Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[kristip]

or...it is a rooster...the get bigger quick

 

[farmer boy]

oh well the older smaller one is also a bantam to

 

[Miss Lydia]

I've been stalking this thread for a while and finally am wanting to post to get some reassurance that I'm doing thinks correctly. I have a first time broody Cochin hen that's sitting on 5 eggs and we are on day 19 of incubation. I've planned on moving her to a 3x3 cage with her chicks for at least the first several days so that they can be seperated from the other 2 hens in my pen. Also I've worried about the ramp that goes up to the coop and wondered if the chicks would be able to navigate it ok. Today I moved her so that I wouldn't have to mess with her after the chicks hatched and she was not too happy about it. I made sure that she eventually settled down and she seems ok now that I've almost completely covered the cage so that it's dark inside. (there is adequate ventilation) I guess I just want to make sure that it's an ok setup for her and the babies? Also, I just have the Purina Start & Grow in a feeder inside. Is this ok for my hen to eat too? Any other advice is greatly appreciated!

I always move my broodies a couple days before hatch I have never had a problem with them. Sounds like you have done it right and she has settled down. I like to give my mamas and babies at least 3-4 days to them selves so they can bond and know mama voice above all the other noise. It can get pretty rough when everyone is leaving the coop in the mornings and mama and chicks are in the mix of it. I have ramps going into my coops and they do pretty good. mama will usually have to go in and start clucking to them as they are running around outside trying to figure out how to get to her and she may have to come back out and encourage, but they usually have the ramp and routine down pat by a couple days. If it's pretty steep and narrow you may want to put sides on it for a few days till they get the hang of it. I use to feed my whole flock starter when we had chicks/ducklings but I know use Flock raiser crumble which they can all eat from hatch on, but starter is fine for all too. Let us know when they hatch and lots of pics!
There was a time when i would let my broodies hatch inside the coop with everyone but sometimes mama would get to fighting and it is just better for me to move them for a while. As long as the rest can see mama and chicks there shouldn't be too much trouble.

 

[ll]

Good luck with your hatch.
I moved my momma & her eggs once in the beginning and then the final adjustment was around 4 days before lockdown.
Her nest was floor level, and sure enough the 1st day one made it over the edge of the box (2"high) and I put it back in because it was cheeping.
We totally redid our ramp into the run from the pop door to make it alot wider, then stacked up grass clippings & leaves along the edge in case a baby went off the side of the ramp. Momma kept them inside the hen house for the first week, they strengthen up quite a bit during that first week. They are 2 weeks old now and have been fluttering and flying around during the week, they navigate our ramp fine and are in & out daily. I only own one other hen though, for a total of two... "Auntie" Hen loves our two new babies and separation wasn't necessary for us (Though I did put up deer fencing the first 2 days so they could see each other through it.) Maybe post a photo of your set-up?
I started with chick feed and now am feeding Purina Flock Raiser.

I've been stalking this thread for a while and finally am wanting to post to get some reassurance that I'm doing thinks correctly. I have a first time broody Cochin hen that's sitting on 5 eggs and we are on day 19 of incubation. I've planned on moving her to a 3x3 cage with her chicks for at least the first several days so that they can be seperated from the other 2 hens in my pen. Also I've worried about the ramp that goes up to the coop and wondered if the chicks would be able to navigate it ok. Today I moved her so that I wouldn't have to mess with her after the chicks hatched and she was not too happy about it. I made sure that she eventually settled down and she seems ok now that I've almost completely covered the cage so that it's dark inside. (there is adequate ventilation) I guess I just want to make sure that it's an ok setup for her and the babies? Also, I just have the Purina Start & Grow in a feeder inside. Is this ok for my hen to eat too? Any other advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Kassaundra]

I think we have a broody now. She isn't as friendly as our last one, this one is possessed, attacking you while screaming an unearthly blood curddling scream.

She is a medium sized NN, how many eggs can she take?

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

I honestly think 2 of the chicks I hatched july 22nd are part silkie... the EE is silkie feathering uder it's wings... and well.. the other I know 100% is part silkie. Gosh.. they're lookig so weird but cute!!!

 

[Johnn]

one chick escaped the brooder and is now with mama!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I honestly think 2 of the chicks I hatched july 22nd are part silkie... the EE is silkie feathering uder it's wings... and well.. the other I know 100% is part silkie. Gosh.. they're lookig so weird but cute!!!

Well where are the pics?

 

[Miss Lydia]

one chick escaped the brooder and is now with mama!

Must be doing great if managed to find mama.

 

[TheRookie]

This is Momma and 4 of her 6 babies LOL she is only a tinyyy bit bigger than her BO mix babies now at 6.5 weeks old. They are sleeping under her in their doghouse, well sorta under her anyway. I was just going to sell the babies but I think I will try to sell all of them as a lot, she loves them still and they love her