Broody Hen Thread!

[Angelicisi]

I have an EE that snuck into my brooder with 3 chicks I got at tractor supply. She's never been nice chicken lol but now...cuddly and cooing chicks even chooking at me for more treats? My 1st broody! smartly skipped the whole incubate part

I love it. I haven't had an issue since she hopped in the brooder lol her 3 adoptees are doing great. Easiest chicks I've raised yet

I have some questions tho.
At what point will she want out?
I free range the animals, but have large brooders indoors. I put meat chicks out at 2 weeks and layer chicks out at 3 weeks to a "teenage" mini coop/run area we made to keep them in sight but out of reach of the main flock until they can hold their own. Temps are mild down south here in the spring. Never had a mama chicken with itty bitty babies tho, they're locked up safe in a temp controlled room for chicks lol she's the only grown bird, when will she want to have them out of the brooder?

Since she skipped the whole incubation part and has chicks I probably can't slip some fertile eggs under her at this point right? Lol I don't want to stress her and I'd think she has babies so probably too late but doesn't hurt to ask!

 

[chicksurreal]

OK, so I went to check the girls and I heard peeping!!! Checked under mom and no babies yet, but 1 had a hole... coming soon I guess. I put up a small board across the opening ( about 4 inches tall)

~~Lady of McCamley, another question... how do I keep babies water from freezing? I have heated water for the flock, but the babies can't get to that as it is off the ground. If I don't put the light into that area, it would freeze.... I guess I have to add the light... any ideas?

Wow! It's so amazing that you can hear them peeping before they hatch! How cute is that?

 

[chicksurreal]

I have an EE that snuck into my brooder with 3 chicks I got at tractor supply. She's never been nice chicken lol but now...cuddly and cooing chicks even chooking at me for more treats? My 1st broody!

smartly skipped the whole incubate part

I love it. I haven't had an issue since she hopped in the brooder lol her 3 adoptees are doing great. Easiest chicks I've raised yet

I have some questions tho.
At what point will she want out?
I free range the animals, but have large brooders indoors. I put meat chicks out at 2 weeks and layer chicks out at 3 weeks to a "teenage" mini coop/run area we made to keep them in sight but out of reach of the main flock until they can hold their own. Temps are mild down south here in the spring. Never had a mama chicken with itty bitty babies tho, they're locked up safe in a temp controlled room for chicks lol she's the only grown bird, when will she want to have them out of the brooder?

Since she skipped the whole incubation part and has chicks I probably can't slip some fertile eggs under her at this point right? Lol I don't want to stress her and I'd think she has babies so probably too late but doesn't hurt to ask!

I don't have any advice for you, but those are the cutest pictures, especially the second one! She looks so happy to have them.

 

[fisherlady]

I have an EE that snuck into my brooder with 3 chicks I got at tractor supply. She's never been nice chicken lol but now...cuddly and cooing chicks even chooking at me for more treats? My 1st broody!

smartly skipped the whole incubate part

I love it. I haven't had an issue since she hopped in the brooder lol her 3 adoptees are doing great. Easiest chicks I've raised yet

I have some questions tho.
At what point will she want out?
I free range the animals, but have large brooders indoors. I put meat chicks out at 2 weeks and layer chicks out at 3 weeks to a "teenage" mini coop/run area we made to keep them in sight but out of reach of the main flock until they can hold their own. Temps are mild down south here in the spring. Never had a mama chicken with itty bitty babies tho, they're locked up safe in a temp controlled room for chicks lol she's the only grown bird, when will she want to have them out of the brooder?

Since she skipped the whole incubation part and has chicks I probably can't slip some fertile eggs under her at this point right? Lol I don't want to stress her and I'd think she has babies so probably too late but doesn't hurt to ask!

She is adorable with her adopted brood! Since she seems so taken with them you can probably expect to have them more active than you are used to with brooder chicks, if you notice them spending most of their time as far away from the heat/light you may want to move it a bit to allow cooler temp in the area (that is only if you see her allowing them under her for warmth) and if they want more heat they can always hang out closer to it. She will want to teach them to scratch so you may need to establish an area that she can easily do that, even if it is just adding a large, low sided pan with sand in it, or a floor area with sand. She will start to pace near the door of the area if she wants out. If she sticks it out and takes over full mama mode then you should be able to move her and the chicks to the mini-coop set up much sooner than normal, though watch that a change in location doesn't affect how she is behaving and be prepared to move them back (with or without her) if needed.
We have a hen right now with chicks who are 13 days old in the coop... I just spent over an hour in the coop cleaning and spoiling the adult birds and she had the chicks out scratching for goodies most of that time. It is 20 degrees in the coop this morning and they are running around having a good time... broody raised chicks just seem to ignore the temperature rules most people use for raising babies.

 

[fisherlady]

Wanted to add... placing her and the babies back into the flock will depend on mama's status with the rest of the flock. If they are a laid back group and she can hold her own you will be able to let her decide when she is ready to take the youngsters out and about with the rest of the birds. In nice weather our broody hens free range with the babies after they are about 3 days old... the biggest precautions are watching for predators (cats who normally leave chickens alone will often take a chick in a second if given a chance) and making sure the chicks can get in and out of the coop area safely so they won't be separated from the hen. Generally the other flock members are a bit curious, but don't challenge the broody unless it is a dominant hen or an aggressive (jealous) teenager. Those situations are totally flock dependent and are just something you will have to watch out for since there is no way to predict every situation and personality.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

OK, so I went to check the girls and I heard peeping!!! Checked under mom and no babies yet, but 1 had a hole... coming soon I guess. I put up a small board across the opening ( about 4 inches tall)

~~Lady of McCamley, another question... how do I keep babies water from freezing? I have heated water for the flock, but the babies can't get to that as it is off the ground. If I don't put the light into that area, it would freeze.... I guess I have to add the light... any ideas?

Yippeee....chicks will be coming soon. Perfect idea to put up the short board these first few hours until all have hatched and fluffed.

As to water, you could put in a heated waterer...if you have metal one, you simply add a metal base heater. (There are home-made versions...I always worry about fires).

Otherwise it would be a heat light directly over a waterer taking care a bird can't knock it down into shavings and start a fire.

I did away with all heat lamps (burned a coop down), so when we have cold snaps I put out a large heated dog bowl ($20 from Amazon) for the main flock (figure low risk of burning anything down with that as it has auto shut off and it is not on pine shavings but the ground). But you can't have open deep water bowls around chicks as a chick could drown. You might try a heated bowl with marbles in it and shallow water, I think you can get different bowl sizes...but it might not work well for the chicks.

Or, you haul warm water to chicks. For me (usually days in the 20's), a chick size waterer with very warm (not boiling) water lasts about half a day before it freezes too much...so I have two and take the first water out first thing in the morning (with babies you've got to be there early) and then swap out mid-day, and swap out again right at night when they bed down. It means a lot of hauling, but the chick quart size containers are light and easy...I wouldn't do that for the large flock. I don't have days and days of freezing temps though, so I'd probably figure out some heated water system for babies if that were the case.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have an EE that snuck into my brooder with 3 chicks I got at tractor supply. She's never been nice chicken lol but now...cuddly and cooing chicks even chooking at me for more treats? My 1st broody!

smartly skipped the whole incubate part

I love it. I haven't had an issue since she hopped in the brooder lol her 3 adoptees are doing great. Easiest chicks I've raised yet

I have some questions tho.
At what point will she want out?
I free range the animals, but have large brooders indoors. I put meat chicks out at 2 weeks and layer chicks out at 3 weeks to a "teenage" mini coop/run area we made to keep them in sight but out of reach of the main flock until they can hold their own. Temps are mild down south here in the spring. Never had a mama chicken with itty bitty babies tho, they're locked up safe in a temp controlled room for chicks lol she's the only grown bird, when will she want to have them out of the brooder?

Since she skipped the whole incubation part and has chicks I probably can't slip some fertile eggs under her at this point right? Lol I don't want to stress her and I'd think she has babies so probably too late but doesn't hurt to ask!

Very cute...she looks so contented to be mum.

No, I wouldn't add eggs...she is in the brooding mode and not setting...if you put eggs under her she'll have to ignore the chicks or the eggs as the two are in completely different stages now.

As to integration...ditto what Fisherlady said.

I would only add...I would think about raising the light now and see if momma starts warming them. You are going to have an integration issue with temperature changes for both the chicks and the mother as they are in a controlled environment.

I've had troubles trying to integrate from controlled environment out to cold weather...sort of "hot house plant" syndrome.

I never add heat or light to my broodies...they hatch in coldest winter, the babies never have anything other than mom to stay warm. My babies our out and scratching in a couple of days, then tucking under mom for warm ups...by 4 weeks they are fully feathered, looking like they are 6 weeks old, and never have an issue with any weather whatsoever.

When I've fostered with heat lamp brooded chicks, I have had trouble with chicks adjusting to cold weather. I've lost a few chicks as the shock was too great. So if you do open the door, the chicks will need to get back to the heat lamp for warm ups as they might not run to your foster mom. It will be a time of transition, and you'll need to watch closely. I personally would delay that until the chicks are about 4 weeks of age and can handle the stresses of temperature change better.

Just my experiences.
Lady of McCamley

 

[Angelicisi]

We have a really mixed flock of laid back layers. This ee was head hen. Still is sorta but she's absent for the last few days. The rest are looking for her still lol

She wanted nothing to do with leaving this morning when I opened everything up. She peeked over but ran back to babies and laid down so I guess she will let me know! The babies can't get outta the brooder they're in for a loooong time tho, on their own anyways. I didn't want to "trap" them if they were ok outdoors but never had itty bitty peeps outside this young lol
Maybe I'll give her another week and then let her keep them outdoors. Last night was in the 30s and when I peeked in the room was 68 and she had them all snuggled underneath her. Away from the heat lamp side of brooder. They really haven't used the heated side since she's been in there but I'm scared to turn if off lol I figure hen knows best right? Most of the time.

Wanted to add... placing her and the babies back into the flock will depend on mama's status with the rest of the flock. If they are a laid back group and she can hold her own you will be able to let her decide when she is ready to take the youngsters out and about with the rest of the birds.  In nice weather our broody hens free range with the babies after they are about 3 days old... the biggest precautions are watching for predators (cats who normally leave chickens alone will often take a chick in a second if given a chance) and making sure the chicks can get in and out of the coop area safely so they won't be separated from the hen.  Generally the other flock members are a bit curious, but don't challenge the broody unless it is a dominant hen or an aggressive (jealous) teenager. Those situations are totally flock dependent and are just something you will have to watch out for since there is no way to predict every situation and personality.

 

[fisherlady]

We have a really mixed flock of laid back layers. This ee was head hen. Still is sorta but she's absent for the last few days. The rest are looking for her still lol

She wanted nothing to do with leaving this morning when I opened everything up. She peeked over but ran back to babies and laid down so I guess she will let me know! The babies can't get outta the brooder they're in for a loooong time tho, on their own anyways. I didn't want to "trap" them if they were ok outdoors but never had itty bitty peeps outside this young lol
Maybe I'll give her another week and then let her keep them outdoors. Last night was in the 30s and when I peeked in the room was 68 and she had them all snuggled underneath her. Away from the heat lamp side of brooder. They really haven't used the heated side since she's been in there but I'm scared to turn if off lol I figure hen knows best right? Most of the time.

68* is probably pretty comfortable for her, and if they are under her they will have absolutely no problems with it. I don't know how your set up looks, but as long as it provides for her to be able to choose where they want to be then it should work. If she leaves to do something, even for a short while, then the chicks can just go over to the lamp side, when she comes back they will have her again. Sounds like she is in full out broody mode though, so I doubt you will see her voluntarily leave them form more than a moment or two for the next few weeks.
Let mama decide what is best for roaming. She may want to have them out during the day for a while but will want them safe and secure and warm once it starts to get dark, they absolutely need a secure sleeping area because they could not avoid predators and would be easy targets for fox and owls if they don't have a secured coop for night time.

 

[zinkie]

~~ippeee....chicks will be coming soon. Perfect idea to put up the short board these first few hours until all have hatched and fluffed. As to water, you could put in a heated waterer...if you have metal one, you simply add a metal base heater. (There are home-made versions...I always worry about fires). Otherwise it would be a heat light directly over a waterer taking care a bird can't knock it down into shavings and start a fire. I did away with all heat lamps (burned a coop down), so when we have cold snaps I put out a large heated dog bowl ($20 from Amazon) for the main flock (figure low risk of burning anything down with that as it has auto shut off and it is not on pine shavings but the ground). But you can't have open deep water bowls around chicks as a chick could drown. You might try a heated bowl with marbles in it and shallow water, I think you can get different bowl sizes...but it might not work well for the chicks. Or, you haul warm water to chicks. For me (usually days in the 20's), a chick size waterer with very warm (not boiling) water lasts about half a day before it freezes too much...so I have two and take the first water out first thing in the morning (with babies you've got to be there early) and then swap out mid-day, and swap out again right at night when they bed down. It means a lot of hauling, but the chick quart size containers are light and easy...I wouldn't do that for the large flock. I don't have days and days of freezing temps though, so I'd probably figure out some heated water system for babies if that were the case. Lady of McCamley

So how did your coop burn down.... that must have been devastating. I don't blame you for being against heat lamps.

I have a heat lamp in the coop, but it is hanging from the ceiling... helps keep it above 20 on those really cold NH nights. SO I hope that is not a fire hazard.
And it figures... by babies are coming and it is going to be one of the coldest days tomorrow.

Going in early is easy for me... up and checking in on the girls everyday (works days) at 6:15. Is that early enough for them?

Hmmm, heated dog bowl.... the only ones I have seen have been really big. I will have to check. I am off on vacation ( I teach) this week, so the hauling can be easily done until Monday when I go back to work. So hopefully I will have something figured out by then. My god, what was I thinking. lol

At the coop door, I have a 8 inch board (to keep bedding in coop and out of barn). Do you think that is high enough to keep babies from getting in to the barn?
I think when I go back to work, I am going to let the girls (I have 10 and 1 boy) have run of a section of the barn during the day. I leave the door of the coop open (into the barn) when I am home (during winter) so they can chill on some hay bales and scratch around on the floor. During the week when I am at work, I have been leaving them in the coop until I get home about 4, then I let them out to roam a bit. But there are lots of nooks and crannies in there.... I checked the coop, and it is nook and cranny free. How old will they be before they can hop over the 8 inch board? Will they be old enough then to not get stuck in a nook? I know I need to get into the barn part to do some cleaning.

Well thanks for all the reassurance and answers to my questions!