Broody Hen that will hatch eggs, how will chicks get water?

[Toothpick]

I got a hen that’s been sitting for a few days. All the classic signs. Pecking me when I get eggs from her, won’t move off when I try to push her, puffs herself up and so on. I put some eggs under her today and am going to let her hatch them.

All that I have for water is a 5gal bucket with horizontal nipples. Is it safe to assume that the chicks will learn from her how to use it?

Also, she’s in with the rest of the flock. Should I move her and the chicks when they hatch? I kind of rather not.

Thanks!

 

[Farm Boy 4220]

She will teach them everything they need to know and protect them from the rest of the flock. make sure there are no holes in the pen where chicks can get out. Also make sure the bucket waterer is low enough for the chicks to reach.

 

[bobbi-j]

There are as many opinions about keeping them in the flock while setting and hatching as there are chicken keepers. I have found that it works well to either let the hen hatch within the flock or separate her (maybe section off a part of the coop if there is room for food, water, and for her to stretch her legs) until the chicks are a few days old. You're not going to know how it works until you give it a try.

 

[RWise]

I always put out extra water places (and food) for the chicks, and expect the others will hit it to. Mine have standing water for them, not deep so they cannot be drown.
In the flock, well watch for other hens to lay in the nest she is on. I would suggest marking the eggs you gave her, then you can take any unmarked eggs daily. The the chicks should be fine in the flock, if she is not the low girl, and then she will take them away from the flock. She will teach them where to find what, where to hide,, oh ya, do provide hiding places the big girls cant go but the little's can. Eggs can be broken with others trying to lay in this nest, and those new eggs are not going to hatch. So just keep an eye on them, watch for issues.

When I have a broody that I will let set, she is in a brood pen. I do this by placing fake eggs in the nest and let the girls find it. Some of them will start using the nest, and when one sets down on the fake eggs, I give her real eggs and close the door. When the chicks hatch, I open the door and when she is ready she will bring them out. Usually 2 - 3 days old.

My hens do not go broody often, so I use a bator,,, which has other issues,,,

 

[Toothpick]

Thanks for the info! I guess I’ll just see what happens here.

 

[aart]

I like to separate my broodys until a few days to a week after they hatch,
it's just easier not to have to deal with the other hens disrupting things,
but I have an easy set up to partition off part of the coop.
Plus there are only 4 nests, so can't let her take one up.

They will learn to use the HN's, but I still put out an open waterer late in the day(for the first week or two) to make absolutely sure they don't get dehydrated.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-small-water-nipple-bottle-holder.72767/