Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[jak2002003]

I often have hens hatch out chicks at the same time, or just week or so apart. I let them brood and hatch out the chicks in with all my other chickens and rooster. The mothers share the chicks and I have never had them fighting.

The other hens and rooster are fine with the chicks and don't chase them or anything, even if they jump into the food bowl for a nap.

The chicks love it because they can get the benefit of 2 or 3 mothers at once. Its funny seeing the broody hens all sat together and lots of chicks poking their heads out - all in a big pile.

I found that the chicks know which is the real mum, and the mum knows her chicks, because they will always go back to the correct mum at night, and only swap about in the daytime.

When the chicks are older I noticed they will often group up together








and follow one of the roosters about while the mums have a break. The rooster looks like he is their 'teacher' showing them what to eat and how to behave themselves and keep in line.

Maybe this is only the case with Japanese Bantams, as I have no other experience with other kinds of chickens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I often have hens hatch out chicks at the same time, or just week or so apart. I let them brood and hatch out the chicks in with all my other chickens and rooster. The mothers share the chicks and I have never had them fighting.

The other hens and rooster are fine with the chicks and don't chase them or anything, even if they jump into the food bowl for a nap.

The chicks love it because they can get the benefit of 2 or 3 mothers at once. Its funny seeing the broody hens all sat together and lots of chicks poking their heads out - all in a big pile.

I found that the chicks know which is the real mum, and the mum knows her chicks, because they will always go back to the correct mum at night, and only swap about in the daytime.

When the chicks are older I noticed they will often group up together








and follow one of the roosters about while the mums have a break. The rooster looks like he is their 'teacher' showing them what to eat and how to behave themselves and keep in line.

Maybe this is only the case with Japanese Bantams, as I have no other experience with other kinds of chickens.

Beautiful pics, these were game hens and their first time, and only my cochin bantams have ever shared. once the chicks got to be a few days old their was never any problem knowing whos mama they belonged too. I think what happened that morning was 3 mamas started fighting and 1 mama stayed clam all the chicks ran to her. It's so much better when the mamas cooperate and help each other out.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Once they like a nest it is hard to move them, my nest boxes are the stack type plastic bins you can get at lowes so I can just pick them up and move them.

Photo, please!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nothing fancy but they like them I use sheet rock screws to make the stable then when time to move them I just take out the screws pick it up with broody and eggs inside. Sorry they came out blurry .

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Lil cuties Congrats

Thanks, they are so funny.

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Another chick hatched today and it had Green Strips, one on it's head and two down it's back, I have never seen this before.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another chick hatched today and it had Green Strips, one on it's head and two down it's back, I have never seen this before.

we have to see a pic of this

 

[BorderBrigade]

Well everyone. I waited until all the other chickens were up in their roost ,completly dark and took a peice of card board as wide as my nest box slid it under all the bedding material hen eggs and all and lifted the whole shabang out. Carried it into the box with bedding and food I had set up in my tack room and set her down. Slid the cardboard out from under. She made her ticking noise a few times otherwise stayed flat as a pancake on top of the eggs! I think it was successful but ill keep the area quiet for a few days to make sure. She is a big blue standard cochin so I think she will make a good calm mom. Ill keep you posted

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well everyone. I waited until all the other chickens were up in their roost ,completly dark and took a peice of card board as wide as my nest box slid it under all the bedding material hen eggs and all and lifted the whole shabang out. Carried it into the box with bedding and food I had set up in my tack room and set her down. Slid the cardboard out from under. She made her ticking noise a few times otherwise stayed flat as a pancake on top of the eggs! I think it was successful but ill keep the area quiet for a few days to make sure. She is a big blue standard cochin so I think she will make a good calm mom. Ill keep you posted

Awesome, keep us updated and of course pics..

 

[Whittni]

I finished my Broody Box for Iddy! Here it is: