Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[earlyredrooster]

Today's first pictures. Six baby's this morning.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Both my Bantam cochins hatched out five chicks. Each bunch is pretty much a mirror image of the other except for one bird different in each batch.
Here is a sample! What's with the piggy back? So cute!

Awhhh those chicks of yours are extremely cute! My hen just hatched out 12 adorable little chickies too (just she had 12 not 5)

 

[krista74]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I guess I have some thinking to do!

I will definitely use the corner box for Broody # 2 with any hatched chicks she gets. It is quite large (6 ft x 4 ft) so they have plenty of space. Wether to put Broody # 1 into the outside pen or somewhere else in the main coop I'm not sure.

Since the main coop is left open during the day, and we have cats (who saw the little chickie yesterday and started licking their lips) they might be better off in the outside coop. There may be some reintegration problems if I do that, but at least chickie won't be eaten.

Thanks again everyone!

- Krista

 

[ochochicas]

My cats haven't attempted to touch our chicks. We have some doves (wild doves) that come in and eat with the chickens in the yard. The cats will try to catch a dove, but won't even mess with the chicks. When the chicks were 5 days old two of them escaped from the pen and were running around the yard all day without the momma to protect them. Despite being scared and lonely, they were fine and the cats didn't touch them. Good luck with your clan!

 

[earlyredrooster]

An anxious but VERY proud mama with her new family.

Everyone is upset after the move to the brooding box. It was a rush job as we got home from town to find mama forcing her body between the babies and three other hens who were trying to get to them. I thought I might actually have to wring a neck or two and did end up with cuts and peck marks on my arms. Lesson learned, the next broody goes straight to the brooding box first sign of sitting.

 

[chicknmania]

My cats haven't attempted to touch our chicks. We have some doves (wild doves) that come in and eat with the chickens in the yard. The cats will try to catch a dove, but won't even mess with the chicks. When the chicks were 5 days old two of them escaped from the pen and were running around the yard all day without the momma to protect them. Despite being scared and lonely, they were fine and the cats didn't touch them. Good luck with your clan!

That;s the way it is with our cats too! I think they know they're not allowed to touch those.

 

[krista74]

'Lil Puss is a hunter. Last week she took down four (yes, four) baby rabbits in two days. It was terrible, but I don't think you can train that out of them.

She caught sight of Peepers in the coop yesterday and went into 'pounce' pose.

Whilst she is great with the chooks, there is no way I would EVER let her out near the chick.

It would be one mouthful and gone.

Peepers will have to stay in a coop until he is fully feathered out and at LEAST half the size of a full sized chicken.

How fast do they grow?

- Krista

 

[K Epp]

I have 10 or so cats. Non of them will take on a mama hen. Even the kittens who think the chicks are toys learn fast that they will bring on the rather of the flock if they go near.

I started taking my broody bantam in just because the others would not stay out of their nest. After their chicks are a week old and moving around good I return them to the coop. I haven't had any flock integration problems. In one small coop I have a Silkie pair and a Sizzle with 2 Silkie chicks and 3 d'Uccle. At lock up Mama and the 3 d'Uccle were on the roost. I couldn't find the two Silkie chicks until I saw 4 little feet sticking out from under the Silkie roo. It might be easier to move the two hateful hens out side and keep all the chicks together. Then the big girls will be the ones to integrate later. That would be less stressful on Mama and chicks.

 

[ochochicas]

When we got our week old chicks in the spring, we raised them in the house with the cats. The chicks literally lived in a little wading pool in the family room. I think the cats leaned that the chicks are "pets" and not food. We have one cat that is not very smart; she will do "fly-bys" with the chickens but never actually tries to get one. A couple of our cats actually sit on top of the fence when the chicks are in the horse pasture and look for predators. We also have a feral barn cat that has not messed with the chickens either.

 

[earlyredrooster]

I have a question for you more experienced. My broody still has three eggs under her that she is adamant about still sitting on them. They aren't due to hatch till tomorrow, should I wait a few more days or go ahead and dispose of them? Thanks for all your wisdom.