My very first hatch!

[MotherHen2017]

I recently decided to get back into raising laying hens. Found someone I could buy some from and got set up with a nice little bunch of hens and a Weltsummer rooster.

To my surprise my Sussex hen went broody on me! So we decided to set her with the days eggs.

Three long weeks later we've got 3 of the cutest little fluff balls! I'm crazy proud. I've never been through this before so I'm excited that she successfully hatched some babies. Funny enough just a couple of days before her chicks were due to hatch I had another hen go broody on me. Crazy ladies don't seem to realize the weather is getting chilly for making babies. Lol So we set broody #2 on a couple of days worth of eggs last night and I guess we'll see what happens!

But here are my 3 first little chicks.

 

[theuglychick]

Just lovely!!! She looks like a good mama!

 

[User395221]

She looks like a good mama!

Yes, notice the attention she's got on the babies. There's no way they are getting lost with her on the job!

 

[MotherHen2017]

Just lovely!!! She looks like a good mama!

She's been wonderful! Very protective of her babies, but she also seems to be okay with me being around to check on them. Which surprised me a bit as she's the one of all of my hens with a "bad attitude" if that makes sense.

 

[theuglychick]

That's so great! My last broody is like that. Mean as a rattlesnake to the other hens and fiercely protective of her babies but tolerated me fairly well. Congrats!!

 

[Eric Exley]

I have a broodie hen named Bowser she is a 7 year old "Grumpy" hen, and she is my best sitter besides Lisa (my 9 year old white ameraucana hen).
This year she didn't go broody, but last year she hatched 18 chicks 2 roosters and 16 hens, but at 1 year of age only 4 are still alive and VERY happy and healthy.
the 4 that are still alive are 3 leghorn/red jungle crosses and 1 cinnamon queen all are very prolific layers. one of the Leghorn cross hens Lays 2 eggs almost daily.

 

[b.hromada]

That's adorable!

 

[MotherHen2017]

Aw they're cute!