Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Kitty135]

Not sure if the link works but the pic is of the two mama hens and a ton of their chickies running around!
cid:imagejpeg952_02.jpg/imagejpeg952_02.jpg

 

[effie]

isn't working for me

 

[B J Hopkins]

We have two hens who are broody right now, and they have decided to share a nest box as well as the eggs. We have had a broody hen step in for a mama hen when she all but abandoned her babies, but is it normal for two hens to go broody together and raise up the chicks? This is not the first time that our hens have gone broody (we have had seven this season alone), but they usually don't like to share nest boxes. They have been sitting on the eggs (there are three) for two weeks, and they are very courteous to each other. One of the hens keeps the eggs warm and toasty, and the other protects the nest as well as rolling the eggs. Do you see any potential problems with this set-up?

This past Dec I had 2 Cochin hens go broody at the same time. They shared the nest & eggs and shared the raising of the chicks. It was odd to see the chicks take turns going under each of the hens. There was no problem. Now both hens have another batch of chicks and don't want to be near each other!

 

[ThePendragon]

I have some eggs under my broody.
I bought some chicks and put them under my broody; she didn't like that she rolled 7 eggs out of the nest and left the chicks on their own. she continued to sit on the eggs,
PROBLEM two chicks died, worse she rolled out seven of nine eggs!

all the eggs that she rolled out did not crack though. about 8 days left

 

[bobbieschicks]

 

Yeah! Adorable!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hello! My two broody black tailed white Japanese bantam hens just hatched (sharing a nest!) 13 healthy chicks today out of 13 eggs! This was both my first hatch and their first hatch so I'm thrilled that this turned out so great! It's sort of funny though to see both hens thinking they're the mother of the chicks. Poor chicks are probably so confused

Yeah! Congrats!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I have some eggs under my broody. I bought some chicks and put them under my broody; she didn't like that she rolled 7 eggs out of the nest and left the chicks on their own. she continued to sit on the eggs, PROBLEM two chicks died, worse she rolled out seven of nine eggs! all the eggs that she rolled out did not crack though. about 8 days lefte

Broodies! They can be so temperamental. Keep us posted!

 

[bobbieschicks]

This past Dec I had 2 Cochin hens go broody at the same time. They shared the nest & eggs and shared the raising of the chicks. It was odd to see the chicks take turns going under each of the hens. There was no problem. Now both hens have another batch of chicks and don't want to be near each other!

Haha, that's too funny!

 

[bobbieschicks]

So hoping I have some maran chicks under Topsy - I'll check as soon as my son leaves for school at 8am. It's taking all my strength not to rush out there this morning.

 

[stonykill]

Miss penelope our Runner has peeping sounds coming out from under her! She kicked 3 eggs out. I'll put them in the bator just in case. Now the hard part. Waiting for her to let me see them. As many of you know, I don't bother broody's. plus I like my hands in the shape they are now....sans bite marks