Broody Hen Thread!

[glebreton]

Bummer. That's always so frustrating. My experience with communal laying too especially with a smaller Banty amongst larger hens. I hoped you'd be one of the luckier ones with happy commune hens.

Good news is that was a viable chick...wishing you good luck that the final 4 are viable and hatching tomorrow.

Also heads up that with less dominant Banties, the other hens can stress her a lot trying to protect her chicks as they just push where they want to go...I keep mom and chicks separate until the chicks are at least feathered in and are not so vulnerable...I prefer 8 to 12 weeks so they are better sized and have stronger immune systems.

Happy hatching for tomorrow.
(1 more week to go for my Marans eggs under my Silkie...so far all whole and looking good.)

Lady of McCamley

Lady, how is your hatch looking? I'd like to get some Marans one day.

On the issue of seperating the chicks from the flock, I wanted to ask about the re-introduction part. If I seperate the mom and clutch from the flock for 8-12 weeks, how much trouble can I expect when I re-introduce them to the flock? Being a bantam, she was low on the pecking order already. The only ones she pushed around were some pullets I added late summer. And honestly, they were getting close to taking her on before she went broody just because they had outgrown her. If I keep her out for 2-3 months, she will be treated like a newbie, and her chicks maybe even worse. When this same bantam went broody in September, she hatched and raised the chicks in the run. Had little problems with the other hens, they seemed to respect the chicks. Only one died in the run, possibly from another hen, but I don't know for sure. But overall, they left her and the clutch alone. Have you had any problems re-introducing your seperated hens/clutch back into the flock?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Lady, how is your hatch looking? I'd like to get some Marans one day.

On the issue of seperating the chicks from the flock, I wanted to ask about the re-introduction part. If I seperate the mom and clutch from the flock for 8-12 weeks, how much trouble can I expect when I re-introduce them to the flock? Being a bantam, she was low on the pecking order already. The only ones she pushed around were some pullets I added late summer. And honestly, they were getting close to taking her on before she went broody just because they had outgrown her. If I keep her out for 2-3 months, she will be treated like a newbie, and her chicks maybe even worse. When this same bantam went broody in September, she hatched and raised the chicks in the run. Had little problems with the other hens, they seemed to respect the chicks. Only one died in the run, possibly from another hen, but I don't know for sure. But overall, they left her and the clutch alone. Have you had any problems re-introducing your seperated hens/clutch back into the flock?

All 6 Marans eggs are whole and under my Silkie and due to hatch Friday.

As to integration...well, I've done it different ways with different results.

The optimum time, I think, is not by weeks of age (although 8 weeks seems to be a good rule of thumb for mine but that varies greatly with breeds, chicks, momma broody, flock chemistry, etc....and that can change from one brood to the next!)...the optimum is whenever the chicks are old enough to not expire should they get separated from mom, but yet mom is still fiercely protective.

However...you then adjust for your flock and chicks and broody and terrain and chicken minds.

I also introduce later because I've read that it is best to do so to protect younger birds from older bird diseases, ie Mareks. When I hatch eggs, I don't vaccinate because I would have to pay an exorbitant amount in shipping for 1000 doses that I would have to use immediately or shortly as it doesn't store well. So , I don't vaccinate. Ag literature recommends delaying integration so that their immune systems build up, so I've chosen to do that.

By the time I integrate, it is 12 to 14 weeks, and by then mom has generally checked out (hence 8 weeks seems to be a better time if you want mom still somewhat connected but the babies are old enough to fend for themselves and not so small they get picked on).

I honestly have not tried to introduce chicks earlier than 7 to 8 weeks as my fencing is not chick tight all the way around my property and I would lose smaller babies (They give me enough grief in the small mesh broody run...younger chicks are experts at finding the hole in the fence to squeeze through...but they can never figure out how to get back into the run.)

I always integrate at least 2 at a time. They've had visual exposure for a number of weeks. And I place them in at night on the roost beside friendlier hens (although those lower on the pecking order are often the most diligent that no one rises above them). I then have a gate system that I can close up segments if need be. My main run allows the big birds to have lots of elbow room and the new young birds lots of hiding places. I also place food and water in various locations so that if the younger have to eat on the run, they've got lots of places to look. I then let the natural pecking order take its course (its best to do so) unless someone is being vicious...then they get to be dinner (haven't had to do that yet).

Depending upon the breed and chicks, it takes about a month for them to settle into a routine...sometimes a couple of weeks, sometimes a couple of months....depending upon if your new chicks are smarter than the average bear.

As to momma broody...well my other large broody hen hatched a brood and then paced the fence at 6 weeks (after she had taught the babies to roost on a bar) wanting out.... leaving them in the care of the Silkie...she integrated just fine. I wasn't so sure about her babies (one was a banty), so I didn't integrate them but left them with the Silkie.

The Silkie gets picked on no matter what...she gets no respect from the main flock, and since she is a very valuable member of my flock as I count on her going broody every 4 months, she has a permanent home in my broody hutch. She's only alone when she goes into a good brood again (being surrounded by her chicks any other time), so I put some eggs under her...and migrate that clutch of chicks into the flock...hence the 12 to 14 weekish time frame which meets all of my goals for immune system and size and clearance of the brood grow out pen for the next batch.

My experiences.
Good Luck
Lady of McCamley

 

[swirler]

The main reasons I was thinking of integrating on the early side is because most of the "be careful if..." issues don't really apply. The young ones outnumber the older hens 2 to 1, mama is a big Brahma who wasn't low on the pecking order and is still fiercely protective, and the immunity thing is probably a non-issue (they're currently in a run the hens were in just before we set the brood, mama's from the same flock - basically they've shared bugs already.) The chicks are big and vigorous (Rocks and Barnevelders), and they're going into a big yard that's mostly surrounded by brick wall; and the one metal section of fence (pool fencing type stuff) has had an extra layer of chick wire applied to keep them in.

 

[glebreton]

Well that makes sense now Lady. Sounds like you have a permanent separate brooding pen and a permanent brooding hen in your Silkie. I made a small brooding pen out of a dog crate in my house. I moved the hen and clutch inside mainly because the eggs were getting banged around by other hens laying and due to frigid cold coming. I plan to keep the chicks in now that I have them set up, but I don't think it will be for 8 weeks. I free range my flock each day and pen them up at night, so I don't worry much about the chicks escaping a fence. And last clutch was raised in the run without any obvious problems. My decision now will be when to bring them back into the flock. I am now thinking 3 or 4 weeks.... Thanks again

 

[glebreton]

Here are the two chicks that have survived the winter brood of 2013! One is Black Australorp/Ameraucana cross and the other looks to be a BA/Barred rock cross. Both of those hens lay well for me so I hope these are hen chics. They should produce well and the feather pattern will be fun to watch develop! Tried twice to save the pick upright, but shows up here sideways!

 

[foreverlearning]

Well that makes sense now Lady. Sounds like you have a permanent separate brooding pen and a permanent brooding hen in your Silkie. I made a small brooding pen out of a dog crate in my house. I moved the hen and clutch inside mainly because the eggs were getting banged around by other hens laying and due to frigid cold coming. I plan to keep the chicks in now that I have them set up, but I don't think it will be for 8 weeks. I free range my flock each day and pen them up at night, so I don't worry much about the chicks escaping a fence. And last clutch was raised in the run without any obvious problems. My decision now will be when to bring them back into the flock. I am now thinking 3 or 4 weeks.... Thanks again

I was able to put mine out with the flock at 1 week because I have a really relaxed (spoiled) flock and the broody is the top hen. If I had a broody lower on the pecking order or a not so relaxed flock I would have waited longer. You know your flock best. Watch them when you first let them out with the others because even a head hen needs to reestablish their place in the flock.

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

well here is Josephina at three weeks old. Mom went back to the coop last night. For the first while being an only chick she was terrified. I have only handled her twice but I didn't realize how trusting of me she had become. If I put my hands down on the floor she pops right into them and wants up! She is currently roosting on my arm as I'm typing. She its doing very well. As you can see her little feathers are coming in and because she is an Icelandic Brahma each hatching egg is like a Kinder surprise. You can not count on what you'll get even if you have 2 parents of certain colors the chicks take after a fore father. I think she will be gold laced.

Mom is liking being back in the coop. I put her in after lights out and she nested in a basket. Tonight I came home after dark expecting to find her OR the other 3 out side. All were in the coop but my light Sussex was filthy and all 3 soaking wet! I guess she got the coop to herself! Good news is at least 2 of my hens got to lay their eggs at some point in the basket.

Bo is on day 9 of setting her 12 eggs. I am sure two have growing embryos in them. Not sure about 5 others and pretty sure the rest are duds. I'll make my decisions probably around day 17. I hate to be wrong!

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

Josephina my newest chick roosting on my arm while I check out BYC!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Josephina my newest chick roosting on my arm while I check out BYC!

Pretty bird. I've not seen Icelandic Brahma in person...I'll have to do a surf for photos.
Congratulations on your growing flock.
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My Silkie's 6 Marans eggs are due to hatch tomorrow. Mix of BCM, BM, BSM, with a possible throwback to a Wheaten.

So far no signs of pipping yet (after a very quick peek), that I can tell, other than all 6 eggs look whole and well....and momma furiously protection. (Good girl!)

Funny, I still feel giddy with each hatching...part of me thinks that's silly, I've done this plenty of times before...but then I'm so glad I still feel the awe of it all.

Can hardly wait to see fuzzy beaks in the next day or two, if all went well.

I'll keep you all posted....hopefully my next post will be photos of new babies...and then photos to guess what colors I've got...and hopefully some hens! (Then there's waiting for that first dark egg).
Aw yes, I still feel the thrill of it all...yeah I guess I'm still hooked on my chicken addiction.

Lady of McCamley