Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Its kind of good the orpington has both now, because they are both rightfully hers

My game hen has 2- 4 week old bantams, and she is leaving them for a time some during the day. they kinda hang around with everyone else then she'll come back and get them. This is her way of getting them use to being on their own.

 

[bobbieschicks]

My game hen has 2- 4 week old bantams, and she is leaving them for a time some during the day. they kinda hang around with everyone else then she'll come back and get them. This is her way of getting them use to being on their own.  

xs2

I know it's hard to watch and not what I want to see happen, but it's natural and normal for the momma to abandon the chicks when she has taught them how to be on their own.

 

[aoxa]

My dominent hen stays with flock from day one. The others can have a week or so on their own, it's mainly for their own protection as I've had predator issues last month and the hen will take them right into the woods where predators lurk. I generally give them a good week until they can fly and run. I don't have any issues with them being in the flock as mama can and does keep track of them! How, I'll never know...I can't even count them all...but she does! My brooder opens to an outdoor pen, and inside to the coop. I will just leave the gate open and when the hen wants to she'll take them around, then she come back through the main door and nest in the usual spot. One hen I had would just look at the open gate and walk off, for weeks, I guess she liked being on vacation. I think alot depends on your flock too, if they aren't aggressive it will be fine. Some minor squabbles but they all seem to know exactly who belongs where.

Is there any way we have too many with the two? There is 21.. One is a silkie hen the other is a barred rock. The barred rock can cover almost all of them, but for how long..?

I had only planned on getting 10 chicks at the feed store, but he gave me 9 for free (someone didn't pick them up - they were ordered). So I took them.

My flock consists of all ages. It's usually the younger ones that pick on the babies. This weekend I will let them out. They will be a week old Friday.

 

[Tanichca]

Well, my first hatch is over! The EE baby that wasn't doing so hot died sometime during the night. Momma hen pushed the remaining two eggs out of the nest- one was rotten, and other had internally pipped and then died, poor thing. The last egg was the silkie egg that I was so worried about- the one that had the possibility of being from my favorite rooster who died a few weeks back. Sure enough, the baby popped out and looks pretty darn silkie-ish- walnut comb, black skin, five feathered toes. Can't wait to see what his color is! The other two babies, rosecomb and EE, are doing just fine, though the EE won't open his eyes.

Hen 2 has 12 days to go until her hatch.

 

[farmer boy]

10 more days for first hatch can't wait its taking to long

i can't wait any longer lol

 

[bigT88]

two of my australorp hens are broody. but only one is sitting on the actual eggs

 

[aoxa]

10 more days for first hatch can't wait its taking to long   i can't wait any longer lol 

Next one will be quicker! Trust me!

First hatch seemed to take MONTHS.

 

[jettgirl24]

Well, I have four baby silkies! Two blues, a black, and a funky colored one that I think must be a splash but we shall see on that one. I had to help one of the blue Silkies out of his egg last night as momma decided she was done hatching and moved to the other side of the pen with the already hatched babies. We had a little bit of bleeding from the umbilical cord but I got it stopped quickly and the little one seems to be doing great. I'm planning to sneak it under momma after it gets dark tonight. In the meantime he's been a little snuggler and fell asleep in my hand a few minutes ago I also moved one other abandoned, unhatched egg to a makeshift cooler incubator. Despite it being cool to the touch when I found it I thought I could see movement when I candled. We'll see if that one makes it, I've got my fingers crossed.

Since this post is useless without pics:

 

[stonykill]

Moe decided to bring her chicks over and show them to me this morning while I was having coffee. She hopped up on the poarch walked them around my chair, looked me in the eye, then walked them off, showing off their flying abilities of a huge 2 foot jump. guess she has decided I'm trustworthy!

My hen Mama does the same thing. The 1st day or 2 after new chicks are hatched she goes after me, but after that she and in this case her 15 lil ones walk right up to me to beg for food

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is there any way we have too many with the two? There is 21.. One is a silkie hen the other is a barred rock. The barred rock can cover almost all of them, but for how long..?
I had only planned on getting 10 chicks at the feed store, but he gave me 9 for free (someone didn't pick them up - they were ordered). So I took them.
My flock consists of all ages. It's usually the younger ones that pick on the babies. This weekend I will let them out. They will be a week old Friday.

A week old is a good time, and the mamas working together should be able to take care of them, if it's pretty warm they won't need alot of cover.