Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[vpatt]

My first chick to hatch under broody. Have another 10 due next weekend which i need to candle in Monday as incubator at my sons school.

Oh it is so cute.

 

[ochochicas]

My broody hen hatched a solitary chick. The other hens (2 others) joined in on playing mother and together with the rooster formed a squad of 4....one in front, one behind and one on either side of the tiny chick as they provided an armed escort for the chick. I have a dozen cats and I was really worried the cats would harm the chick, but it was the other way around....any cat which came within cooee of the chick was chased ferociously by the proud parents. Baby chick is now a couple of months old and looks to be a pullet and roams with the squad. The cats have learned to be afraid, be very afraid of the chickens LOL
Margaret

That is funny. My cats have a healthy respect for the chickens and the chicks. When we had chicks over the summer there was a wild dove that would "visit" regularly to try to eat with the chickens. The cats would go after the dove, but they never tried to go after a chick. They seem to get along pretty well now.

 

[ChickyChickens]

That is funny. My cats have a healthy respect for the chickens and the chicks. When we had chicks over the summer there was a wild dove that would "visit" regularly to try to eat with the chickens. The cats would go after the dove, but they never tried to go after a chick. They seem to get along pretty well now.

LOL!! We had a wild cat here and in 1 week it ate almost 20 chicks, then my dad had to put it down...

 

[ochochicas]

That is too bad about the cat. We have/had a feral that sleeps in the hay loft. He also respects the chicks. After we trapped him and had him neutered, he barely comes around anymore.

When my chicks were 5 days old they were living in a stall with their two broody moms. I took my grandma to the beach and we were gone all day. I didn't realize the chicks could squeeze under the stall door and get out. When DH got home from work there were two tiny 5 day olds running around the yard with the cats, crows, hawks, etc. Somehow they both survived and were reunited with their families. Even more miraculous was that DH was able to catch them and put them back. He must have felt like a superhero afterwards.

 

[ChickyChickens]

That is too bad about the cat. We have/had a feral that sleeps in the hay loft. He also respects the chicks. After we trapped him and had him neutered, he barely comes around anymore.

When my chicks were 5 days old they were living in a stall with their two broody moms. I took my grandma to the beach and we were gone all day. I didn't realize the chicks could squeeze under the stall door and get out. When DH got home from work there were two tiny 5 day olds running around the yard with the cats, crows, hawks, etc. Somehow they both survived and were reunited with their families. Even more miraculous was that DH was able to catch them and put them back. He must have felt like a superhero afterwards.

LOL! Once, when the cat was here (be fore it died...) it was chasing chickens, then my mother started shooting at the cat!! I got it on video and I was sooo funny

 

[earlyredrooster]

Biting nails, chicks hatching and it is only 26º today.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Biting nails, chicks hatching and it is only 26º today.

I wish you luck!!

 

[darajosami]

Last check I had 5 chicks and one pipping, will check back later to see if I can get a pic without disturbing Mumma Hen too much.

Hubby was just asking how long from when chicks hatch does a broody hen start laying again and also how long do they need their mother for?
Thanks

 

[rebrascora]

It depends on the broody. My first broody cast them off at 5 weeks and started laying straight away. It was like laying an egg was the trigger for her to focus on her next family. That day she was positively mean to her chicks and having been a wonderful mother for those first weeks, she suddenly turned on them and would peck them and chase them. She kept her second brood close to her for another couple of weeks but the weather was cooler, then she started laying and again they were on their own after that.

With my other broody it was not so clear cut but it was about the 8 week mark when she started laying again. The chicks were already happily independent by then and she is now on day 3 of sitting on eggs again, having gone broody after just 2 or 3 weeks of laying.

Congrats on your chicks. Hope the rest of the hatch goes well.

Regards

Barbara

 

[Gardenlady2]

Tomorrow my 8 "chicks" will be 11 weeks old, and they are still with their broody mama hen. This is my first experience with a broody & I'm amazed at how dedicated she is to them!
Mama is the Delaware in the middle, and the others are her "chicks".