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Thanks. It sounds like things are going just fine. I'll let nature (and momma) handle things.

should I be concerned about the stench, and the fact that most of momma's chest feathers are gone, and she's wet?

Our first experience with broody hens, and we've got a live chick today! woohoo! I've pretty much left the whole process alone - figuring her instinct would do better without my neurotic newbie interference. She was sitting on two eggs, and I hadn't checked under her for a week and a half...

Great ideas! Thanks!

we need pictures!!!

Darn. Live and learn, I guess. i'm going to wait and see what they do tonight - whether they settle back on the eggs, or on a roost (no real roost in the stall, but I know they can find one if they really want it) For next time - how soon after they start acting broody should I move them? I...

Thanks. I did try to separate them within the stall. They each have their own large (2x2 or 3x3) moving box. I put some fencing/chicken wire over the top - just lightly - I thought to keep any predators out. But the hens knocked it off and got out of the boxes... I feel a little bad to trap...

We have three first-time broodies (and we're first-timers, too). Based on suggestions we read here, we moved two of them (Speckled Sussex) two nights ago, and then the third (Buff Orpington) last night into a spare stall in the barn. As of this morning, all seemed to go well. They'd been...

We are fairly new to chickens (got day-olds last March). I don't know why, but I didn't consider broodiness. I think I've got a couple girls who are going broody, and have read we should have a separate coop for them. It's been close to two weeks that they've been hanging out in the nesting...

Brahampooter - you say everyone free ranges except the broodies... how do you stop them? or is it by their own choice? We, too, may have our first broodies. We'd love to let them hatch, and found this post very informative. I'd like to read more about how to best handle broodies/hatching...

16862 +17 = 16,879 EE, Barred Rock, Speckled Sussex, Deleware, Buff Orp

My 5-week-old roo just did the same thing the other day! It didn't sound that great - but he gets an 'A' for effort!

Phew! They all made it through the night! Thanks for your responses. Now - let's hope I can get the coop cleaned out and ready for them by tonight!

Quote: Well - they've got the room if they walk into the other box - = which they do when they're playing - but when they sleep, they all chose to huddle in one box. I hope they know enough to spread out in to both boxes if it's too tight to all lay down in the smaller box... ... not sure...

Oh - they are so adorable! Mine are 5 weeks old now, and it's just amazing how quickly they grow! How I'd love to have them fuzzy like yours again! Enjoy!

Can 5-week-old chicks still smother each other by sleeping too close together? My cardboard box brooder got soaking wet (thanks to a tipped over waterer) and I've had to make an emergency replacement brooder that is not as large. THey are all crowded together - but do have the option to walk...

Does a roost need to be round? How high should it be? Our chicks are a few weeks old and have all their feathers. Actually it *shouldn't* be round - best to use a 2x2 or 2x4, flat side up. I was told that roosts SHOULD be round (or, at least not square) - that chickens have evolved roosting...

I'm fairly new to this, so my answer may not be the best, but I've been doing a lot of wasting... I take all the shavings out and replace with fresh shavings. I'll be interested to hear what others do.

Quote: Curious - do you wear any "protective" clothing? We always seem to get pooped on when we take them out to play...

Oh - i can just envision the fun already! they love to fly all the time (well - at least try to - lots of kamikaze flying going on...), and they go crazy when the lid of the brooder is off. So - to open the lid of the brooder, catch one, open the lid to the box, move her in to the box - all...