broody
broody at Alektorophobia is a file of 10 stories. The newest of them: “Egg-citing hide-and-seek: 6:30 am and the hen-keeping hunt is on”, “My Broody Girl's Got a Goopy Eye: Gunk or a Cluck-tastic Concern?”, and “Two Surprise Sons Hatch a Plot My Husband Never Saw Coming”. 6:30 AM and I'm already losing a game of hide-and-seek with my own hens. There's nothing quite like the heart-stopping moment you spot your broody girl squinting one goopy eye at you, is there? Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every broody story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
Egg-citing hide-and-seek: 6:30 am and the hen-keeping hunt is on
6:30 AM and I'm already losing a game of hide-and-seek with my own hens. This morning's hen-keeping hunt is egg-citing in the way that makes you question your life choices, did I really sign up for this? One minute they're pecking peacefully, the next they've vanished into the cosmos of my backyard. It's a fowl kind of magic trick, honestly. If you've ever felt this particular brand of morning chaos, you know the struggle is real. And speaking of surprises, our piece on "Straight Run Surprise: When Those Cute Chicks Turn Out to Be Roosters" dives into another delightful curveball chicken keeping throws your way. Because let's be honest, nothing prepares you for the feathered plot twists.
My Broody Girl's Got a Goopy Eye: Gunk or a Cluck-tastic Concern?
There's nothing quite like the heart-stopping moment you spot your broody girl squinting one goopy eye at you, is there? Suddenly you're googling at 2 a.m., wondering if it's just dust or a full-blown cluck-tastic crisis. I've been there, and let me tell you, it's a slippery slope from "she's fine" to "I'm building a chicken hospital." The good news? Eye gunk is often a minor annoyance, but it can also signal something more sinister lurking behind those feathered lids. You've got to play detective without chickening out. And if you've recently dealt with bigger predators, like in our piece on losing a favorite hen to a fox, you know our girls keep us on our toes. Let's sort the harmless from the alarming together.
Two Surprise Sons Hatch a Plot My Husband Never Saw Coming
Well, talk about a plot twist that would ruffle anyone's feathers. These two gorgeous boys were never supposed to hatch, but a well-meaning husband and a broody silkie had other plans while our friend was away for ten days. Now, these stunning Tolbunt Polish mixes have turned into absolute terrors, relentlessly chasing the very hen who raised them. It's a classic case of fowl play, and honestly, my heart aches for that poor traumatized silkie. Her usual man, the black silkie who also happens to be their dad, just stands by like a proud papa while these two cause chaos. It's a messy family drama, and while they are undeniably pretty, something has to give.
Fowl Play: My Last Two Hens and the Day One Went Nuclear
Ten years of one flock, and then this. I can't stop thinking about that poor hen, and honestly, I can't stop thinking about you either. Watching a bird you've cared for turn into a feathered menace overnight is a special kind of heartbreak, and it makes total sense that you're scared to try again. That wasn't just a squabble; that was a full-on fowl play situation, and you did the kindest, bravest thing by letting her go peacefully. But here's the thing: your lone bully is still a chicken. She needs a pal, even if she doesn't deserve one yet. It's a tough spot, and I've seen folks have luck with a "slow introduction" pen. It won't be instant, but it beats a lonely winter.
Peach's midnight switcheroo hatched a cluck-tastic happy ending!
There's something genuinely magical about the moment a broody hen finally gets her wish. After three long weeks of sitting tight, Peach finally had her adoptive chicks sneak into her nest under the cover of darkness, and she took to them like she'd been waiting her whole life for exactly this. It's the kind of fowl play we can totally get behind. Watching her embrace those babies without missing a beat? Pure cluck-tastic joy. We swapped out her eggs for the real deal, and Peach is officially living her best mom life today. If you love these feel-good flock moments as much as we do, you'll want to check out our story on "Six fluffy chicks have hatched, egg-cellent news from our feathered friends!
Cruella's lone survivor gets a feathered second chance at flock life.
Well, color me cluck-struck. Cruella the hen decided her cold-water baths were just a spa day, not a hint, so her humans gave in and let her sit on six eggs. It was a fowl tragedy when only one chick survived; her coopmates got a bit too territorial. That lone little survivor is one tough cookie, and I'm rooting for her. The humans, feeling bad, introduced a few new feathered friends, and wouldn't you know it, Cruella adopted them without a single peck of protest. It's a wild ride, and while I admire the dedication, I'm with the owner on this one: never again with the broodiness! For more feathery fiascos, check out "Chickens Got Her Good! A Backyard Poultry Adventure."
My Entire Flock Has Gone Broody, and I'm Officially Outnumbered
Well, isn't this the ultimate fowl plot twist? You've got nearly a whole flock of broody hens, from Barry the cream legbar to both silkie bantoms and even Kristin, all deciding they're done with normal chicken life and opting for full-time nest duty. That's ten out of sixteen hens, which is less a chicken coop and more a feathered standoff. Honestly, I'm both impressed and slightly terrified for your patience. The good news? This is a phase, not a forever thing, but you're right to wonder if you should just wait it out. You can, but here's the thing: broody hens will sit so long they forget to eat and drink, so you'll need to gently evict them for daily snacks and water breaks.
Heatwave Survivors: Two Cluck-tastic Chicks Beat the Odds!
Well, talk about a heatwave horror story with a happy ending! When I read that four of the six eggs had been sitting there for over three weeks, I honestly thought Pippa's clutch was a total loss. The suspense must have been unbearable. So you can imagine my absolute delight, and likely yours too, when little peeps started echoing from the coop. Two survivors! That is nothing short of a miracle, especially with temperatures soaring. And to think Pippa already pulled off a hatch back in May? What a champion. This feels like a real-life "Chickens Got Her Good! A Backyard Poultry Adventure" moment. I'm just so thrilled for you and your feathered friend.
Snack time standoff: when the cucumber calls and the nest wins.
There's a special kind of chaos that happens when a broody hen meets a cucumber, and honestly, I'm here for it. One minute you're ready to hiss at the world, and the next, a crisp snack completely changes the game. That's the beauty of our feathered friends; they keep us guessing. This little moment of fowl play is peak backyard poultry energy, and it reminds me why we love these quirky creatures so much. If you're in the mood for more chick-filled adventures, you might also enjoy our piece on "Six fluffy chicks have hatched, egg-cellent news from our feathered friends!" because, let's face it, you can never have too many baby bird stories. Cluck-tastic, right?
Can Nonbroody Hens Still Be Clucky Foster Moms?
Ah, the eternal question that's ruffled more than a few feathers: will your non-broody hens step up and play auntie to a batch of fluffy newcomers? It's the chicken version of asking a cat to look after puppies, possible, but expect some hissy fits. The short answer? Don't count on it. Non-broody hens are typically too busy scratching, pecking, and living their best free-range lives to play substitute mom. They're not mean about it, mind you, they're just not interested in the whole "raising the kids" gig. That maternal switch usually flips only in broody girls, the ones who've gone full hawk-eyed, chest-puffed, "don't you dare touch my eggs" mode.