Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Tripp16]

It never gets easy, but I think as long as she hears them peeping she'll stay put.

That hen is so pretty! So are the chicks. I have a hen with chicks now she is a barred rock and her name is also Henrietta.... Must be a broody hen name.

 

[stonykill]

That hen is so pretty! So are the chicks. I have a hen with chicks now she is a barred rock and her name is also Henrietta.... Must be a broody hen name.

lol. All of my broody's are mama

. Even though I have a hen named "mama", I call every broody mama. Except for Miss Penelope our runner duck. She is simply Miss Penelope or Miss P.........

 

[xenabeena]

HI everyone. OK I am new to hatching chicks. I have 2 Iavender Orpingtons, a Campine hen and a SiIkie. One of my Orpingtons became broody and started sitting on eggs, then my siIkie joined her and then a few days ago the other Orpington did. I went in today and they have a few baby chicks hatched. One of the Orpingtons is pecking at the dark baby, I don't know what to do. AII my chickens are together in one smaII coop, am I supposed to separate them? What shouId I be doing now if anything? There are so many posts to this thread that I can't possibIy get through it aII. Hoping someone wouId answer me directIy. Thanks so much for your heIp in advance.

MicheIIe

 

[msmechanic58]

lol. All of my broody's are mama

. Even though I have a hen named "mama", I call every broody mama. Except for Miss Penelope our runner duck. She is simply Miss Penelope or Miss P.........

My Black Jersey Giant broody is now "mama" too!

 

[Tripp16]

lol. All of my broody's are mama

. Even though I have a hen named "mama", I call every broody mama. Except for Miss Penelope our runner duck. She is simply Miss Penelope or Miss P.........

LOL You sound like me! I know longer call her Henrietta I say "Hey Mama wheres your babies?"

I still call my little Gracie Mama occasionally. All the broodys names change to Mama.

 

[stonykill]

LOL You sound like me! I know longer call her Henrietta I say "Hey Mama wheres your babies?"

I still call my little Gracie Mama occasionally. All the broodys names change to Mama.

nothin but respect for the mama's!

 

[bobbieschicks]

HI everyone. OK I am new to hatching chicks. I have 2 Iavender Orpingtons, a Campine hen and a SiIkie. One of my Orpingtons became broody and started sitting on eggs, then my siIkie joined her and then a few days ago the other Orpington did. I went in today and they have a few baby chicks hatched. One of the Orpingtons is pecking at the dark baby, I don't know what to do. AII my chickens are together in one smaII coop, am I supposed to separate them? What shouId I be doing now if anything? There are so many posts to this thread that I can't possibIy get through it aII. Hoping someone wouId answer me directIy. Thanks so much for your heIp in advance. 

MicheIIe 

Pecking isn't unusual if the momma thinks the chick is ignoring her. Is the one doing the pecking the one who hatched it? I've only ever had my broody pullets separated, even if by a thin curtain. They cluck and their babies come running. If they don't come they will get pecked. I've had the babes wander too close to the other broody with chicks and had nothing happen. The wanderer will chirp loudly until it figures out how to reach its real momma.

If you don't know to whom the dark any belongs you could separate it and watch who comes to get it.

 

[peepmommy]

So I went to check on my hen and lifted her wing up. No chicks. When she settled back down I heard a *POP* and when I lifted her up saw and egg had exploded! I threw it in the field and she immediately started eating the left over goo.

Just hoping for one chick!!!! This stinks!

 

[JakRat]

And I am back!!!

We cam back from vacation to find my 8 month old Speckled Sussex had gone broody. A few days later, my silkie that has a month old baby and just got done being broody decided to sit again!!!!!!

Since our rooster is still a bit of a "dandy" we had to go get eggs from our farmer friend again. Our frizzle baby rooster is doing well.. we are still saddened by the loss of the other baby a few weeks after it hatched. Hopefully this hatch will go better. I am leaving them outside in the coop this time as my Speckled is a bit higher on the chain o command and doesnt get pushed around like my silkie did. This will hopefully make the brooder a happier and easier place, and my husband doesnt want them in the house again!

Here are some updated pictures.

Frizzle rooster 3 weeks ago. I will try to get a more updated picture, but he is a bit hard to catch!



Sitting on some eggs!



Reorganized brooder

 

[xenabeena]

Pecking isn't unusual if the momma thinks the chick is ignoring her. Is the one doing the pecking the one who hatched it? I've only ever had my broody pullets separated, even if by a thin curtain. They cluck and their babies come running. If they don't come they will get pecked. I've had the babes wander too close to the other broody with chicks and had nothing happen. The wanderer will chirp loudly until it figures out how to reach its real momma.
If you don't know to whom the dark any belongs you could separate it and watch who comes to get it.

Thanks bobbieschicks! I am so confused as to whom belongs to whom, alI three have been on the one nest crammed together with that being said I think the one pecking is the Last Orpington to sit on the nest.

Should I separate the mommas and babies from the rooster and other hens?

P.S. PIease excuse aII the capital "i's", my El key is broke.