Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

That's it. I am DONE with broodies. Found two more dead chicks in Violet's coop. Same area, same day. Not acceptable. She's down from 5 to 2, and I'm pulling those two tomorrow because I want them to survive. She'll just have to be by herself for awhile until I can grow these guys out.

Not sure why this has been such a bad experience?!?! Last year everything went perfectly fine with Molly albeit a spread of random disease, but 6 made it. I'm just going to brood everyone else myself from now on so that I have more control. Too many uncontrollable variables. I'm so mad and extremely disappointed. That's a LOT of money and energy down the drain.

I'm done.

So this is a totally different hen than last year? I cannot even begin to understand why some broodies do this, I had the same experience last summer. When this happens I don't give them a second chance, Hopefully you'll try again with another hen at another time. And I am so sorry this has happened.

 

[bobbieschicks]

So far I've been blessed with two good broodies - Smokey (41 weeks old) has been broody twice and Topsy (32 weeks old) has been broody once. They both are taking good care of their respective clutches even though their areas are only divided by a piece of landscape fabric. The 6 silky chicks are almost a week old and I can see that Smokey & Topsy are chomping at the bit to get those babies out into the yard and main coop. I've watched the mommas fly down and then call the babies to use the ramp. The babies however have chosen to stay put.

I'm somewhat glad about the babies staying put as they are still so tiny - of course they are bantams so what do I expect. The mommas will go under the main coop and into it where they can see the babies through the hardware cloth - all the while clucking for the babies to follow. I end up snatching up the mommas and putting them back with the babies - I'm still not ready to let things develop otherwise. Yesterday I let Smokey try the same thing and the 16 week old WL/EE cockerel grabbed her by the back of her neck and chased her around. It reminded me too much of Foghorn so I panicked and put her quickly back in the coop. Today they did it once I kicked all the others out of the secure run.

So of course now I am considering when I will be taking out the hardware cloth that divides the coop and letting the mommas do their job protecting the chicks. I know that the sooner they bring those babies into the general population the safer it will be for them all in the long run - I just hate to watch all the scuffles that happen when they are first integrated. I think if I can free range everyone tomorrow I will do the cloth removal and let things transpire and not worry about the outcome. Of course for me that's easier said than done.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Oh I'm so sorry

about that

- you do what you need to do to keep the remaining chicks healthy and alive. Sometimes it works with the broody, sometimes it doesn't. Maybe she would do fine with a LF chick rather then a silky or polish because of their different topknot/skulls? But if she's had so many chances and still not working it out - either wait and try her again when she's older or just break her every time. Sounds like Molly is a better choice for using as a broody in the future.

That's it. I am DONE with broodies. Found two more dead chicks in Violet's coop. Same area, same day. Not acceptable. She's down from 5 to 2, and I'm pulling those two tomorrow because I want them to survive. She'll just have to be by herself for awhile until I can grow these guys out.

Not sure why this has been such a bad experience?!?! Last year everything went perfectly fine with Molly albeit a spread of random disease, but 6 made it. I'm just going to brood everyone else myself from now on so that I have more control. Too many uncontrollable variables. I'm so mad and extremely disappointed. That's a LOT of money and energy down the drain.

I'm done.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah! Congratuations! I'm sure everything will be fine - momma should keep it warm and safe.

Nevermind, he just hatched.

I'm worried about him, though. His broody seems a bit confused, as if she doesn't know what he is or that this is her chick... Hopefully they'll get acquainted.

It would hurt me to lose him.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Sounds like she wants to be broody too - if they can be there together and get along why not let them? That will shorten the new hen's sitting time - but that will be okay. If they are willing to let her help with the broody job I say go for it. However, if she starts breaking eggs or causing a ruckus - move her out to her own area.

i am getting a little worried. my hens have been sitting for 2 weeks and now another hen is trying to sit in the same box with them. will she hijack the nest or mess things up?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yesterday my bantan frizzle brought her only chick out into the world and everything was going fine till Sammy our gander didn't like the way she was behaving trying to run him off, they clashed last year too. so this morning i have everyone in different parts of the lot thank goodness for gates and fencing. Most everyone will back down from a mama hen but Sammy won't he isn't gonna take it, so he is in seclusion with mama ducks and ducklings, he likes them

Hope everyone has a wonderful day, it's going to be warm here and dry too. Nice for little bitty chicks and mamas.

 

[NoZolbitty]

Sunny Side Up I laughed out loud, and im at work !!!!!

I heard cat carriers work just fine. Ive never used one but they say they work.

You'd be surprised at what will attract a broody hen, My mom had one, named Buffy, who laid claim to an extra feedbox. We were getting ready to move and Mom wanted to minimize trauma for Buffy so we often offered her small amounts of feed and water in small dishes while she was in her box. Buffy handled the move in fine style and our attention was rewarded with a more tamed hen.

 

[kizanne]

Well my broody is still on so I'm 1/3 of the way there. And she is on week 4 1/2. She seems to really enjoy the mealworm treats, I'm giving her morning and night to make sure she stays healthy. Next time I won't wait so long to give her some eggs. Though the rooster is going bye-bye so I won't have any fertile eggs soon, but that's what they make auctions for right?

 

[hokankai]

Yeah, it pretty much sucked. I removed the two survivors and put them with the two she rejected earlier. They cry occasionally but settle down quickly and cuddle up together. It's actually pretty cute because they pair up one older baby and one younger baby and stand side-by-side. Mama was a little distressed but has calmed down tremendously and actually seems a little relieved. I opened the coop for the first time in several weeks and she was very happy to get out into the run! She tried to treat me like a chick for a little bit, but I'm thinking she'll be just fine. Right now I'm debating on whether or not to get her an adult buddy. The lady I got my eggs from has a porcelain silkie for sale that's her age and she's currently all by herself now that her rooster passed away. Still trying to decide.

Oh I'm so sorry

about that

- you do what you need to do to keep the remaining chicks healthy and alive. Sometimes it works with the broody, sometimes it doesn't. Maybe she would do fine with a LF chick rather then a silky or polish because of their different topknot/skulls? But if she's had so many chances and still not working it out - either wait and try her again when she's older or just break her every time. Sounds like Molly is a better choice for using as a broody in the future.

 

[bobbieschicks]

So far I've been blessed with two good broodies - Smokey (41 weeks old) has been broody twice and Topsy (32 weeks old) has been broody once.  They both are taking good care of their respective clutches even though their areas are only divided by a piece of landscape fabric.  The 6 silky chicks are almost a week old and I can see that Smokey & Topsy are chomping at the bit to get those babies out into the yard and main coop.  I've watched the mommas fly down and then call the babies to use the ramp.  The babies however have chosen to stay put. 

I'm somewhat glad about the babies staying put as they are still so tiny - of course they are bantams so what do I expect.  The mommas will go under the main coop and into it where they can see the babies through the hardware cloth - all the while clucking for the babies to follow.  I end up snatching up the mommas and putting them back with the babies - I'm still not ready to let things develop otherwise.  Yesterday I let Smokey try the same thing and the 16 week old WL/EE cockerel grabbed her by the back of her neck and chased her around.  It reminded me too much of Foghorn so I panicked and put her quickly back in the coop.  Today they did it once I kicked all the others out of the secure run.

So of course now I am considering when I will be taking out the hardware cloth that divides the coop and letting the mommas do their job protecting the chicks.  I know that the sooner they bring those babies into the general population the safer it will be for them all in the long run -  I just hate to watch all the scuffles that happen when they are first integrated.  I think if I can free range everyone tomorrow I will do the cloth removal and let things transpire and not worry about the outcome.  Of course for me that's easier said than done.

I took the wire down and the landscape fabric out. I left everything open and put in an empty cat litter container and cat carrier for hiding places if they need them. So far the worst tussles have been Smokey attacking Topsy. Topsy took her babies under the coop that was so cute to watch the little ones slide to each rung on the ramp. And Smokey has hers up in the main coop. Hoping everyone gets along and no babies get hurt.