Broody Hen Thread!

[Lutz Farms]

Ugh...can you tell I don't do the copy quote thing much....jesh Gwen...ok, so excited....look what happening...

so went into the coop and heard a little higher pitch peep than what I'm used to and was thrilled that I noticed a little crack an egg so now my question is this...the broody hen turkey who is sitting on eggs next to her is very curious along with the other hens in the coop so should I gather (the hen and her eggs with a little chick) and put her in a safe area, ie the basement in my house that I have set up for her in order that no one bothers her and her newborns or should I let everything be and let nature take its course. But please remember that she is in a semi tight quarters and not caged off from everyone else nor is there place to put her in my coop to where she and the chicks be separated from everyone else.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Does momma hen eat the egg shell after the chick hatches?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ugh...can you tell I don't do the copy quote thing much....jesh Gwen...ok, so excited....look what happening...

so went into the coop and heard a little higher pitch peep than what I'm used to and was thrilled that I noticed a little crack an egg so now my question is this...the broody hen turkey who is sitting on eggs next to her is very curious along with the other hens in the coop so should I gather (the hen and her eggs with a little chick) and put her in a safe area, ie the basement in my house that I have set up for her in order that no one bothers her and her newborns or should I let everything be and let nature take its course. But please remember that she is in a semi tight quarters and not caged off from everyone else nor is there place to put her in my coop to where she and the chicks be separated from everyone else.

@Lutz Farms and @Angie16hearts
I highly recommend NOT touching the hen or eggs until all chicks are hatched out and any eggs left are not pipped and not hatching...you can usually tell by mom's reactions who is going to hatch and who is not...she will begin to tend to those hatched and begin to ignore the eggs.

I have messed up hatches by doing so...ONLY intervene if it is for the absolute necessity and best for the hen/chicks....otherwise you greatly risk interfering with the process such that you can prevent a healthy chick from hatching...(if in doubt see my Buckeye hatch post in my signature...I intervened for the sake of one chick emergency and created another that ended up in an assisted hatch with antibiotics for the whole crew for 2 weeks!)

So at this point, unless there is strong compelling reason to move them as they are being tromped by others so they cannot hatch and you'll lose some if you don't try to move OR you've got predators snatching the chicks as they emerge....DO NOT move them.

If they've made it this far in the communal nest, they'll make it through hatch....THEN you can move the hen and chicks when momma indicates she is done sitting on eggs and wants to begin to tend to chicks...she gets up and leads them to water and feed and begins to show them how to scratch.

As to Angie16hearts question...no the hen doesn't typically eat the egg shells. She generally just tosses them aside. You can do some tidying after day 1 if need be, if she has pulled some to the side or you see some shifting away from the nest...but only if you are not disturbing the sitting hen and that wonderful environment that is hatching chicks beneath.

LofMc

 

[Angie16hearts]

@Lutz Farms
 and @Angie16hearts

I highly recommend NOT touching the hen or eggs until all chicks are hatched out and any eggs left are not pipped and not hatching...you can usually tell by mom's reactions who is going to hatch and who is not...she will begin to tend to those hatched and begin to ignore the eggs.

I have messed up hatches by doing so...ONLY intervene if it is for the absolute necessity and best for the hen/chicks....otherwise you greatly risk interfering with the process such that you can prevent a healthy chick from hatching...(if in doubt see my Buckeye hatch post in my signature...I intervened for the sake of one chick emergency and created another that ended up in an assisted hatch with antibiotics for the whole crew for 2 weeks!)

So at this point, unless there is strong compelling reason to move them as they are being tromped by others so they cannot hatch and you'll lose some if you don't try to move OR you've got predators snatching the chicks as they emerge....DO NOT move them.

If they've made it this far in the communal nest, they'll make it through hatch....THEN you can move the hen and chicks when momma indicates she is done sitting on eggs and wants to begin to tend to chicks...she gets up and leads them to water and feed and begins to show them how to scratch.

As to Angie16hearts question...no the hen doesn't typically eat the egg shells. She generally just tosses them aside. You can do some tidying after day 1 if need be, if she has pulled some to the side or you see some shifting away from the nest...but only if you are not disturbing the sitting hen and that wonderful environment that is hatching chicks beneath.

LofMc

Thank you LoMc! I'll be home in less then two hours. We will see. I have to peek

however I won't disturb her. After this, I told my husband we need a spy whole drilled in. It definitely sounded like 2 if not 3. I'm wondering if it started yesterday. She never took a break. Not Intel I came out with the morning treats.

 

[Angie16hearts]

@Lutz Farms
 and @Angie16hearts

I highly recommend NOT touching the hen or eggs until all chicks are hatched out and any eggs left are not pipped and not hatching...you can usually tell by mom's reactions who is going to hatch and who is not...she will begin to tend to those hatched and begin to ignore the eggs.

I have messed up hatches by doing so...ONLY intervene if it is for the absolute necessity and best for the hen/chicks....otherwise you greatly risk interfering with the process such that you can prevent a healthy chick from hatching...(if in doubt see my Buckeye hatch post in my signature...I intervened for the sake of one chick emergency and created another that ended up in an assisted hatch with antibiotics for the whole crew for 2 weeks!)

So at this point, unless there is strong compelling reason to move them as they are being tromped by others so they cannot hatch and you'll lose some if you don't try to move OR you've got predators snatching the chicks as they emerge....DO NOT move them.

If they've made it this far in the communal nest, they'll make it through hatch....THEN you can move the hen and chicks when momma indicates she is done sitting on eggs and wants to begin to tend to chicks...she gets up and leads them to water and feed and begins to show them how to scratch.

As to Angie16hearts question...no the hen doesn't typically eat the egg shells. She generally just tosses them aside. You can do some tidying after day 1 if need be, if she has pulled some to the side or you see some shifting away from the nest...but only if you are not disturbing the sitting hen and that wonderful environment that is hatching chicks beneath.

LofMc

Here is our first addition. Chick is dry and under her.

Thank you LoMc! I'll be home in less then two hours. We will see. I have to peek

however I won't disturb her. After this, I told my husband we need a spy whole drilled in. It definitely sounded like 2 if not 3. I'm wondering if it started yesterday. She never took a break. Not Intel I came out with the morning treats.

LoFMc
She has one out and rest are chirping sounds like 6-9 or all of them. I know you said not to move her. However in a few post back I stated I gave her a tiny access to run.
Would you still leave her? I'm guessing it's going to be going on through the night. I don't want to hurt any eggs or upset her. I just don't another hen in the small access to her side. There's only one hen who can fit through it and of course she is the hen that lays in top of pepper to lay her egg. Even though we have 4 more boxes.

 

[mymilliefleur]

Here is our first addition. Chick is dry and under her.

Congrats!

 

[Angie16hearts]

Congrats!

Thank you!

seems like all the eggs are chirping or close. I want her in the broody coop for safety but I know this is my first hatch kinda lost. She/ he is dry no cracks in any other shells. Soon! I guess piece of mind is what I'm looking for. However I knowi need to do what's safe for them not what I want.

 

[fisherlady]

Thank you!

seems like all the eggs are chirping or close. I want her in the broody coop for safety but I know this is my first hatch kinda lost. She/ he is dry no cracks in any other shells. Soon! I guess piece of mind is what I'm looking for. However I knowi need to do what's safe for them not what I want.

block off the other hen's access and leave her be until tomorrow evening at least. her and the babies won't be off the nest the first day anyway.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

block off the other hen's access and leave her be until tomorrow evening at least. her and the babies won't be off the nest the first day anyway.

@Angie16hearts Fisherlady has given you a good answer.

Do NOT move her, block her in if you have to...this next 24 hours is crucial as babies are hatching...disturbance now can cause a shrink wrap situation...changing the humidity so that it dries out a chicken in the middle of hatching such that it cannot get through the membrane...or momma to become confused and upset such that she could abandon some or all of the chicks. Just not worth the risk.

Move after the babies have all hatched and dried out...usually 24 to 48 hours after the first hatches. The babies pretty much just stay under momma and they have enough food/water from the absorbed yolk...nature has created that so the hen can sit on the nest for all the babies to hatch properly.

Then you can move momma and babies easily and safely.

Very cute little addition...you should have a lot of peeps in the morning

LofMc

 

[Angie16hearts]

block off the other hen's access and leave her be until tomorrow evening at least. her and the babies won't be off the nest the first day anyway.

Ok, thank you! I apologize, I was doing dishes thinking you have helped me so much as well . I was going to edit post for your opinion. Sounds good! I'll go out and block it off. Makes me feel better knowing she won't be able to leave or any enter. Plus the 3 feet drop.
Thank you Again !!