First time mama

[ChickenMamaC]

My white Plymouth rock, Sweet Dee, has gone broody four times in a couple months. We were able to procure some fertile eggs this time, so she is currently sitting on them.

Important things to know? I know we should check in 25 days. I worry about her eating and drinking enough, especially with the hot weather. Should I try to bring her a little water now & then, or trust her instincts?

Once they hatch (if), should we separate mama & babies? At what point do you know if the eggs are NOT going to hatch?

Thank you!

 

[Wezdin]

Hi, just so you know a chicken takes about 21 days to hatch, i would recommend candling the eggs at about the tenth day to check for signs of growth and chuck all the quitters. I would separate her, especially if she is in an egg box commonly used by other hens because the eggs could get crushed.

 

[iamrobotbug]

My white Plymouth rock, Sweet Dee, has gone broody four times in a couple months. We were able to procure some fertile eggs this time, so she is currently sitting on them.

Important things to know? I know we should check in 25 days. I worry about her eating and drinking enough, especially with the hot weather. Should I try to bring her a little water now & then, or trust her instincts?

Once they hatch (if), should we separate mama & babies? At what point do you know if the eggs are NOT going to hatch?

Thank you!

I just went through this process!
I probably did it wrong but here’s my experience:
I gave my broody hen Malloreen 6 fertile eggs to sit on, which she took readily. I worried a lot that she wasn’t eating or drinking, but then on a Sunday when I wasn’t working I spied on her and watched her routine and she came out to eat/drink/poop a couple times, both times returning quickly to her nest.
Her nest was in the nesting box that all three of my hens use, and for the first couple weeks they continued to come in and just lay eggs next to her, which she took and added to her brood.
After a couple weeks she must have told the other hens off because they started using the other nesting box for the first time in their history.
In the end, 4 eggs out of six hatched, 2 on day 20 and 2 on day 21. I did not candle the eggs at 10 days, because I was more worried that I would mess up a good one than I was that she would bust a bad one.
Once they hatched, I let her just do her thing, and she was a fantastic mom. I didn’t separate her and her chicks from the other hens, as her protection was more than adequate. I did put a chick feeder and waterer inside the coop for them when they hatched, having heard that they need to start eating and drinking pretty soon and don’t leave the coop quickly. Mom taught them to eat and drink, and then after a week or so how to scratch around.

We don’t have a run, just a coop in a partitioned off area of the yard. I want to say that she brought the chicks out of the coop around at around 10-12 days old, but it’s hot here in Texas so maybe that would vary. She kept them reined in and other than providing chick starter food for them I didn’t do anything special really, just let mom do her thing. She abandoned them at 5 weeks and the one that’s a cockerel took over as boss. Now at 8 weeks they still sleep in the nesting box, mom is back on the roost with the other hens and laying daily again.
Not an expert at all but so far it’s going well and the chicks are just gradually acclimating to the flock. During the day the adult chickens hang out together and the chicks hang out in their own little group on the other side of a tree or the coop. Good luck!

 

[ChickenMamaC]

I just went through this process!
I probably did it wrong but here’s my experience:
I gave my broody hen Malloreen 6 fertile eggs to sit on, which she took readily. I worried a lot that she wasn’t eating or drinking, but then on a Sunday when I wasn’t working I spied on her and watched her routine and she came out to eat/drink/poop a couple times, both times returning quickly to her nest.
Her nest was in the nesting box that all three of my hens use, and for the first couple weeks they continued to come in and just lay eggs next to her, which she took and added to her brood.
After a couple weeks she must have told the other hens off because they started using the other nesting box for the first time in their history.
In the end, 4 eggs out of six hatched, 2 on day 20 and 2 on day 21. I did not candle the eggs at 10 days, because I was more worried that I would mess up a good one than I was that she would bust a bad one.
Once they hatched, I let her just do her thing, and she was a fantastic mom. I didn’t separate her and her chicks from the other hens, as her protection was more than adequate. I did put a chick feeder and waterer inside the coop for them when they hatched, having heard that they need to start eating and drinking pretty soon and don’t leave the coop quickly. Mom taught them to eat and drink, and then after a week or so how to scratch around.

We don’t have a run, just a coop in a partitioned off area of the yard. I want to say that she brought the chicks out of the coop around at around 10-12 days old, but it’s hot here in Texas so maybe that would vary. She kept them reined in and other than providing chick starter food for them I didn’t do anything special really, just let mom do her thing. She abandoned them at 5 weeks and the one that’s a cockerel took over as boss. Now at 8 weeks they still sleep in the nesting box, mom is back on the roost with the other hens and laying daily again.
Not an expert at all but so far it’s going well and the chicks are just gradually acclimating to the flock. During the day the adult chickens hang out together and the chicks hang out in their own little group on the other side of a tree or the coop. Good luck!

Thank you! My inclination is to leave her alone as much as possible. I am a little worried about the other hens once the chicks hatch, because mama hen isn't very high on the pecking order.

 

[ChickenMamaC]

Hi, just so you know a chicken takes about 21 days to hatch, i would recommend candling the eggs at about the tenth day to check for signs of growth and chuck all the quitters. I would separate her, especially if she is in an egg box commonly used by other hens because the eggs could get crushed.

Wow, thanks!! The woman who gave me the fertile eggs told me 25 days. but I see now that's an absolute outside. I will start checking at day 20.

 

[chickens really]

Well I set up a Brooder for my Momma and put eggs in a nest Totally separated and in a cool place. Hens prefer to be hidden during setting and away from the flock if given a choice.
Set her up and walk away. Provide feed and water and Hens if definitely Broody will set anywhere.

 

[iamrobotbug]

Thank you! My inclination is to leave her alone as much as possible. I am a little worried about the other hens once the chicks hatch, because mama hen isn't very high on the pecking order.

Yeah, my broody hen was the bottom of the pecking order we had, but she got fierce about her chicks. I saw her knock down our bully hen jalissa for chasing after the chicks, at which point I was like oh okay she’s got this.

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

My broody Buff Orp just hatched out 4 babies this morning. We habe no rooster so grabbed some maybe fertile eggs from our friend after she sat for a couple days in the nest box. She didn't come off as much as I thought she needed to, but I never removed her from the box or moved her out of the coop. The box she chose to brood in isn't the other hens fave so I thought it best to let her choose and leave her be. The chicks are brand new and I'm not even sure the other hens have even noticed them today. I will be moving the whole box, momma and her chicks with it, down to the floor of the coop tonight and partition them off a bit with chick food and water. Hoping it works out! Good luck and keep us updated