Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[LisaLouHoo]

That is so true, Sharol. I'm hoping to do this again next year. My chicks are only 2 weeks old, so your info about 5 weeks and 7 weeks gives me an idea of what to expect. I've just been watching her and trying to figure out what is best. It seems like my other hens and rooster don't seem to bother them, so I'm hoping they'll be integrated in with the flock for the winter.

 

[14chickens]

I am new at chickens and have had a funny experience. (I just learned more about going broody from this post.) It started about 3-4 weeks ago when we noticed one hen not coming in the hutch in the evening and we couldn't find her. Well eventually she would show up for brief moments but we just didn't know where she was. Then the other day my daughter said she had gotten into something "stinky" and when we finally discovered her "nest" in an out building she had apparently gone broody with about 2-3 eggs but they must have been one from much earlier in the season because one broke and she had rotten egg smell on her and was still sitting in this nest. GROSS. We have gotten rid of the eggs and now have to bathe her. It has been interesting. She now has received the name dirty birdie.

 

[Triplell]

I have had two BA's that went broody on and off. Well this time I happened to have chicks at the same time. I fostered 6 chicks under he'd and so far very attentive mom. I am waiting for some more chicks to hatch to try it on the other broody. My DH told me that has been doing most of my barn chores.

 

[Johnn]

Daisy and baby

 

[Johnn]

Remember these 2 chicks from May?

See their before and after pics here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-before-after-pics-pic-heavy-but-worth-a-look

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
I try to keep the hens as 'involved' in the flock as possible while they have chicks. We do place them in an area separated by chicken wire for a day or two while they get used to Mama's calls and we make sure their beaks and feet are good. Once we know all is well the mama and chicks are out and about in the yard so she can teach them all she needs to. We do supervise them in the yard to watch for aggressive flock members or sneaky cats. Hens who are bigger or high ranking in the flock are rarely challenged, and even small and low ranked hens turn into 'Attila the Hen' when they have little ones in tow!

Will the Brodie's be off the nest longer and/or more frequently when the weather is HOT? It has been 90F here for the last couple of days. We are on day 12, I tried to candle once, and I was totally confused...

I candle around day 10 or so, but only look for dark on one end and air sac at the other. If an egg looks clear or questionable I leave it (but I do mark it with a ?? mark) and recheck on day 14, then pull any that don't have obvious development. I don't even try to identify beaks or hearts or feet or anything, though I know some folks can see them. If it's dark with an air cell it gets left to the broody.

Hi all,
I'm dealing with my first broody. She's been sitting for about 3 days now so I know she's not quitting. Yesterday I tried to mark the eggs she's sitting on (they are fertile) however she attacked me when I tried to grab one (it was at night too, the only light was a flashlight). What's the best way to mark the eggs so I can remove the fresh ones everyday?

I mark them when hen is off to do her business, even if you have to pull her off the nest to do it once. A simple line drawn the whole way around the center of the egg will allow you to identify them no matter how they are turned in the nest.

 

[MzPlacedHippie]

OMG! I got a pip! So excited!

 

[roadbiker255]

Well, I thought I would share. This is my first year with chickens and I bought 22 from the local feed store. Different breeds. About 3 weeks ago I noticed one of my buffs not getting up from her nest box. I decided to play it out. At that time I didn't realize that other hens were still laying in the same nesting box. Pictures to follow. I realized that aout 2 weeks into my buff being broody. So now there are several different ages of fertilized eggs under our buff. ( we have a rooster and the few chances I've caught our buff off the eggs ive candled) and our first set of chicks hatched Saturday. Between Saturday and Sunday we have 3 baby chicks. She's sitting on 14 eggs. I figured since they are so spread our for hatch dates, I decided to build a new box that was the same level as the nesting box so the new babies could learn to eat and drink while the buff hatches the older eggs. We also decided to let her stay in her box with the other hens since she was impossible to move. And so far none of the others have messed with the new chicks. Since this is my first go at this, I would love suggestions. Also take a look at the pics no let me know what changes I should make. Thanks!

 

[sharol]

Well, I thought I would share. This is my first year with chickens and I bought 22 from the local feed store. Different breeds. About 3 weeks ago I noticed one of my buffs not getting up from her nest box. I decided to play it out. At that time I didn't realize that other hens were still laying in the same nesting box. Pictures to follow. I realized that aout 2 weeks into my buff being broody. So now there are several different ages of fertilized eggs under our buff. ( we have a rooster and the few chances I've caught our buff off the eggs ive candled) and our first set of chicks hatched Saturday. Between Saturday and Sunday we have 3 baby chicks. She's sitting on 14 eggs. I figured since they are so spread our for hatch dates, I decided to build a new box that was the same level as the nesting box so the new babies could learn to eat and drink while the buff hatches the older eggs. We also decided to let her stay in her box with the other hens since she was impossible to move. And so far none of the others have messed with the new chicks. Since this is my first go at this, I would love suggestions. Also take a look at the pics no let me know what changes I should make. Thanks!

 

[MzPlacedHippie]

One little peeper so far! It's still hiding under 'momma' tho so no pic yet...