Broody Hen Thread!

[water2214]

Hey, my australorp is on five eggs right now, and I'm planning to keep the chicks in the same coop with the mother, barricaded by some wire so they can't get bullied by the older chickens. When will be a good time to let them mingle? Also I'm a little worried about letting them out of the coop as they get older, as the coop is raised off the floor by about two feet. The ramp that leads down has gaps between each rung, I'm not certain how large, maybe 4-6 inches gap. Will they be able to safely manuver the ramp to get out and in of the coop? At what age do you think that they'll be okay climbing the ramp? Thanks for the help.
Preparing early for my hatch! Today is day 8 and to the best of my candling ability looks like three are developing nicely and two are questionable, but aren't infertile. Awaiting eagerly for the chicks!

 

[Alaskan]

I am not sure about the ramp.....

My chicks are in an elevated coop right now, I almost let them out to try the ramp today (3 weeks old
I think), but I chickened out. I was so worried that one would get lost outside and get chilled......

Tricky thing.

 

[Junibutt]

After all the ups and downs with my incubators and convincing my dear wife to go along since we don't have a broody hen, now I have an Australorp who has just gone broody as of yesterday. She has been sounding broody for almost a month now, but she finally sat on the nest all day yesterday as well as overnight. However, she was kicked out by the Alpha hen in the morning because all of them like to lay in that one spot. When I went back to take a look, there were 5 eggs including hers so she laid one too.

Shall I wait and see till she stops laying? Also can I try giving her my 2 & 1/2 week old chicks or is it too late for that? She is my fluffiest hen with a beautiful black/green sheen on her, I would hate not to have her walk around with chicks but can't bear the wrath of my dear wife.

Anyone have experience with broody hen being able to take care of their chicks with the rest of the flock (especially when there is no rooster around to defend her)? She is 3rd in the pecking order of 5. However top 2 can be vicious when they were work in unison. They are siblings and were raised together (mostly in our laps).
I will only have her hatch chicks if she can take care of them herself. No more chicks inside the home after I am done with this batch.

Also, if I do let her hatch chicks, what breeds should I go for? I currently have:

2 Red Stars, 1 Australorp (the broody one), 1 RIR (could be a production red) and one Leghorn/Wyandotte/Bantam mix.

Then 4 x 4 Light Brahmas that just turned 4 weeks
and 3 x Cream Legbars that are 2.5 weeks

I went for the Brahmas just because they look good and the Legbars for their guaranteed blue eggs compared to Easter Eggers who are all over the place. And honestly I am not so fond of their ear muffs & beards.

Anyways would appreciate your input.

P.S. My Australorp seems like can take 14-16 eggs easily. Is that too many eggs to get adequate warmth from "mommy"?

 

[elsfieldchickens]

my latest broody squeaks

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I heard Silkies make very good mamas, but just curious that if they can't protect themselves from standard hens and are at the bottom of the pecking order, how can they protect their chicks?

It depends on the flock, the Silkie, and your environment.

I can tell you my little Silkie banty gets no respect from the flock...they don't hurt her but constantly remind her she is at the bottom of the pecking order...however, while I prefer to keep her separate while she broods young chicks (for various reasons one of which to delay exposure of disease to the chicks until their immune systems grow) I have allowed her to free range with the flock with older chicks...and let me tell you NOBODY messes with momma's chicks. I have seen her thoroughly deflate my alpha hen and leave her running for cover when the alpha hen took after one of the chicks.

So flock dynamics is an important part, as well as plenty of room for everyone to find their own niche. I also don't put little babies out in the main flock as too much stuff can happen from predators to dumb chick tricks (they are experts at finding the tiniest hole to get through the fence or into danger).

Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I am not sure about the ramp.....

My chicks are in an elevated coop right now, I almost let them out to try the ramp today (3 weeks old
I think), but I chickened out. I was so worried that one would get lost outside and get chilled......

Tricky thing.

At 3 weeks they should be fine. I find 1 week is a good age to let them out as they generally are big enough to navigate my long ramp to my waist high hutch. (Younger than that...no so much.)

Just watch to make sure all goes well as each brood and set of chicks are different...some are a lot smarter than others.I have had some broods that were not so smart and have had to play the "catch the chick" game to hand place them in the coop. If it is safe for mom to set up camp below, you can leave her there as she will do so if the chicks can't make the ramp.

I actually let out a batch today at 1 week of age....with a first time momma...and watched to see how it went. The babies took a little bit to find their way down the ramp...the little roo jumped about 3 feet to the ground to join momma...sisters chirped for 10 minutes until they finally figured out they could walk down the ramp and jump at a closer distance. Then they were fine. Babies enjoyed a full day in the broody run. I then watched to see how mom would do to get them back up, and she had no trouble...a couple peeped a bit below but figured out the ramp and all were tucked in safe when it was time to close up the hutch.

I find it helpful to have slats on the ramp that are close together to give better footing for the chicks...we had much better success then. Also leave food and water down on the ground level (but so it cannot be knocked over or dirt kicked into it) as babies often don't think to go up the ramp to drink or eat.

I'd try it and see how it goes if the run or yard is safe for the babies.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ok age old hatching question my friends! My broody was locked out of her nest today while I was at work. It's a dog crate to keep her safe at night. At some point my duck went in and laid while my broody was out eating and the door must have shut behind her when she left. These eggs are on day five and couldve been left for up to five or six hours. It was 75 out and the eggs were cool when I found them but she's back on the nest now. What do u think? Viable? No? Worth a shot? Just makes me sick. I was hoping for a nice uneventful hatch

I'd check them in a few days to see if they are continuing to develop. I have had hens quit, found the cool nest, and plunked down a fortuitous new broody and have had hatches...so you'd be amazed at how durable the embryos can be.

Lady of McCamley

 

[griggy]

On Day 20 with my broody Abby Lee. I want to get a look at the eggs to see if anything is going on, but don't want to upset anything so am just trying to hang in there and wait for something to happen!!!

 

[GardenDave]

Hi everybody, many interesting conversations within pages of this thread. If you don't mind I'd like to quickly add my story to the collection

After Silky's failed attempt at hatching another chick, (Silky is her name as well as breed - she's on the left of my picture with the first chick she hatched, a Warren, on the right) I thought that if any of my flock would be broody again it would be her. I was wrong. The last few days - probably for about a week one of the Spotted Sussex - Margaret - has been broody. I have no idea why. We moved the coop from one area of the garden to another and thats when she started sitting - could the move have something to do with her broodiness? Anyway, because I don't have a cockerel I made a deal with Margaret that as long as she promised to sit on them for long enough (Silky got bored at around day 18 and left them) and that she stopped screaming and swearing at me whenever I went to collect other eggs, that I'd get her some fertile ones. Unfortunately this was not an appropriate proposal, but said she would sit on them for long enough AND scream and swear at me. At first I was going to deny but then she gave me the eyes and I couldn't say no, so off to the allotments I went to see Pete and get two fertile eggs. When I got home and after the initial scream and swear I moved Margaret slightly and found that she had been hoarding five other eggs. I removed those and replaced Margaret to her original spot. I then got her eggs from Pete, reminded her of the deal to sit on them for long enough, and then placed the eggs not under her, but about three inches away from her. After a few moments of her calling me names because apparently it 'would have been just as easy for you to put the eggs under me instead of making me stretch' (her words) she stretched out her neck, gently put her beak over each egg and in turn pulled them towards her before pushing them under. She then looked at me and said 'now close the door and get lost fat arse'. As I was closing the lid I heard her say 'love yaaaaaaaaa' and the lid was down. Roll on June 3rd - hatch day.

 

[Alibabe]

Hi everybody, many interesting conversations within pages of this thread. If you don't mind I'd like to quickly add my story to the collection

After Silky's failed attempt at hatching another chick, (Silky is her name as well as breed - she's on the left of my picture with the first chick she hatched, a Warren, on the right) I thought that if any of my flock would be broody again it would be her. I was wrong. The last few days - probably for about a week one of the Spotted Sussex - Margaret - has been broody. I have no idea why. We moved the coop from one area of the garden to another and thats when she started sitting - could the move have something to do with her broodiness? Anyway, because I don't have a cockerel I made a deal with Margaret that as long as she promised to sit on them for long enough (Silky got bored at around day 18 and left them) and that she stopped screaming and swearing at me whenever I went to collect other eggs, that I'd get her some fertile ones. Unfortunately this was not an appropriate proposal, but said she would sit on them for long enough AND scream and swear at me. At first I was going to deny but then she gave me the eyes and I couldn't say no, so off to the allotments I went to see Pete and get two fertile eggs. When I got home and after the initial scream and swear I moved Margaret slightly and found that she had been hoarding five other eggs. I removed those and replaced Margaret to her original spot. I then got her eggs from Pete, reminded her of the deal to sit on them for long enough, and then placed the eggs not under her, but about three inches away from her. After a few moments of her calling me names because apparently it 'would have been just as easy for you to put the eggs under me instead of making me stretch' (her words) she stretched out her neck, gently put her beak over each egg and in turn pulled them towards her before pushing them under. She then looked at me and said 'now close the door and get lost fat arse'. As I was closing the lid I heard her say 'love yaaaaaaaaa' and the lid was down. Roll on June 3rd - hatch day.

What a wonderful story and the hens words sound about right

Good luck with your hatch. I have a broody sitting on day 21/22 and she has 1 chick hatched, 1 which should be ready to zip and the other 4 nothing. I am really hoping that by this time tomorrow there is a lot more movement and hatching going on. This is her first time broodying and my first time with a broody so I guess we are learning together, I just hope the remainder hatch.