Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

She looks like my Australorp who is just now hatching guinea keets for me. Found three little keets this morning but she has 15 eggs under her so hope there is more. Love the pic!!

Congrats ,, I hope you get more too, look forward to some pics.

 

[stonykill]

Well here is Miss Lydia and her 2 cochin bantams, the purplefeet are from her cutting her feet on some rocks is all I can figure out, she is getting soaks of epson salt and iodine solution and last night I sprayed Blue-Kote on her feet and all over my hands.

I really need to get some gloves.

very sweet looking mama and babies!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ok I am sure all my questions have already been answered in this thread but I do not have the time to look at all the parts in this thread. I would like to make a "breeding" coop for my birds. Right now I have an 8x12 shed as my coop and my birds free range. I want to build a pen that I can put selected roosters and hens into. if I make it 8x12 out of 2x4 framing with chicken wire and put in a nest box that is weather proof, how many birds canI put in there? I figured if they are just shooting in nesting boxes I could put somewhere between 6 and 12. Any suggestions? Also how long does it take for a hen to hatch a clutch? Does it take longer since she lays one egg at a time?

Sorry your post hasn't been answered before. I'm not sure I have the knowledge to help either. Did you post this question on the coop building thread? You might get a better response there. It seems maybe your question is more about breeding then brooding?

How many hens to put together in a nesting area depends on your flock and type of birds. I have a mixed flock and some of my girls are "mortal enemies" of one another. They don't even want to sit on nests near each other. During the broody phase they will stay on their nest most of the time.

A room the size that you are describing could definitely be structured to hold multiple broody nests with plenty of room for little "yards" where the chicks and hens could hangout together once the chicks are hatched.

The broody herself will have limited needs, a safe nest, access to food and water, a place to poop and occasional treats.

As far as how long does it take for hens to hatch a clutch, it takes around 21 days. Most broodies will start gathering a clutch by laying a few days to a weeks worth or more of eggs in their nest, then they will stop laying, remaining in the nest box at night and not returning to the roost and that is when they start sitting. Count that date as the first day of the 21 days.

The problem is knowing when they will go broody, there's just no predicting it. Hope this helps.

 

[perchie.girl]

Ok I am sure all my questions have already been answered in this thread but I do not have the time to look at all the parts in this thread. I would like to make a "breeding" coop for my birds. Right now I have an 8x12 shed as my coop and my birds free range. I want to build a pen that I can put selected roosters and hens into. if I make it 8x12 out of 2x4 framing with chicken wire and put in a nest box that is weather proof, how many birds canI put in there? I figured if they are just shooting in nesting boxes I could put somewhere between 6 and 12. Any suggestions? Also how long does it take for a hen to hatch a clutch? Does it take longer since she lays one egg at a time?

My breed pen plans are six by twelve they will have a secure run. My plan is to have between ten and twelve in there. With two to three nest boxes. Some people do a breed pen with a smaller group. My rule of thumb is four square feet per bird or more. With my guineas I use six square feet.

Also If you plan to raise your chicks with broodies you should plan to have nest boxes that are separable so that you can just move hen and all to a broody pen. That will have just enough space for feed water and a dustbath and the nest box sitting on the ground so when the chicks hatch they dont have problems falling out or getting back into the nest box. Also it keeps other hens from messing with the broodie or chicks or laying more eggs on top of the broody.

Most people here leave out falsies or sacrificial eggs to encourage a broody and collect the eggs to store them in a cool place in the house till you have enough. Once you establish that a hen is broodie then you swap out the eggs at night. What this does is have the eggs hatch at close to the same time. you can store eggs this way up to ten days. Then the hatching time will be 21 days give or take. some take longer to hatch them all.

My plan is to have breeds of chickens that are not necessarily known to be broody. Then have a few hens that are known to go broody easily. Then let them do the raising. Game birds Cochins Silkys come to mind as far as broodys but you can check Hendersons Chicken Chart to get an idea of which hens are likely to go broody. The thing is even though the breed is known to go broody there are exceptions. Exceptions the other way too.

Good luck.

deb

 

[Johnn]

Well day 22 for Melow, nothing and when i went today she was off the eggsm they were just about cold and i don't know if she went back because i was in a rush, but orpingtons are due this thursday, she still hasn't recovered because she has stopped eating!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well day 22 for Melow, nothing and when i went today she was off the eggsm they were just about cold and i don't know if she went back because i was in a rush, but orpingtons are due this thursday, she still hasn't recovered because she has stopped eating!

I'm sorry Johnn, have you candled? also as stony always has said wait till at least day 25 unless of course she has left the nest for good.

do you have your Orps food close enough so she doesn't have to go far, she may not want to leave her eggs. if you treated her she should be over the worms. maybe try to intice her to eat some scrambled eggs mixed with a little yogurt sometimes something special will perk them up enough to eat.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

OMG!! THERE IS PEEPING COMING FROM UNDER BROODY NAIMA!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

OMG!! THERE IS PEEPING COMING FROM UNDER BROODY NAIMA!!

Oh WOW

 

[littlechicklet]

She looks like my Australorp who is just now hatching guinea keets for me. Found three little keets this morning but she has 15 eggs under her so hope there is more. Love the pic!!

Thank you. I do not know what she is but she is clean legged but the roos hatched with her had feathered legs. I am just thrilled to have 2 broody hens. I hope they do it again. Here's to wishing you more guinea keets. I love guineas but due to predator issues we can't have them.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Isn't he FABULOUS! VERY light blue (what I'm after) with FABULOUS feathered legs and a clean middle toe. My cup TRULY runneth over ....

The egg he hatched out of (Ann's - a Black Copper Marans)



Just a glimpse of those fabulously feathered legs .... (feathered shanks are an issue with my Blue Coppers so far. This little one gives me TREMENDOUS hope!)