Buffy is Broody

[c1casino]

I was wanting to find out how long it takes for an egg to hatch as Buffy started settting yesterday (April 27)--which is my brother's birthday--easy to remember. Anyway, one statement said that "when a hen goes broody you can't be sure that her chicks will be tame." I'm new, so what does that mean? Thanks.

 

[stefmech]

My broody just hatched out 5 chicks on Monday. Normally it takes 21 days for eggs to hatch. This would mean your hatch day would be May 18th, but I have heard that eggs hatched by a broody usually hatch a day or more sooner. That was the case for me. Mine hatched on days 19 and 20.

I think sometimes momma hens can be protective of their young. This makes it more difficult to interact with the chicks then if you were taking care of them yourself. This might be the reason chicks raised by mom may be less tame.


Good luck.


Check out my post with my broody and chicks:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=172254

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I give my broody hens the eggs I want them to hatch, and put them in late at night. If the next day is Day 1, then the eggs usually hatch on Day 20. If your hen began to set Apr 27, I think they should hatch May 16 or 17.

Chicks raised by a Mama hen may be more wary of human contact than chicks raised in a brooder. That's not always a bad thing. Mama teaches them to be smart & safe in the world, and may teach her kids "watch out for those big people, they usually try to pick you up". You can get her to teach her kids that you're not such a bad sort if you bring them treats every so often.

My chickens free range so I'd rather have wary but safe chicks than tame but vulnerable ones.

 

[c1casino]

Thanks for the info. I raised Buffy and she's real tame. We'll see what happens.

 

[Judy]

Let us know how it turns out!