Broody vs Bator - Going with the Broody!

[coolchickens]

I had my first broody hatch last Fall and it was wonderful. It was a first for her and me so we went on ignorance and did fine! ha I can tell you, it is SO much fun watching the mama care for her chicks that if I had a broody I would not want to miss that and put them in a box. Mama teaches them to scratch, sun bathe, etc. from day one. When hawks fly over she signals and teaches them to all freeze (even though they are in a covered large pen) so they learn many things from mom. My is now sitting on her 2nd hatch (8 eggs) and its only day 2! Long way to go. I had built a new coop and pen last time so had moved her to that so no problem with the other flock as they were separate and she was fine with that. Now her last babies are in there (14 wks old) so not sure if that will be a problem or not. Will watch and if so, will put chicken wire to separate the coop for her & chicks. Also I worried about chicks from raised nest box (14 in. up) so lowered it to ground level and placed a 4x4 next to lip of box so they could jump on it in & out of box. Worked great. Sharon

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Thank you so much for your info. I have the one broody moved to the dog cage and she is doing fine. She did kick two eggs out of the nest though so I'm not sure if she layed more or not. There's at least 3 left if she hasn't. I have another broody sitting in the nest box in the coop; I'm leaving her be. The other hens are laying their eggs underneath the boxes on the floor. I can't wait to see if any hatch!!

Edited to add: Sharon, we'll be hatching buddies!

 

[coolchickens]

Cindy, we can be hatching buddies...if mine are fertile. My roos. is very young and just started last mo. or so to mate. What I'm worried about is he is a Cochin and the hen is a Cochin, both being very fluffy and I see threads where they have trouble mating because of the fluff. Now I'm wondering if my eggs are fertile?! I'll be candling next wk but I'm not too good at that yet but keep your fingers crossed for me! If they are not, I'm thinking of just putting day old chicks under her from the hatchery about day 20 or so. It worked last time but she had hatching eggs then. Sharon

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I'll be keeping my fingers cross for you Sharon! I'm worried about mine too. When I came home, my broody had kicked another egg out of the nest. She hasn't layed anymore and there's only two left in there. Not sure how many are in the nest with the other broody either.

It was so nice here today (except for the rain) so I let the others out into the yard. I stepped on an egg they layed right in front of the door

and that was the only egg that I got today (that I could find anyway!)

Guess we'll just have to be patient and wait together!!!

 

[TNChicks]

This is what I am using for my broody. I keep it in the garage where I can watch on them easier than out in the chicken house. It is a wire frame cage with a 2x2 frame and legs.
I have the wire cage screwed to the wood legs so that it can be removed when the time comes.

A closer view of the nest box. I saw a metal version of this nest box at TSC and ended up making some out of 1/4" plywood when I got home.
The chickens love them.

And my favorite photo of Mom and her chicks.