Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[L0rraine]

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Yes, I've had hens do ducklings. They are awful cute together and seem to bond quite well. The hens are always a bit baffled and nervous when the ducklings take to the water though. My first duckling raised by a hen was convinced that water was a BAD thing and it took her nearly a month of living with other ducks to really give swimming a try.

 

[L0rraine]

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Glad you found the 'runaways' in time, hope all goes well. You WILL be overrun with chicks.

 

[countrygirl911]

the wait is killing me lol

she is doing a great job i hope i have the date correct because i would hate to miss her hatch her babies. discussed with my DH if she does not hatch any out by the 9th we are going to the feed store and hopefully get her some baby chicks to put under her she only has 4 eggs under her. do you think she has good chances of hatching any because i am not sure if the feed stores or the tsc will have any babies at that time

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Congrats on the great hatch, and the chicks should be fine once mama warms them up..

 

[Miss Lydia]

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iF you have a rooster then you have a good chance. !!!

 

[countrygirl911]

oh i have a rooster that is mean and about to go to freezer camp unless someone wants him

 

[Miss Lydia]

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No thanks i don't like mean roos. we have had a few go to freezer camp too.

 

[Faith Hope]

Thanks Miss Lydia and Lorraine -- I wasn't sure if they would make it or not, but I just went and checked them, and all seem to be fine as far as I can tell. My broody is actually very tolerant; she is letting me hold the chicks and check on them; she puffs up but no growling, biting, or pecking for her!

 

[jordanhaspinkhair]

Hi everyone!

My very first broody has three eggs underneath her due to hatch on Saturday. I left her in the coop because I only have one other hen and they are pretty buddy-buddy. The nest box she is in is about 5-6 inches tall on the sides, is this going to be okay? The box is on the floor, so it isn't high up or anything like that. Just worried if a chick gets out of the box it won't be able to get back in. I was thinking of getting a big cardboard box and putting it on its side so they had a little secluded area in the coop with easy in/out access. My coop is not big enough to put a dog kennel inside of it like I have read other people doing.

Also, should I lock the coop door up when they are hatching and still little? My coop is inside of my run (which is secured, and chick-proofed!), and I usually leave the door open during the day so they can come and go as they please. Or will Momma keep an eye on them and take them out when she is ready?

I know I am probably overthinking all of this. Just excited for the babies and don't want to do anything wrong!

 

[featherz]

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I just had two broodies hatch out in the coop, on the floor, with other chickens. They stayed under mommy until mommy wanted them to go out, so I left the door open as I always do. I used a cardboard box for one of them that was open in the front, one of those sturdy things I hate that you get from costco or another warehouse store as a 'free box'. I think a box on the side would work as well.