Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Lacy Blues]

I just picked up 5 babies today & I was hoping to give them to my broody hen who has 4 chicks of the same age(Week old)... is this possible? If so, how do I introduce them?
Thanks!

Put them under her at night when its dark and let them spend the night under her. Come morning, she should think they were all there to begin with.

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
And be prepared to rescue them if necessary. It may or may not work. just best to have your possibilities covered.

 

[aoxa]

  I entice them by leaving eggs or false eggs in the nest at all times. Seems to entice the hens who have the broody instinct. 

Same here.

 

[aoxa]

And be prepared to rescue them if necessary.  It may or may not work.  just best to have your possibilities covered.

Depends on the broody. Usually works for mine. Some chicks are broody stupid at a week old though if hand raised. They don't always know where to go if cold, or to follow mom. Silkies are always the easiest (in my experience) to introduce to a broody at a later age. They seem to know - even at 2 weeks old - that under a hen is warm.

I introduced 6 silkies to Janet after she was mothering a single chick for one week. She is the best mother I have for accepting new babies. If she was more protective, she would be the best broody I have.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is there a way to encourage a hen to go broody? I have a Cochin Frizzle and would love for her to hatch some eggs. I know you can't make a hen go broody, but encourage?

My Cochin frizzle [bantam] is my #1 broody, just do what stony said and you should have a broody before long. Of course it may make a difference if she is laying or not, It doesn't to mine though. If she find an egg she'll sit, matter of fact I just had to actually remove her fav nest box to break her she was sitting on nothing for 3 weeks.

 

[aoxa]

My Cochin frizzle [bantam] is my #1 broody, just do what stony said and you should have a broody before long. Of course it may make a difference if she is laying or not, It doesn't to mine though. If she find an egg she'll sit, matter of fact I just had to actually remove her fav nest box to break her she was sitting on nothing for 3 weeks. 

Cochins are great aren't they? I have 3 girls and only one has ever gone broody though. Kind of surprising. I thought for sure the other two would. They had that possessiveness over their nesting area, and would stay after they laid their egg for 30+ minutes. They've been laying for a year as well...

 

[Johnn]

One of my hens have worms so i have ordered some marriges with Flubenvet, my chicks are old enough for it aren't they? they should be they are practically hens, they are 16 weeks, 17 on thursday....

 

[aoxa]

One of my hens have worms so i have ordered some marriges with Flubenvet, my chicks are old enough for it aren't they? they should be they are practically hens, they are 16 weeks, 17 on thursday....

You can worm chicks at 6 weeks with Piperzine. That's all they sell at our store for worms. I've treated everyone 2 weeks ago. The youngest were exactly 6 weeks when I treated.

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of my hens have worms so i have ordered some marriges with Flubenvet, my chicks are old enough for it aren't they? they should be they are practically hens, they are 16 weeks, 17 on thursday....

You can also use pumpkin seeds for a natural wormer, fresh out of the pumpkin ground up a little so it's easier to eat or the fresh from the groceries w/o salt.

 

[aoxa]

You can also use pumpkin seeds for a natural wormer, fresh out of the pumpkin ground up a little so it's easier to eat or the fresh from the groceries w/o salt. 

Yes, pumpkin is a favourite.

I use a blender to make a puree. Sometimes I add other favourite treats to it to encourage them to eat it up. Some don't like it. Many do. The barred rocks like it more than the others for some reason