Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Take it you did it in day time? So glad she has accepted them!

She's doing a great job clucking at them and watching over them. Tomorrow I will watch whether she moves them to the floor. If she doesn't I will move her and the chicks down in the evening.

Just checked a few minutes ago and the entire flock was in the coop. Bunny was hunkered down with her chicks under her in the nest box.

Yes I put them under her @2pm. It's a rainy day so its a little dark outside and dark in the coop. I just slipped them under her one at a time after removing all eggs and fake eggs.

 

[bobbieschicks]

So I don't just remove the amount of eggs there is chicks, I just remove all eggs?

She can't count. She won't make the connection she will only want the chicks.

 

[Adriennesmom]

Hello Everyone.

I am enjoying my first broody hen experience. My Jersey Giant hen, Olivia, became broody twenty one days ago. I do not believe her eggs are fertile so I put a few other eggs from my other hens that should be fertile. I could see development in one silky egg. I am anxiously waiting for a possible hatch today or tomorrow.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Here is my "guard" golden retriever who is mesmerized by the chicks!

 

[lawatt]

my goodness -- it never rains but it pours -- a FIFTH chicklet of mine, the second of the two SPPRs, has apparently gone broody -- sitting on three fake eggs & has plucked her breast feathers out... the world seems to be pushing me toward more and more chicken math!

 

[renstar]

Hello,
I have a broody light Sussex who is currently sitting on 10 fertilised eggs, (day 8.)
This is the first time i have tried to hatch eggs in in this way, and i am looking for a few pieces of information.
Firstly how long is the mother hen (Willow) able to leave her eggs each day?? Does the change in temperature when she gets off not affect them?
Secondly is handling the eggs ok. I have had to change the straw in her nexting box once and also candled 3 of the eggs last night to see how they were going. Is that ok? i don't want to mess with them too much.
Depending on how many chicks finally hatch, i too was wondering if it is ok to leave the mother with the rest of the flock (only two other Isa Browns.) Mother hen (Willow) is the boss of all my chooks so i feel when they are born she will be able to protect them but would love your opinions on this.
Is there any thing else i need to know??? I am so excited to see if we get any chicks or not. So far Willow seems to be doing a great job. will keep you posted

Thanks

 

[Johnn]

Hello,
I have a broody light Sussex who is currently sitting on 10 fertilised eggs, (day 8.)
This is the first time i have tried to hatch eggs in in this way, and i am looking for a few pieces of information.
Firstly how long is the mother hen (Willow) able to leave her eggs each day?? Does the change in temperature when she gets off not affect them?
Secondly is handling the eggs ok. I have had to change the straw in her nexting box once and also candled 3 of the eggs last night to see how they were going. Is that ok? i don't want to mess with them too much.
Depending on how many chicks finally hatch, i too was wondering if it is ok to leave the mother with the rest of the flock (only two other Isa Browns.) Mother hen (Willow) is the boss of all my chooks so i feel when they are born she will be able to protect them but would love your opinions on this.
Is there any thing else i need to know??? I am so excited to see if we get any chicks or not. So far Willow seems to be doing a great job. will keep you posted

Thanks

It's ok for her to be off the eggs for 30-45 mins but she will probably only stay ooff for 10-15 mins. Its ok that you changed the straw but i wouldnt do it too often. If she is the boss there is defintly no problem leaving her to sit in the coop. I even leave hens that arent at the top in the coop, she will be fine!

 

[UnionMan]

Well went to go check on my broody who has made her home in the main layers coop on the poop board. I gave her some nesting materials last week and shes seemed to use them. This morning I gave her some treats (dried mealwroms) and was able to candle a couple of the eggs which I placed under her last week. The couple that I candled seemed to have veins and developing. Pretty excited. Its exciting that this is my first broody and that she is also sitting on show quality Silver Ameracauna Eggs.

 

[UnionMan]

Here she is by the way. I tried to move her but she caused a fuss so I let her stay in the main coop on the poop board.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah - momma Bunny brought the babies down this morning some time. They were sitting in the nest box at 7am when I cleaned up. But at 12:30pm when I checked on them they were under momma on the floor. I'm keeping the large doors closed for a couple of days while she teaches them how to get around in the coop - then I'll leave the large exterior doors open and let her teach them about the ramps.

So far the adoption thing has gone smoothly - although Bunny found a ping pong ball on the floor and attempted to shove it under herself while she was warming the chicks. UGH!