From Ladysmith. The chicks I raise are hatched under broody hens; a few at a time. No heat lamps. The hens do the work. Fluorescent lighting on a timer.
Chicks in October: winter edition
- Thread starter kzas
- Start date
BaileyMChicks
Songster
I have a broody hen and I was wondering if its ok to let her hatch out chicks. I live in the Philips area in Wisconsin and it's not too terribly cold out yet, for December. I could use a heat lamp if needed, and she would only have 4 eggs. I wouldn't be putting the hen and chicks in with the flock until they are mostly feathered out. It stays fairly warm in the coop, but not above freezing all the time. It never gets below 0 though. At least, it hasn't yet. And I don't think it had last year either. I try not to use heat lamps because the light keeps them up, but I may this year if I need to. I guess I just want to know if it will be ok... Thanks
Are you planning to take the chicks away from her after hatching? If not, then she'll do a fine job of keeping them warm, even in freezing temps. They don't stay under her all the time after the first couple of days anyway - they run all over the place no matter how cold it is and explore their surroundings, then dash under her for a quick warmup or pile in a group for a few minutes before they are off again. So if she's a good broody and does her job, just let her do it - shouldn't need a heat lamp.
Ladysmith here and hi neighbor. While a good broody will try to keep her chicks warm she may not be able to do so; inexperience, a twenty below day, etc, My advice is to use the heat lamp. Put it on a timer so it is not on when the birds are trying to sleep. Or you can put a shield around the lamp to dim the light. If the hen is not able to keep her brood warm enough you may not know until it is too late. I have four broody hens hatching soon. My coop is heated, but I have serama bantams that can not take extreme cold.
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BaileyMChicks
Songster
She is a first time broody, and just recently started laying eggs. The way I found out was that my one rooster dissapeared, and I was looking for him. I checked in an old pet bed/box type thing that was just sitting outside and I found 8 eggs and no hen. I didn't know who the eggs were from and I wanted to hatch a few, so I saved some and tried to get my cochin bantam to go broody, but she didnt want any of it. So then about a week later, I check the box again and my California white x RIR pullet is flat on a nest of 6 eggs. There wasn't any nesting material in the box and the eggs were only lukewarm, so I moved the box inside the barn, took her and the eggs out for a second, put in some hay, and put her and the eggs back. I put some hay and towels around the box so it would be warmer. I also covered the open front with a towel to make it darker. This was at about 9:00 am yesterday. At 3:00 pm yesterday I went and checked on her, and she was running around the barn and the eggs were cold. I tried putting her back on the nest, but she just wanted back in the coop. So I took another cochin bantam hen and left her in there for the night. She sat on the eggs, but wasn't broody. She was sitting on them because she didnt have any other choice basically. So, I took her out to eat and drink, and then my Cali x RIR hen wanted her nest back, and now she's sitting on the eggs again. She's keeping them fairly warm, but I don't think it's warm enough. I'm afraid she's going to want to leave the nest again. Do you think she's not really committed to being broody? I think I may try to make a better 'door' that she can't get out of and keep her in there for the night. Ill rig up a heat lamp system-thingy above her box and hope for the best. I just really want some chicks...I don't know if I should try to keep her consistently broody and let her hatch out eggs or if I should just not even try anymore...
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BaileyMChicks
Songster
And no I'm planning on keeping the chicks with her, as long as she's a good mother...
It is not necessary to put a heat lamp over the brooding hen; give her a nest that has enough nesting material so the eggs are not sitting on a cold hard surface. Give her dummy eggs or eggs that are expendable until you are sure she is serious about brooding then give her eggs that are fertile to hatch. A heat lamp with a low wattage bulb should be sufficient after the eggs hatch. A red bulb would make it so the birds are able to rest at night and still provide some heat. When a hen broods a nest 24 hours straight I figure she is a serious broody hen.
X2 on no heat lamp over the hen.
If I have a hen hatch chicks in cold weather (i.e. below freezing) I do put a ceramic heat emitter (to avoid light) over the food and water so they can eat and drink in comfort but otherwise the hen will provide all the warmth they need.
However, if I plan on introducing the chicks to the main flock, I do so shortly after hatch. The hen will protect them from the rest of the flock while she is protective and by the time she weans them, they are accepted members. Introducing them later when she no longer cares for them can be a problem.
If I have a hen hatch chicks in cold weather (i.e. below freezing) I do put a ceramic heat emitter (to avoid light) over the food and water so they can eat and drink in comfort but otherwise the hen will provide all the warmth they need.
They're almost always good mothers so that doesn't even figure into it for me.
However, if I plan on introducing the chicks to the main flock, I do so shortly after hatch. The hen will protect them from the rest of the flock while she is protective and by the time she weans them, they are accepted members. Introducing them later when she no longer cares for them can be a problem.
BaileyMChicks
Songster
I decided to just give up on it because I went and checked on her an hour ago and the eggs were cold and she wasn't sitting do I let her out and I'm going to stop trying....ill just wait until spring like I should have. It was worth a try though...
If you want chicks allow the hen to return to her original nest. Give her a good nest for her eggs. Many hens will not tolerate being moved.
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