I'm going to try it tonight. *Updated with Pictures*Hen w/ 27 chicks

[annie3001]

hows it going this morning? been reading the thread here, she sure is a pretty girl. hope she does well.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Thanks for asking! She's doing great! I'm so very proud. She has adopted them all happily.

 

[crawfordmama]

Hey Punkin! Congrats on your good broody momma and your hatch! I especially love the 5th pic down, where you can see tiny little feet under momma's feathers.

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
Hehe! Me too! That's exactly why i included it!

 

[Ridgerunner]

The most I have done is 15 under a broody, a year old BA. They are about 15 weeks old now so we had pretty good weather for her whe she started. All made it, by the way. She could no longer cover all of them by the time they were about a week and a half to two weeks old. Even at just a few days old, I would see chicks cuddled up next to her or sleeping on top of her instead of under her at night. I don't know if they spent the night that way or if they rotated under her as needed.

27 is a lot. I'm surprised she can cover them all now. They will crawl up under her wings so it is not that they are all piled on the ground, but 27 is a lot. I'm sure you'll give them a dry place well protected from the wind and will keep an eye on them. In southeast Texas this time of year, you might be OK. Sure wish you luck!

 

[PunkinPeep]

They're in a big brooder, and i have my heat lamp ready for when they outgrow her covering. But having her to train them whether she can cover them is priceless to me.

I checked last night, and she had every one of them under her. I couldn't find a single chick.

It's great fun while it lasts!

 

[Mahonri]

Wonderful.

When I was a kid we had a Light Brahma (Big with lots of feathers) that raised 32 chicks! And they all lived.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I'd be doing the same thing; love to hatch under a broody, and especially love that they raise them. I am convinced you get stronger, wiser chicks that way.

At the moment I have 8 under a very young pullet; I doubt she'd been laying a month. She is firmly broody so we will see what kind of mama she makes. Not going to give them a heat lamp for 8, but for 27, I agree with you, I'd have to break down.

 

[kristim23]

Punkin, What a pretty family! The babies are so cute! You must be a very proud, and how amazing that she took on all those chicks! This makes me glad to have a few Buff Orps coming in the spring! Best of luck!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Fantastic!


I have a Cochin (Blondie) and my BO (Buffy) who will take extra chicks.

Blondie I can add chicks at anytime - day or night - and up to 10 days younger than the ones she has hatched. Her largest number of chicks was 13. She is also fantastic with any other broody's babies - she glady feeds all who come to her food call and will warm any cold baby.

Buffy had 17 this July - 7 she hatched and 10 that a duck hatched. She is great with her own, but not mommy-ish to any other broody's chicks.