Broody Hen Thread!

[vpatt]

Thanks ya'll for all the advice!!

 

[ChickyChickens]

Chickychicks what great pictures!

HAha thanks!!!

 

[vpatt]

I was refreshing the food and water....Olivia was off the nest....she reached back in and I think she was trying to get that fourth egg out of the nest. Her beak broke thru the shell and stuff spurted out.....no doubt at all that it was rotten. So it has been thrown out. The chicks were out with her and she laid down there instead of going back in the nest...if she stays there I hope she will keep the babies safe from the other hens.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I was refreshing the food and water....Olivia was off the nest....she reached back in and I think she was trying to get that fourth egg out of the nest. Her beak broke thru the shell and stuff spurted out.....no doubt at all that it was rotten. So it has been thrown out. The chicks were out with her and she laid down there instead of going back in the nest...if she stays there I hope she will keep the babies safe from the other hens.

She will keep them safe. She'll be very protective of them at first and keep the rest of the flock at the distance she is comfortable with. As the days pass she'll begin allowing more interaction between the adult birds and her babies. If/when someone crosses the line she'll not hesitate to tell them so.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I was refreshing the food and water....Olivia was off the nest....she reached back in and I think she was trying to get that fourth egg out of the nest. Her beak broke thru the shell and stuff spurted out.....no doubt at all that it was rotten. So it has been thrown out. The chicks were out with her and she laid down there instead of going back in the nest...if she stays there I hope she will keep the babies safe from the other hens.

As Ol Grey Mare said, generally she will keep them safe. However, I have found it best to keep a close eye on them as some mothers who are at the low end of the pecking order, or simply less assertive, have trouble getting the respect from the other hens, even with broody hormones. If you see momma overstressed or things not going well with mom and chicks, I find it best to remove them to a secure and separate location and re-integrate when the chicks are older.

Lady of McCamley

 

[vpatt]

As Ol Grey Mare said, generally she will keep them safe. However, I have found it best to keep a close eye on them as some mothers who are at the low end of the pecking order, or simply less assertive, have trouble getting the respect from the other hens, even with broody hormones. If you see momma overstressed or things not going well with mom and chicks, I find it best to remove them to a secure and separate location and re-integrate when the chicks are older.

Lady of McCamley

Well she was standing in the coop and I was able to quickly help the chicks back into the nest.......she didn't have a problem with that and settled over them quickly....she just really does not want me to touch HER. But I will leave them alone unless they are in trouble. I don't want to press my luck and cause issues. I built up some shavings so they should be able to get in and out better now.

They are only around the other chickens at night time for now. And early in the morning before I let the others out. That is because the coop is off the ground. I think it will work for two to three weeks when they are old enough to follow her down to the ground. Do you think two weeks or three or longer?

I talked to one of the grands today about extending the coop in the spring and then I will have them build a brooder cage that can stay on the ground and the hen can take them outside as soon as she would like. I don't know the word.....brooder cage is all I can think of. Lol

 

[vpatt]

Thank you all so much for your help and advice.....it is really appreciated.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well she was standing in the coop and I was able to quickly help the chicks back into the nest.......she didn't have a problem with that and settled over them quickly....she just really does not want me to touch HER. But I will leave them alone unless they are in trouble. I don't want to press my luck and cause issues. I built up some shavings so they should be able to get in and out better now.

They are only around the other chickens at night time for now. And early in the morning before I let the others out. That is because the coop is off the ground. I think it will work for two to three weeks when they are old enough to follow her down to the ground. Do you think two weeks or three or longer?

I talked to one of the grands today about extending the coop in the spring and then I will have them build a brooder cage that can stay on the ground and the hen can take them outside as soon as she would like. I don't know the word.....brooder cage is all I can think of. Lol

If she seems comfortable with the others around, and you see no overly aggressive actions towards the chicks, this should work fine.

I actually prefer a raised coop for babies as nothing draws critters faster than the sound of little peeps. We have set up a secondary walk so that the babies can go up and down as soon as they are walking...it means creating crossboards closer together so the babies can skittle down. I would do that sooner than later as you typically get mom up with most of the brood and one little dumb stinker stuck at the bottom of the ramp peeping away (and chilling). Watch out for that...if you see that you may have to wait until they are about 2 or 3 weeks...which is when they get flight feathers and then fly like little sparrows up and down.

You should chick proof your yard as well...think back to toddler times if you've raised kids or baby sat...chicks seemed determined to get into trouble...help them not. (I had one squeeze into a hole in my property line fence....took me almost 2 hours to coax it out as it ran back and forth between the fences backs in panic).

I am not a fan of broody hutches on the ground unless they are very secure from predators and can be closed tight, or the run can. If so, that can be an excellent set up. (My designated broody hutch is like a rabbit hutch, raised about waist high for easy cleaning, and is large enough to handle the chicks and mom for the first 2 weeks without them entering the run...thus not having to navigate the ramp until flight ability...and closes very tightly to protect against night predators.)

Enjoy your new little flock. Take pictures. Watch and smile. It is a sheer pleasure to see momma and her chicks interact.
Lady of McCamley

EDITED for typos

EDITED TO ADD: I would also consider a run covered with hawk netting..whether in suburbs or country. This has been a bad year for hawks for many of us. I have had a Cooper's Hawk sit on the fence post and gaze below at the little chicken tenders while mom screams in anger....if it weren't for the hawk netting, I'd have been out chicks.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Quote: Good Idea's. I love to see a mother and her chicks too they're just irresistible.

I don't like to keep my mama's locked up though. I like to let them have a access to the ground were they can scratch and dust. it is so adorable to see a new mom teaching her chicks to dust. I have small chicken tractors were I keep my mama's and baby's. they are safe and hawk proof. I'll try to post pic's of them, and my new chicks tomorrow.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Good Idea's. I love to see a mother and her chicks too they're just irresistible. I don't like to keep my mama's locked up though. I like to let them have a access to the ground were they can scratch and dust. it is so adorable to see a new mom teaching her chicks to dust. I have small chicken tractors were I keep my mama's and baby's. they are safe and hawk proof. I'll try to post pic's of them, and my new chicks tomorrow.

Chicken tractors can be ideal.

Just to clarify...I too like to see mom and chicks down scratching and dusting as soon as chicks are mobile but some batches the weather or other compelling reasons require closure in my hutch...which is large enough that I set a dish washing tray full of dirt and sand for babies and mom...I love how I can have options with each batch as needs differ.

Lady of McCamley