Hatch Chicks with Broody Hen

[The Chickadee Homstead]

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

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

One of my Jersey giant hens went broody so I separated her in a large dog crate also, I left food and water in there but I also took her out once or twice a day so she could exercise her muscles and/or take a dust bath.
Everything went pretty well and she got 8 chicks out of 9 eggs.
That was my first time hatching with a broody and I currently have three broody hens sitting on eggs in dog crates.
I believe I will go on separating my broody’s because their is a better hatch rate that way because there a no eggs being damaged by other chickens .

 

[The Chickadee Homstead]

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?

Usually at about 1 year old they go broody
You should probably expect for your Rhode Island Red, Black austrolap,
americana, speckled Sussex,
and pearl white leghorns to go broody



I have learned with my experience with chickens that almost any chicken can go broody.
They say that white leghorns don’t go broody, but mine has been broody for four weeks.
They also say that americanas don’t go broody but mine is currently broody and sitting on 18 eggs.
And they say that Rhode Island and Red Sex Links almost never go broody but both of mine are currently broody

 

[The Chickadee Homstead]

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.

I have learned with my experience with chickens that almost any chicken can go broody.
They say that white leghorns don’t go broody, but mine has been broody for four weeks.
They also say that americanas don’t go broody but mine is currently broody and sitting on 18 eggs.
And they say that Rhode Island and Red Sex Links almost never go broody but both of mine are currently broody

 

[The Chickadee Homstead]

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.

For being a first timer I recommend that you separate your broody from the rest of the flock either in a separate coop or in a large dog crate.
I personally have had great success in a dog crate.
This is what I did:
I separated my broody from the rest of the flock in a large dog crate, I made chick starter feed and water available at all times for her and I took her out once or twice a day so she could exercise her muscles and/or take a dust bath.
And so long story short she hatched out 8 chicks out of 9 eggs
I hope this was helpful