Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[countrygirl5]

I have not been able to follow all the posts lately. ..too busy w/gardening and house projects. I have a buff orp. that decided she wanted to go broody, and since my last broody hatching went so well, I decided to give her 4 eggs. Well about 1 week into her sitting, one of the Americanas decided she needed to go broody too! (I have no place to move my broodys to.) I have tried everything for the past two weeks to get the Amer. to move to another nest, but she refuses. On top of that, two of the eggs got eaten! But two were left alone. Probably were duds and the mamma knew it. My question/concern is. . when these chicks hatch, and they should any day now, will the hens fight over the chicks?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Yeah! Both broodies were smashed down on their eggs this morning with no signs of stress or wanting to get out. I figured the seculsion would help. They did fine with it last time. Thankfully today is a cooler day (only in the mid 80s). u So I don't mind them being closed up in the coop all day. They have ventilation because I left their window open and of course the coop has the other door open and windows open. So plenty of air movement through there. I didn't put in any food or water yet. - I'll do that when we get back from church. They had both yesterday so they will be fine until I let them out later. Congradulations!! love it when a plan comes together! Now it's hurry up and wait! Last night got back from the lake (last day for grandkids) and found a chick left behind in the nest, #13 or 12, don't know for sure, cold and wet. Well warmed him up and this morning doing so much better and starting to peck at food. I have to modify my nest boxes, maybe with a hinge so they can get in and out easier., had mama been able to bring them all back in easier and kept him warm I think he would have been alright. If mama doesn't take home back he can grow up with the orphans. Oh! Just ate some moist starter! Yea! I would like to post a pic but have they changed the format? It isn't working right...

 

[Johnn]

I have not been able to follow all the posts lately. ..too busy w/gardening and house projects. I have a buff orp. that decided she wanted to go broody, and since my last broody hatching went so well, I decided to give her 4 eggs. Well about 1 week into her sitting, one of the Americanas decided she needed to go broody too! (I have no place to move my broodys to.) I have tried everything for the past two weeks to get the Amer. to move to another nest, but she refuses. On top of that, two of the eggs got eaten! But two were left alone. Probably were duds and the mamma knew it. My question/concern is. . when these chicks hatch, and they should any day now, will the hens fight over the chicks?

I think it could depend on the hens it's self, i had my BO in the broody coop on 10 eggs and a Cream Legbar in the normal shed on 9, the cream legbars were due a week before the orps and non hatched so she kept sitting and on a thursday a week later one of the BO's hatched and there was another one cheeping and wiggling about in the egg so i gave it to Melow on friday i went up Melow had a Chick and the orp had one and i put Melow in the broody coop and they both share the chicks and are bringing them up together now

 

[stonykill]

I just have to share my Facebook status from last week here. I'll appologize now if it offends anyone, but it is the truth.


I see pictures all of the time on FB and various chicken forums of broody hatching eggs with pips, people lifting the broody while she has a hatch underway, people holding a still wet chick taken out from under the broody, etc. PLEASE don't do this. In the case of a pipped egg, the chick has positioned itself in the shell to hatch. You pick it up, you may kill the chick. LEAVE MAMA ALONE while she is hatching. PLEASE! Get your pictures after she is finished and brings them out for you. Or take pictures of her on the nest if a little one is showing itself. But please, let her be while hatching.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

=/. Well I guess everything can't havea happy ending. 4 chicks are out,
1 light brahama mix
1 bantam (?) mix
1 Silver Laced wyandotte mix (?)
1 Turken mix (This was one I wish I had!!!)
The three looked great! But the turken... it's shell was bloody, and it was lying cold in the corner. Probably got out like 15 minutes ago. It looked dead. But it peeped, so I put it under Daisy. =/. I hope he survives! He is super cute . It probably doesn't help he has no neck feathers.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

Okay.. tiny update. The turken, I have nicknamed "Teddy" (Teddy the turken..). He is doing much better! He is a little warmer, but he is moving and a little more lively. The bantam that was hatched is yellow with faint brown stripes down it's back, and some more faint brown spots. Any way it could be a serama mix? Or no...

Dot will not stay under Daisy! She just wants to sit next to her, or try and get in her beard... so cute! Dot has also learned how to peck fingers!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Glad to hear Teddy is doing better! Keep us posted.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Quote:
Originally Posted by stonykill

I just have to share my Facebook status from last week here. I'll appologize now if it offends anyone, but it is the truth.


I see pictures all of the time on FB and various chicken forums of broody hatching eggs with pips, people lifting the broody while she has a hatch underway, people holding a still wet chick taken out from under the broody, etc. PLEASE don't do this. In the case of a pipped egg, the chick has positioned itself in the shell to hatch. You pick it up, you may kill the chick. LEAVE MAMA ALONE while she is hatching. PLEASE! Get your pictures after she is finished and brings them out for you. Or take pictures of her on the nest if a little one is showing itself. But please, let her be while hatching.
I agree there. It's hard to leave them alone but they are much better off. That's the point of having a broody, so she can do the work. I don't want to risk having her leave the nest too soon, abandon a chick, or trample one because I've bothered her too much. Not to mention risking my own safety! I will offer the mama a good drink of water and spill some chick starter where she can reach it and drop it to her chicks. Even photo sessions are limited as I want this to be a quiet time for my hen and chicks. I don't even candle eggs since flipping them around can't be good, not that I could see through my shells anyway. I assume she'll show me the chicks when she's ready and work to gain her trust first...she's quick to tell me when it's enough. Now the grandkids know also, that little growl means 'leave me alone'!

 

[farmer boy]

ya just young chicks because i don't know if any are fertilized i checked one and its yolk was like stuck on the side or something .. but idk i will try to check today and the ones i was gonna get are like 1-3 days old they are cochins .. does anyone know how to stop a young rooster from trying to mate with my young chicks he is 6-7 months old and they are only like 10-14 weeks old

 

[bobbieschicks]

ya just young chicks because i don't know if any are fertilized i checked one and its yolk was like stuck on the side or something .. but idk i will try to check today and the ones i was gonna get are like 1-3 days old they are cochins .. does anyone know how to stop a young rooster from trying to mate with my young chicks he is 6-7 months old and they are only like 10-14 weeks old 

My roosters have only tried to mate the girls who were about to start laying. He'd court the younger ones or wing dance them into listening, but mating wasn't until they were older.

The method I would use is separation. Keep them penned separately until they are older.