Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[EggieRowe]

Two chicks! Momma didn't get too annoyed when I lifted her wing, but bit the bejesus out of a nosy hen before me. Waiting on two more eggs then I'm moving them to an isolation pen. The other hens' curiosity is making me nervous!

 

[CherokeeFlats]

Good morning all. I'm new to the thread but not BYC. I just set 7 eggs under a broody EE hen. Plus I have some in the incubator. I've got chicks coming outta my ears and am happy as can be about it!

 

[Johnn]

Two chicks! Momma didn't get too annoyed when I lifted her wing, but bit the bejesus out of a nosy hen before me. Waiting on two more eggs then I'm moving them to an isolation pen. The other hens' curiosity is making me nervous!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I'm scared to crack eggs open on the floor now, last year when I did it there was 3 fully grown chicks and it was horrible.

I tossed it outside. It stunk so I knew nothing was living in it.

 

[lawatt]

i've spent the morning watching my chickens negotiate for spots in the nesting boxes -- with two broodies and only three nesting boxes, things often get crowded. question: should i offer an additional nesting box or two for the interim? i have a couple of wooden boxes i could set up inside the henhouse -- don't really have a separate space to move the broodies to, and don't really want to force them to move anyway, but am a little concerned some eggs might get broken with so many girls all trying to crowd in at once...?

 

[Audio51]

Hi...I am new to this thread and this question may have been answered already but there are soooo many posts it would take me two days to read thru them all. I have a broody hen on 11 eggs out in the common chicken yard with 3 other hens. THe coop is elevated about 2 feet off the ground and she is in one of the nest boxes up in the coop. There is a ramp that leads down into a wired in area the same size as the coop footprint. The eggs are due in a week. I have several questions. First....should I leave her where she is to hatch the eggs or risk putting her off the nest by moving her downstairs? Second.....should I leave her in with the other hens? If I close the door to the space underneath, the other hens can't get into the coop at night as the only entrance is the ramp from the upper level to the lower wired section. I don't think I have a way to separate her from the other hens otherwise. I do have a large door for cleaning out the coop that I suppose I could make a temporary ramp on to allow them to get upstairs while to broody hen is downstairs and just lock them in at night after they roost. The yard is somewhat small so would be tough to separate off an area other than under the coop.

 

[Johnn]

Hi...I am new to this thread and this question may have been answered already but there are soooo many posts it would take me two days to read thru them all. I have a broody hen on 11 eggs out in the common chicken yard with 3 other hens. THe coop is elevated about 2 feet off the ground and she is in one of the nest boxes up in the coop. There is a ramp that leads down into a wired in area the same size as the coop footprint. The eggs are due in a week. I have several questions. First....should I leave her where she is to hatch the eggs or risk putting her off the nest by moving her downstairs? Second.....should I leave her in with the other hens? If I close the door to the space underneath, the other hens can't get into the coop at night as the only entrance is the ramp from the upper level to the lower wired section. I don't think I have a way to separate her from the other hens otherwise. I do have a large door for cleaning out the coop that I suppose I could make a temporary ramp on to allow them to get upstairs while to broody hen is downstairs and just lock them in at night after they roost. The yard is somewhat small so would be tough to separate off an area other than under the coop.

should I leave her where she is to hatch the eggs or risk putting her off the nest by moving her downstairs? If I was you, I would just leave her in the nest box she is in, there is no point moving her unless you need to. I have a separated broodies but now I don't bother, I just let them stay were they are.

Second.....should I leave her in with the other hens?
It all depends on how the other hens react to the chicks, If they aren't aggressive to them and don't try to kill them then I would just let her raise them with the flock. If they are aggressive to them , separate them. My hens raised hers with the rest of the flock last year, the chicks got a few pecks at feeding etc but that was it.

 

[Johnn]

lawatt It wont let me quote you so I will just type it here. I had the same problem a couple of years ago, I just put some boxes in for the rest of the hens and that sorted the problem out.

 

[bobbieschicks]

should I leave her where she is to hatch the eggs or risk putting her off the nest by moving her downstairs? If I was you, I would just leave her in the nest box she is in, there is no point moving her unless you need to. I have a separated broodies but now I don't bother, I just let them stay were they are. 

Second.....should I leave her in with the other hens? 
It all depends on how the other hens react to the chicks, If they aren't aggressive to them and don't try to kill them then I would just let her raise them with the flock. If they are aggressive to them , separate them. My hens raised hers with the rest of the flock last year, the chicks got a few pecks at feeding etc but that was it.

Xs2

 

[bobbieschicks]

Bunny went right back to her empty nest to sit. Hopefully by tonight she will give it up.