hatching with a broody

[MarionCraig]

Hi everyone. This is my second attempt at getting a successful hatch with a broody hen. Can anyone tell me how long the chicks stay under the mother before they emerge? I can hear some cheeping. Mother hen is in with the main flock in a separate box- I will move her and chicks when the hatch has finished. One other question I caught the cockerel trying to mate with mother hen whilst still on her eggs???? is that normal?

 

[GitaBooks]

If it is hot or the chicks are bored, they may poke their heads out and wander around a bit, but they usually stay with their mother until she gets up and leaves the nest. Then they follow right behind her.

As for the second question, roosters know broody hens will hatch "their" chicks, so he may just be desperate to make sure he is the father.

Best of luck!

 

[Pekin Bantam]

If it is hot or the chicks are bored, they may poke their heads out and wander around a bit, but they usually stay with their mother until she gets up and leaves the nest. Then they follow right behind her.

As for the second question, roosters know broody hens will hatch "their" chicks, so he may just be desperate to make sure he is the father.

Best of luck!

X2

had that happen with my own Rooster

 

[MarionCraig]

thanks for your replies. I'm getting up very early tomorrow to make sure all is well. Hopefully I'll have some good news - fingers crossed

 

[Pekin Bantam]

I remember when i saw my first 2 chicks from my hen Martha I was super excited! Hope all goes well, Best of luck!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I pull the babies as they hatch till all eggs hatch then put them back at night.

I have a hen that just hatched out 2, I put 4 more just started eggs under her, plus one extra dark maran egg. The shell on the maran egg was not super thin, but not super thick, well that hen figured it out and ate the thin shelled one, and one that got too much yolk on it. I took the mom off the nest and got rid of the gooey box, and very gently dry/damp wiped the eggs. I know you cannot wash an egg because you want the bloom, but these were pretty gross. They did have embryos when candled. I hope her last 3 do okay.

 

[Pekin Bantam]

I pull the babies as they hatch till all eggs hatch then put them back at night.

I have a hen that just hatched out 2, I put 4 more just started eggs under her, plus one extra dark maran egg. The shell on the maran egg was not super thin, but not super thick, well that hen figured it out and ate the thin shelled one, and one that got too much yolk on it. I took the mom off the nest and got rid of the gooey box, and very gently dry/damp wiped the eggs. I know you cannot wash an egg because you want the bloom, but these were pretty gross. They did have embryos when candled. I hope her last 3 do okay.

Well you don't have too. The Chicks are fine with her So long as they have Food and Water. Thats the first time I have ever heard about pulling chicks out.

 

[gimmie birdies]

yup that is just what I do. It is easier to brood chicks that hatch an egg.

 

[MarionCraig]

Just checked broody hen this morning. Gave her food and was able to see under her. one egg has pipped and I can still hear come cheeping. Arthur the cockerel tried again to mate with her!! Have now shut the hen house so she can be left in peace. I'm worried that if I try to move her and the eggs to the nursery she will just abandon the hatch (I tried to do that yesterday and it didn't work).

When she moved away from nest I took a couple of the eggs that she stole from the Polish bantams whilst I was away. One of them definitely has an embryo inside. I have another broody hen which I have stuck those eggs under and they will just have to take their chances, only problem is that she is up in the 'proper' nest boxes - which are a bit high!!

It's all a very steep learning curve and very stressful...

 

[GitaBooks]

Just checked broody hen this morning. Gave her food and was able to see under her. one egg has pipped and I can still hear come cheeping. Arthur the cockerel tried again to mate with her!! Have now shut the hen house so she can be left in peace. I'm worried that if I try to move her and the eggs to the nursery she will just abandon the hatch (I tried to do that yesterday and it didn't work).

When she moved away from nest I took a couple of the eggs that she stole from the Polish bantams whilst I was away. One of them definitely has an embryo inside. I have another broody hen which I have stuck those eggs under and they will just have to take their chances, only problem is that she is up in the 'proper' nest boxes - which are a bit high!!

It's all a very steep learning curve and very stressful...

Broody hens are stressful, that is certainly true. But when you see those adorable little chicks under the momma, as she happily clucks to them, it is all worth it.

Best of luck!