Broody Hen Thread!

[mrstodd]

My chicks are hatching!

~~I'm not sure what to do! I am torn between leaving the chicks with mom or bringing them into the house to a brooder. The coop is insulated and has one 250 watt heat lamp BUT it is going to go down to -30 ish Celsius. Its going to be very cold until April. If I take them in with me, will there be any psychological damage to my hen? will that make her depressed? I feel like that's just to cold for chicks!

 

[fisherlady]

My chicks are hatching!

~~I'm not sure what to do! I am torn between leaving the chicks with mom or bringing them into the house to a brooder. The coop is insulated and has one 250 watt heat lamp BUT it is going to go down to -30 ish Celsius. Its going to be very cold until April. If I take them in with me, will there be any psychological damage to my hen? will that make her depressed? I feel like that's just to cold for chicks!

I have never brooded chicks at that cold, though it was -5 degrees for partial days for a couple of our hatches (I don't include wind chill in those numbers, I'm sure average temps were much lower if you included them)... you must be pretty far north!

they should be OK, as long as it is a draft free coop, you can move them inside if you have to, but I would try to establish an area large enough that you can bring mama in with them. If you have a basement or garage area can you set up a partitioned off area that you can put sand on the floor and a small pile of hay in the corner. You can keep them in an area of 12 square feet or so for a couple of weeks if needed. If you do choose to remove them (with or without the broody) you will have to be very careful about the reintroduction process.

 

[mrstodd]

thank you for you reply!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My chicks are hatching!

~~I'm not sure what to do! I am torn between leaving the chicks with mom or bringing them into the house to a brooder. The coop is insulated and has one 250 watt heat lamp BUT it is going to go down to -30 ish Celsius. Its going to be very cold until April. If I take them in with me, will there be any psychological damage to my hen? will that make her depressed? I feel like that's just to cold for chicks!

I agree with Fisherlady...I would leave them with mom.

Remember, Mom just hatched them...and that takes an average and consistent temp of 101 degrees for 21 days to incubate the egg...I'm sure momma can keep them warm now that they are dressed out in warm down jackets and are generating their own body heat from their own metabolism.

Keep them fed, and fresh water available, add cracked corn (limited amounts) to help generate body heat, and some black oil sunflower seeds. All good protein and high carbs for generating high energy...but lots of good chick grower with all those important nutrients. Mom too.

As well as checking for drafts, I would make sure that none of the babies can strand themselves away from momma for any amount of time...I have learned to crawl around my coop area and block any dead ends or crazy corners or tiny holes that chicks can crawl over or through but never seem to find their way back. They will stand their and dumbly peep while they freeze and mom worries on the other side.

Otherwise, as long as they are with momma, and she is healthy and happy in a draft free, cushy nest, they should do fine.

Actually they will probably do much better than if you take them in, heat lamp them, then try to reintroduce them into your harsher environment...my hatchlings in cold weather (granted I don't go below zero...cold snaps are the teens and 20's) run around after the first few days, feather in quickly, grow faster, lay sooner than the poor hot house things I buy at the feed store and have to carefully acclimate to the environment. I've never lost a hatchling...I've lost more than one hot house transplanted chick.

Congratulations on your hatch!
Lady of McCamley

 

[Angelicisi]

Well my easter egger broody hen has adopted our batch of 9 week old Cornish cross...cute but A. They don't need help finding food lol and B. What happens when we process the Cornish?! she's gonna freak out...

 

[fisherlady]

Well my easter egger broody hen has adopted our batch of 9 week old Cornish cross...cute but A. They don't need help finding food lol and B. What happens when we process the Cornish?!

she's gonna freak out...

She is too cute! She needs to be careful on her clucking though... she's liable to get hurt by that mob if there is food involved! LOL

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

I gave my broody 4 eggs to hatch from an incubator. She had them for 3 days and last nite I found 1 baby under her. The others should be along in the next day or two!

 

[fisherlady]

I gave my broody 4 eggs to hatch from an incubator. She had them for 3 days and last nite I found 1 baby under her. The others should be along in the next day or two!

 

[korlia]

Four!!!! We have four so far from 6! I am so excited!! I dont think the other two is going to hatch, but Im holding thumbs since tomorrownis actualy day 21!!

 

[AVintageLife]

My silkie broody is in the coop in a secure broody area with a cat carrier as the nest area. Over the past few days she has moved herself and the eggs out of the cat carrier. Yesterday she was setting just outside of the cat carrier, this morning she was in the middle of the broody area and tonight she's moved over near the feeder. Is this common? The eggs look fine, I'm just not sure why she can't settle down with them. I haven't disturbed her, just put in fresh water and feed when needed. First time broody, so maybe that's the issue?