Hatch Chicks with Broody Hen

[chickens802]

I have read lots on hatch babies chicks with a broody hen and so far have gathered that it can be a fun, exciting, and adorable process to watch. However, can also be disappointing, heartbreaking, and lead to some quite serious situations, especially for a first-timer like me. So, I would really want to make sure I know as much about this as possible before I go ahead and try this spring. I have read that there are two ways to go about hatching chicks with a broody hen. One is to separate the broody hen from the rest and let her do her thing in peace and private. The other riskier option is to let her hatch her babies in the coop nesting box, which comes with multiple challenges. I would like to know if anyone has tried setting their brooder nest box in the coop on the floor. Like for example and plastic or wire kennel tuck away in the corner out the coop. Would other hens still attempt to lay their eggs in with the broody or not begin that it is on the floor and most hens like to lay their eggs off the ground? Also, does anyone have experience with giving a broody hen live chicks along with her hatching eggs?

Thank you all for being so helpful, any kind of advice you can offer will be much appreciated.

 

[cavemanrich]

Many peeps do the nest-box for broody out of the way separated. It does need to be on the floor,,, to prevent baby chicks from falling to Kingdom come,,
The best way to do the hatch under broody is to start with a batch of fertile eggs all at same time. This way most of your chicks hatch within a day or two of each-other. Decide on how many eggs you want to set. All depends on size of hen. Since you are a beginner at this ,,,, opt for about 8 eggs the maiden voyage. Then with a marker,,,, mark all the eggs placed under hen. choose any way you want,,,,,, but the purpose of that is;; If your other hens crowd into nest with your broody hen, they will add their eggs. You would end up with staggered hatch,,, which is best to avoid. Check under hen every few days,, and remove any eggs with no markings.

Once your chicks are hatched,,, you need to provide a secure spot for your chicks so no other adult hens have access to them. Not, all, but some hens could/would hurt baby chicks. There are ways to do this, with temporary netting to prevent the outsider hens access. Once the little chicks are a few weeks old, the mama hen will protect her chicks, much better. If they are free-ranging, the chicks will run under mama hen for safety.
You have to do the observation yourself, and decide when to do each step.

Adding day old or older baby chicks and placing under broody hen is a common practice. Peeps bring them from store, and slip them under broody usually at night. The mama hen will usually accept the chicks as her own. This way you leave the raising of the chicks to a hen,,,,, rather than doing it yourself.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,and

 

[SilkieChicken123]

I have read lots on hatch babies chicks with a broody hen and so far have gathered that it can be a fun, exciting, and adorable process to watch. However, can also be disappointing, heartbreaking, and lead to some quite serious situations, especially for a first-timer like me. So, I would really want to make sure I know as much about this as possible before I go ahead and try this spring. I have read that there are two ways to go about hatching chicks with a broody hen. One is to separate the broody hen from the rest and let her do her thing in peace and private. The other riskier option is to let her hatch her babies in the coop nesting box, which comes with multiple challenges. I would like to know if anyone has tried setting their brooder nest box in the coop on the floor. Like for example and plastic or wire kennel tuck away in the corner out the coop. Would other hens still attempt to lay their eggs in with the broody or not begin that it is on the floor and most hens like to lay their eggs off the ground? Also, does anyone have experience with giving a broody hen live chicks along with her hatching eggs?

Thank you all for being so helpful, any kind of advice you can offer will be much appreciated.

I've had lots of broodies that I've let hatch a brood. It it so much sweeter and the eggs have a much higher hatch rate with a hen sitting.
I've always separated the broody out from the rest of the flock into her own coop or draft-free area (last few times I have put mine in a XL dog crate in my basement to hatch). It's too risky to have her try and Hatcher chicks with the other chickens.
But when you separate her out, make sure she has plenty of feed and water available at all times. And make you switcher feed from layer feed to Chick Starter about a week before the chicks are suppose to hatch.
And a broody will not typically continue to sit on eggs if there are already chicks. Once all her eggs have hatched, she will only sit on the chicks when she feels necessary. But you can add new/chicks you bought to her brood after her original eggs have hatched.
Hoping you enjoy and have a wonderful experience!!

 

[chickens802]

Thank you all for the advice! Right now I have 26 hens an Ameraucana, Black Australorp, Black Star, Black Minorca, Blue Andalusian, BLRW, Bielefelder, Columbian Wyandotte, Cuckoo Maran, Delaware, Easter Eggers, FBCMs, Golden Laced Wyandotte, Pearl White Leghorn, Olive Egger, White Crested Blue Polish, Rhode Island Red, Salmon Faverolles, Silver Gray Dorking, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, Whiting True Green, and 2 beautiful Barred Rock roosters. I do plan on buying so hatching eggs for a local breed but, if anyone knows of some crossbreeds I could try let me know. Also, any suggestions on which of my girls might tend to be better mothers. I bought most of my girls for Mcmurray and Cackle hatchery and they arrived the first week of June and are about 6 months old now. When should I expect to see them go broody?

 

[Mrs J]

Thank you all for the advice! Right now I have 26 hens an Ameraucana, Black Australorp, Black Star, Black Minorca, Blue Andalusian, BLRW, Bielefelder, Columbian Wyandotte, Cuckoo Maran, Delaware, Easter Eggers, FBCMs, Golden Laced Wyandotte, Pearl White Leghorn, Olive Egger, White Crested Blue Polish, Rhode Island Red, Salmon Faverolles, Silver Gray Dorking, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, Whiting True Green, and 2 beautiful Barred Rock roosters. I do plan on buying so hatching eggs for a local breed but, if anyone knows of some crossbreeds I could try let me know. Also, any suggestions on which of my girls might tend to be better mothers. I bought most of my girls for Mcmurray and Cackle hatchery and they arrived the first week of June and are about 6 months old now. When should I expect to see them go broody?

Woww impressive flock

 

[cavemanrich]

Thank you all for the advice! Right now I have 26 hens an Ameraucana, Black Australorp, Black Star, Black Minorca, Blue Andalusian, BLRW, Bielefelder, Columbian Wyandotte, Cuckoo Maran, Delaware, Easter Eggers, FBCMs, Golden Laced Wyandotte, Pearl White Leghorn, Olive Egger, White Crested Blue Polish, Rhode Island Red, Salmon Faverolles, Silver Gray Dorking, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, Whiting True Green, and 2 beautiful Barred Rock roosters. I do plan on buying so hatching eggs for a local breed but, if anyone knows of some crossbreeds I could try let me know. Also, any suggestions on which of my girls might tend to be better mothers. I bought most of my girls for Mcmurray and Cackle hatchery and they arrived the first week of June and are about 6 months old now. When should I expect to see them go broody?

You do have a great variety there for sure. I don't see any Silkies, or Cochins in your flock,,,,,, Those are the LEADERS OF BROODINESS MOMS. So you will have to wait, and see which of the others will become broody. When that happens just start your eggs then.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Thank you all for the advice! Right now I have 26 hens an Ameraucana, Black Australorp, Black Star, Black Minorca, Blue Andalusian, BLRW, Bielefelder, Columbian Wyandotte, Cuckoo Maran, Delaware, Easter Eggers, FBCMs, Golden Laced Wyandotte, Pearl White Leghorn, Olive Egger, White Crested Blue Polish, Rhode Island Red, Salmon Faverolles, Silver Gray Dorking, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Speckled Sussex, Welsummer, Whiting True Green, and 2 beautiful Barred Rock roosters. I do plan on buying so hatching eggs for a local breed but, if anyone knows of some crossbreeds I could try let me know. Also, any suggestions on which of my girls might tend to be better mothers. I bought most of my girls for Mcmurray and Cackle hatchery and they arrived the first week of June and are about 6 months old now. When should I expect to see them go broody?

They'll probably begin to go broody in the spring, when they start laying in full force. Generally it's the heavier breeds that want to brood, like the Wyandottes and Faverolles. Really, though, it just depends on the chicken. One of my smallest chickens goes broody every year, and she would make a very protective momma! Hatching your own chicks is a very fun process, and it's very rewarding to see a hen with a happy little brood.

 

[NatJ]

When should I expect to see them go broody?

If you're in the northern hemisphere, sometime between January and July, although some breeds might go broody even later in the year (or broody again). I'm guessing March, April, or May would be the most likely, but it really depends a lot on where you live.

I know day length has a lot to do with it, but I'm pretty sure there are other factors too-- I just don't know enough about the other factors to tell what they are.

 

[chickens802]

Thank you! All of you are so helpful! I honestly don’t know what I would have done the past few months with your encouragement and wisdom. I live in Vermont. March, April, and May sounds like it would make sense.
Thanks again!

 

[The Chickadee Homstead]

I've had lots of broodies that I've let hatch a brood. It it so much sweeter and the eggs have a much higher hatch rate with a hen sitting.
I've always separated the broody out from the rest of the flock into her own coop or draft-free area (last few times I have put mine in a XL dog crate in my basement to hatch). It's too risky to have her try and Hatcher chicks with the other chickens.
But when you separate her out, make sure she has plenty of feed and water available at all times. And make you switcher feed from layer feed to Chick Starter about a week before the chicks are suppose to hatch.
And a broody will not typically continue to sit on eggs if there are already chicks. Once all her eggs have hatched, she will only sit on the chicks when she feels necessary. But you can add new/chicks you bought to her brood after her original eggs have hatched.
Hoping you enjoy and have a wonderful experience!!

Yes I feel the same way too, it is much sweeter and the eggs do have a higher hatch rate.