Broody Hen Thread!

[urbannarnia27]

I believe that two weeks is the minimum that is recommended. So, it sounds right.

A few seasoned chicken pros told me that if you want to introduce eggs that are a week away from hatching then you need a broody that has already been sitting for a couple of weeks at least. I learned the hard way in that I put 18 day incubated eggs under a hen that had only been broody for a week (it was a bit of a desperate move as the "intended" broody had rejected the eggs and launched them from the nest. The babies hatched on time on day 20 but mom squashed them. I'm told she wasn't ready and wanted to sit heavier as her instinct was to sit another 2 weeks. Makes sense to me actually, but this was my first hatch.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

all six doing good here, happy and healthy, even the little runt who was last hatched and is still the smallest

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Why does it seem all the little black chicks are runts or just down right tiny. Our last chick from our first hatch, was itty bitty (came out of an Easter Egger Egg) She passed after day 4.
We now have our second batch hatching, the second chick is another itty bitty black chick, looks just like yours. It hatched out of a beige egg, so it is actually the broody mama's egg.
Both chicks: all over black, black feet, black beak.

 

[wannahomestead]

Looks like i'm up to either 6 or 7 hatched at this point! gettin' there

 

[Mezzer]

Why does it seem all the little black chicks are runts or just down right tiny. Our last chick from our first hatch, was itty bitty (came out of an Easter Egger Egg) She passed after day 4.
We now have our second batch hatching, the second chick is another itty bitty black chick, looks just like yours. It hatched out of a beige egg, so it is actually the broody mama's egg.
Both chicks: all over black, black feet, black beak.

My black chicks seem to be average size now, it's my little white one who seems tiny compared to the others. She's got a good loud voice to make up for it though. :b

 

[wannahomestead]

up to 7 confirmed hatches, 3 eggs still in wait.

 

[wannahomestead]

up to 7 confirmed hatches, 3 eggs still in wait.

Apparently math is a hard concept for me.

I have 10 chicks. the 3 eggs, were eggs that someone else laid in that nest box. I realized that today when I checked again and the eggs weren't marked.

So 100% hatch rate if you don't count the 2 that had physical damage. not bad for my first hatch! Thanks broody australorp, that'll do.

 

[BullChick]

Apparently math is a hard concept for me.

I have 10 chicks. the 3 eggs, were eggs that someone else laid in that nest box. I realized that today when I checked again and the eggs weren't marked.

So 100% hatch rate if you don't count the 2 that had physical damage. not bad for my first hatch! Thanks broody australorp, that'll do.

 

[ShanandGem]

Apologies if this has been asked a million times before.
My Ameraucana cross hen is due to hatch at least three eggs next Thursday/Friday. At this point we are working on moving everyone else out of the coop and allowing her the entire 10x10 area to raise her babies in. Will she be happy by herself raising her babies?

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Apologies if this has been asked a million times before.
My Ameraucana cross hen is due to hatch at least three eggs next Thursday/Friday. At this point we are working on moving everyone else out of the coop and allowing her the entire 10x10 area to raise her babies in. Will she be happy by herself raising her babies?

I personally allow mine to raise theirs with the flock. I block out the others at about day 18 and until the chicks are fluffy and climbing all over mom. Then I watch when she takes them to ground to see how the others treat the babies and how mom handles them. Then I remove any unfriendly birds. This allows the chicks to establish themselves in the flock from day one.

Everyone does it a bit different. good luck.

 

[ShanandGem]

I personally allow mine to raise theirs with the flock. I block out the others at about day 18 and until the chicks are fluffy and climbing all over mom. Then I watch when she takes them to ground to see how the others treat the babies and how mom handles them. Then I remove any unfriendly birds. This allows the chicks to establish themselves in the flock from day one.

Everyone does it a bit different. good luck.

She's been isolated since day one when I discovered she was broody. She is in the coop with a dozen 8 week old Ameraucana chicks, but separated from them by a fence. I hate integrating birds so whoever she hatches will get their own little tractor to live in, and she can stay with them forever if she wants to. I know chickens are social animals and I just wondered if she would miss being around other adult birds if she's confined to the nursery.
This is my first broody and she is one of my favorite hens, so I want her to be happy and healthy. She has been very determined so far; I have only seen evidence of her getting off her eggs once! I make her a little plate of fresh food and put it right in front of her twice a day.