Will allowing my broody hen to hatch out eggs discourage her from being broody in the future?

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

No .

?

 

[Morrigan]

Wondering how it went last night. Does she have all her babies now?

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Wondering how it went last night. Does she have all her babies now?

Hi, yes she does and it's going great! 7 chicks are under her. I just got back and checked on her. She was sitting on them and then they all popped out and came out to drink, then went back in. No aggressive pecking from Ursula. She was just getting cranky that I was getting so close to her babies lol. I'll try to get a picture later on.

 

[Saveria]

Yikes! What breed of chickens, were these?

I had a buff orpington go broody 4 times in a Summer, even though time #3 she got chicks. She was a nut.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Happy mom, happy chicks.
Thanks everyone for the help!

 

[Krugerrand]

View attachment 3641525View attachment 3641526View attachment 3641527
Happy mom, happy chicks.
Thanks everyone for the help!

Hang on to that middle one ... it's contest worthy!

 

[SueT]

 

[Morrigan]

Very sweet. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[SueT]

Yes, your photos are very good

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Hi everyone! So the chicks are about 3.5 weeks old now, and starting to feather up pretty well. It seems they are a bit cramped in the small coop/run now and Ursula (mama hen) has even tried to go out the door a couple times when I've opened it.

Is it alright to let her out to free range for a couple hours and then back in at night to warm the babies? Or will this end her instinct to mother them?

I was going to put the babies in the tractor soon but I think they just need a little more feathering since our nights have been pretty cool.