About to try to let broody raise day-olds but have logistical question

[vnploveschickens]

She's so sweet with her babies!!! Thanks for sharing.

You will absolutely LOVE watching Mama take care of them and teaching them everything they need to know as they grow!!

I have 2 BO that are the absolute best Mama Hens!!

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OH that is SO great! Gives me hope for hatchery birds after all

YAY What a sweet sweet picture~!!!!

 

[hokankai]

Hooray! Now have fun watching them learn how to be chickens

 

[TripTrapMtnHomestead]

i love this!!! i wish one of our ladies had gone broody in time for our incubator hatching(due sat). our only broody hen is still mothering her chicks.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

TripTrap- be careful what you wish for! There is no greater force of nature than a broody hen, in my experience. We've had to forcibly move her from the nest box multiple times a day for the last month just to make sure she eats and drinks. It's been crazy!

HanginWit- thanks for hanging in on this thread - am so sorry you've had bad experiences with broody hens. I wonder if breed matters? I purposely choose docile breeds since I view the girls more as pets than as egg layers, which is a good thing since we haven't had an egg from either hen in two months!

Everyone, thanks, and one last question: no heat in our coop - can Mama keep the babies warm enough? We're in SoCal but near the ocean so the weather is cool. They've seemed fine all day, marching around out from under her like it's no big deal, but just want to be sure...

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

The hens I had were BO from Ideal and they were GREAT sitters...WONDERFUL sitters but when the chicks started hatching they grabbed them and gobbled them right down. One flew on the ground and I tried to grab it but one of the others grabbed it up and ran

OH I was devastated! I managed to save only two babies out of eight. I wasn't out there at first so only caught the last four hatching. The two I saved were cut and almost didn't make it. BUT This thread really gives me hope that they aren't ALL like that

So thanks for sharing and for sharing PICTURES! Loved it!

ETA: PS I can't stop looking at that adorable picture!!!

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
Yup. Momma is well insulated.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

Thanks, greyes It just helps to hear the reassurances.

Hangin - that is a HORRIFYING story I'm really glad you didn't tell it until AFTER my BO had decided to love these chicks. So sorry you had to go through that.

Truthfully, I'm stressing again - have gone into the coop twice in the past few hours and all the babies remain tucked under Mama - I keep thinking they need to come out and eat or drink. But I am trying to accept that SHE is in charge now, not me.

Hopefully all will be well in the a.m.

 

[naughtyhens]

I'm so pleased to see your hen with the babies.

I was thinking about them from time to time today. She'll keep them warm. I know it is odd to see them run around in the cold when a brooder has to be so warm, but now they know how cozy it us under her they'll run there as soon as they feel chilly.

I bet she pulled some feathers off her breast so they can get right next to her skin. Think of all the feathers she has. They'll be big before you know it. Enjoy.

 

[JusticeFamilyFarm]

Oh my! So cute! I am so glad it worked out. I kept checking this thread to hear more updates on the mama and her new adopted babies! I love it. Reading this has made me want to hatch some eggs if one of mine ever goes broody. They are still little now, but I'm already planning for them to be mamas! I don't plan on keeping a rooster, but my neighbor has one in with his hens, maybe if one of mine goes broody next year I'll trade him some eggs so mine can try to hatch 'em!