are taken away. It is best to let the mother hen raise them if she is not hostile towards them.
A hen can sit on as many eggs as she can comfortably cover. As a guide, a bantam can sit on 6-7 eggs, a silkie 8-12 eggs, and other large breeds can sit on 12-15 eggs.
Yes, a broody hen can be used as a surrogate mother for day-old chicks. It is best to use hens that have already hatched chicks before as they are more likely to accept older, independent chicks.
A hen that is broody will sit on a nest for extended periods of time, often ruffling her feathers to make herself look bigger and scarier. She may also give a warning squawk or try to peck if you come near her nest.
One pro of using a broody hen is that she will do most of the work in raising the chicks. However, a con is that you cannot choose the sex of the chicks, and there is also a risk of the hen squashing the eggs as they hatch.
