Broody Hen Ready To Hatch - Advice?

[nzchookhaven]

Ok, so here goes. I have a few questions to ask.

• My hen is sitting on a massive clutch of eggs in a nesting box about 1 metre about the ground. When the chicks hatch, will they be able to get down by themselves?
• How long does it take for the chicks to be moving around? and from there, ready to be reintroduced to the flock?
• And lastly, what are people's experience with the percentage of chicks that have hatched previously? Are there any problems or signs I need to look out for?

I know there are heaps of questions, but if even one of these are answered, I would consider it a win

 

[SeaPolka]

Ok, so here goes. I have a few questions to ask.

• My hen is sitting on a massive clutch of eggs in a nesting box about 1 metre about the ground. When the chicks hatch, will they be able to get down by themselves?
• How long does it take for the chicks to be moving around? and from there, ready to be reintroduced to the flock?
• And lastly, what are people's experience with the percentage of chicks that have hatched previously? Are there any problems or signs I need to look out for?

I know there are heaps of questions, but if even one of these are answered, I would consider it a win

Personally, I would move her to ground level, the chicks don't be able to get up and down until they're 3 weeks and up. In my experience when I introduce chicks to the flock my hens just stand on the chicks and the chicks need chick crumble so I keep them separate for a month and then introduce them to everyone. I'd just let the hen do her thing, check on day three if there's any unhatched eggs left in the nest and remove them as she'll continue sitting if she hasn't got up already and the chicks will need to go get food and water by that point.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

I am having the same problem. what I am planning on dong is moving her and the chicks once they have all hatched. I have food and water sitting next to her so they will be able to eat and drink. She will stay on the ground with them once they have all hatched and cant get up to the nest. This is my first hatch, so this is the only question I can answer. I hope it helps!

 

[chickens really]

She needs to be ground level....Also she will hatch out the first two days and then abandon any other eggs in order to look after the first too hatch....Hopefully the eggs were not too staggered....

 

[bobbi-j]

She may move the chicks on her own if she feels the rest aren't going to hatch. I have found that the sooner you integrate mama and babies, the fewer problems you will have. You can put the whole flock on an all-flock grower type feed, so you don't have to worry about separating their food.

Were all the eggs set under her at the same time, or were others adding to the pile after she started sitting?

 

[nzchookhaven]

I might move her once they've hatched because that hen isn't going to move any time soon without a fight. Her eggs were a bit staggered but I'll follow this advice:

check on day three if there's any unhatched eggs left in the nest and remove them

. I'm thinking I might follow your advice, and keep them separate for a wee bit until they're a bit bigger, because my flock is rather large, and has two domineering roosters.

introduce chicks to the flock my hens just stand on the chicks and the chicks need chick crumble so I keep them separate for a month and then introduce them to everyone.

. But I'll keep you updated on how it goes. Thanks for all the advice. What have been everyone else's experience with hatching chicks from broody hens?

 

[SeaPolka]

I might move her once they've hatched because that hen isn't going to move any time soon without a fight. Her eggs were a bit staggered but I'll follow this advice:
. I'm thinking I might follow your advice, and keep them separate for a wee bit until they're a bit bigger, because my flock is rather large, and has two domineering roosters.
. But I'll keep you updated on how it goes. Thanks for all the advice. What have been everyone else's experience with hatching chicks from broody hens?

Ah lovely! Definitely want pictures of this mama and her chooklings

 

[bobbi-j]

I might move her once they've hatched because that hen isn't going to move any time soon without a fight. Her eggs were a bit staggered but I'll follow this advice:
. I'm thinking I might follow your advice, and keep them separate for a wee bit until they're a bit bigger, because my flock is rather large, and has two domineering roosters.
. But I'll keep you updated on how it goes. Thanks for all the advice. What have been everyone else's experience with hatching chicks from broody hens?

I had one broody who took her chicks off the nest and out in the run within their first 24 hours of hatching. That's why I mentioned that she may take them out of the nest herself. If that happens, do you have an incubator to finish hatching the rest?

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Once the eggs hatch I put hen and chicks on the ground. They interact with the flock from day 1 and are outside free ranging on day 2 once the hen leaves the nest. I have 3 roosters and lots of hens and have had zero problems. Everyone ignores the chicklings, which run about like 2-year-olds without a care in the world. IMO that's the only way to do it. I separated a mother and chick once and had a hard time integrating the chick into the flock. She's fine now, but it took a bit of effort. The other way has been effortless. Mama takes care of everything.

 

[nzchookhaven]

I had one broody who took her chicks off the nest and out in the run within their first 24 hours of hatching. That's why I mentioned that she may take them out of the nest herself. If that happens, do you have an incubator to finish hatching the rest?

No. I don't have an incubator. Why I have no choice but to let my hen work her magic. Hopefully it all works out. It is my first year and an experiment anyway. I'm sure next year I'll have a better idea of works with my flock.