Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

I'm hoping stony is around here somewhere - or those of you that have experience with winter hatches.

I'm looking at the extended forecast and it looks like, if they have it right, that the week immediately after hatch the high temps are predicted in the mid-upper 20's and lows in the lower 20's and possibly a teen or 2.

If I get a hatch, do you recommend I put out a heat lamp for them that first week or 2? Or other thoughts?

what Miss Lydia said is perfect. With it that cold making a heat lamp available is really not a bad idea.The day temps are one thing.Those low single digit night time temps are quite another thing

 

[bobbieschicks]

bump...I am needing some advice here.  background info...I have never hatched any chicks before and this is her first time being broody and my first time having a broody hen.  she is a SG dorking.  I don't have any purebred eggs right now to give her to sit on because my dorking roo died.  I have a BV roo but my BV girls aren't laying yet.  but I COULD buy some eggs.  We are in Virginia, so winters do get below freezing, but not usually fo too long.  usually about 40 degrees during the day and below at night.

what do y'all think?

We're in VA as well on the eastern side near MD. I don't heat or light the coop. My coop is 10x5 and raised off the ground. Our weather is presently around 40/50F during the day and 30sF at night.

Congrats on the broody!

If your broody is wanting to hatch now you could certainly let her. I would do no more than 5 of her eggs as chances are good she will hatch 3-4 of them. Mark them with a felt tip so you can tell them from others and let her have at it. It will take her about 21 days to hatch them maybe slightly longer with colder weather. Once they are hatched let her raise them without interfering. She will keep them safe and teach them what to do. I would not take them away or raise them inside. She will raise hardier stock for you if you let her do it. The ones that survive will be winter hardy fast. She will probably keep the chicks with her on the floor of the coop until the 5th week father they hatch. After that they will either be taught ow to roost or stay together in a pile on the floor Neil they feel confident roosting.

If you choose to break her it will still take awhile before she goes back to laying.

If my broody chooses to have a clutch during the winter I'd limit her clutch, but n the spring I'd pile on the eggs.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hey guys, will really hot weather affect the hatching rates! The broody has rolled some eggs out from under her for a little bit (she's put them back under now), is that just to let them cool down a little?
Maybe I should have been a bit more patient to hatch these eggs D:

The short answer is yes. Any extreme weather will affect hatches. During the 100+ F in humidity in VA I had broodies trying to hatch. I think the extreme heat and humidity made it tougher on the girls. But they still managed to hatch some chicks. I wouldn't worry about the broodies, they can do the job. And yes they will hover over the eggs when it's too hot and rotate them out to cool a bit. I let them do whatever and only remove eggs that stink or crack.

 

[bobbieschicks]

My first time with a broodie hen, I bought eggs to put under her - she was really tight to that nest - I didn't know that I was supposed to make sure she got off the nest etc - I think she was sitting on an empty nest for over 6 weeks before I got the eggs.  Then she wouldn't hop off for anything, other than water.  Anyway - she kept and protected those chicks for 6 months before she finally told them, they were on their own.  It was really sad watching them being pecked by mommy.  Now the chicks, hang out together but not with the rest of the flock.  They will dive in for food scrapes or such things, and sleep in the coop - (in a nest box-sigh) but once everyone is up - they just kind of stay together.  There were 4 chicks and then a few weeks ago, two went missing.  Either our barn cat or dog, we think got think got them.

Anyway - is it normal for hens to keep babies around for so long?  Is she likely to go broody again - or now she knows what it is like - will she just lay eggs

My broodies keep their chicks nearby until 4-6 weeks and then they leave them.

 

[starlingsbaby]

I have a buff orph that has went broody and she is sitting on 12 eggs right now and we are on day 14 and they rae due to hatch a few days after christmas and im super excited. i too had to move my broody i thought the roo and the other ladies would bother her. so i moved her and the eggs onenight into my spare bedroom in my extra guinea pig cage and she has gotten up only a few times. she is such a good broody and i think she will be good mom and so so protective already!!! I am going to take a photo of her and upload later!!!!

 

[Johnn]

Thaught i would let yous know, the stoat has been back and attacked the mother orp

 

[pysankigirl]

is she okay? or should I infer not...

 

[Johnn]

is she okay? or should I infer not...

I thinkshes ok, shes alive, i couldnt really see because it was dark and the chicks were perching around her, i will be able to know for sure tomorrow :/

 

[kingsfarm]

An so sorry...we lost 21 pullets at point of lay a while back...have put cement around wire fence bottom and installed another plastic fence 2 FT in front of the outside wire fence so the chickens cannot even get too close or the VARMIT cannot reach IN to catch them....since then...no more loss....have 17 10 week old barred rock pullets in this pen now....this worked for me.....G

 

[Haloclimb]

The temperature has dropped thankfully, so hopefully it'll be a bit easier on the mother! I can't wait to candle them at 7 days and see which are doing anything, I've tried candling at 2 and 3 days but obviously seen just about nothing xD
And so sorry to hear about that stoat John, hopefully the chicks being around the mum will give her the strength she needs to pull though!