Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm posting this in both the Broody Hen threads I know of ("broody hen thread" and "old-fashioned broody hen hatchalong and informational thread"). I'm sorry for double posting, I just want to get as much information and advice as I can. Thanks.

I have some eggs I need hatched right away. I put them in the brooder and put a hen in there I feel confident will go broody on them for me. I chose her b/c she already lays in the brooder (and I don't want her to start laying somewhere else) and no one else lays in the brooder (therefore, not causing anyone else to think they need to find a new nest). I have a few questions on what to look for and time frame.

I have had a broody before, so I have an idea of how she'll behave if/when she goes broody. But what should I look for to give up on her brooding the eggs?

She's kicked some of the eggs out and she has eaten one of them. At what point to I take the eggs and just stack them in the 'bator? (I don't want this situation to create an egg eater.)

Absolutely any information or advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

Even with a good broody hen, you can't trigger broodiness if her hormones are simply not ready.

Sometimes with hens that are almost always in the brooding mood (like a Silkie), or one that is on the cusp of brooding, sitting her on a nice cozy dark nest with fake eggs and limiting her ability to move away will often trigger a good deep brood...or make for a very irritated or restless hen....and you then know she is NOT in the mood.

I highly recommend using fake eggs (golf balls, ping pong balls, or "throw away" eggs) as you are figuring things out so that you don't risk valuable hatching eggs.

I personally do not try to set a brood until I've seen good signs that the hen is already contemplating brooding (the pre-brood)...she is staying on the nest for long periods of time, fluffs and growls when you come near her on the nest, steals eggs to add to her stash, but may still be coming and going into the yard 3 or 4 times a day.

If I have a batch of eggs that I want brooded, and need set (due to age), but unsure if the hen is ready, I have started the eggs in the incubator while coaxing a brood. I would give it at least a couple of days (for the really broody types and a very faithful hen) to a week if she'll tolerate it to see if a deep brood sets in.

If she sticks, then I put the real hatching eggs under her (which have now been developed for about a week). Hens don't count the number of days until the chicks hatch, so they don't care if they chicks come a bit early. However, I have found that a hen seems to do better with a couple of weeks of sitting to really bond to the idea. Two weeks seems to be a good time but is not a hard rule by any means. I just find that 1 week of sitting then babies hatching seemed to be too short a time and while the hen brooded and cared for them, I could see a difference in her attitude...she wasn't as "mothering" nor protective as if she had sat on them longer before hatching.

If she doesn't get into the mindset, you'll have to finish them in the incubator and most likely heat lamp brood them. If you are lucky, she may foster them for you, but I've not had good luck with a hen accepting chicks if she is has not been in a good brood first.

Lady of McCamley

EDITED TO ADD: I saw your cross post thread and there you state you can't put them in the incubator...and you are using fake eggs...so, my answer would be...depends on the hen as to how long to wait before setting the eggs with her...my Silkie I knew in about 2 days...if she was settled we were good to go. My other hens, I'd give it a week before I trusted they were set to go. Good luck with this batch.

 

[vpatt]

Good luck, TeaChick! I hope your hen decides to help you out.

 

[vpatt]

I just let the ladies (and Joe) outside and made sure the coop was chick ready. Olivia was fluffed up more than usual...I think. I didn't hear or see anything. So I will check on her from time to time today. Without messing with her! I don't see how there would be room in a nest for hatching/drying but I guess this has been working for hens and eggs since the first hen or egg.....whichever came first. Today will be in the forties and I think warmer tomorrow.

 

[TeaChick]

Even with a good broody hen, you can't trigger broodiness if her hormones are simply not ready.

Sometimes with hens that are almost always in the brooding mood (like a Silkie), or one that is on the cusp of brooding, sitting her on a nice cozy dark nest with fake eggs and limiting her ability to move away will often trigger a good deep brood...or make for a very irritated or restless hen....and you then know she is NOT in the mood.

I highly recommend using fake eggs (golf balls, ping pong balls, or "throw away" eggs) as you are figuring things out so that you don't risk valuable hatching eggs.

I personally do not try to set a brood until I've seen good signs that the hen is already contemplating brooding (the pre-brood)...she is staying on the nest for long periods of time, fluffs and growls when you come near her on the nest, steals eggs to add to her stash, but may still be coming and going into the yard 3 or 4 times a day.

If I have a batch of eggs that I want brooded, and need set (due to age), but unsure if the hen is ready, I have started the eggs in the incubator while coaxing a brood. I would give it at least a couple of days (for the really broody types and a very faithful hen) to a week if she'll tolerate it to see if a deep brood sets in.

If she sticks, then I put the real hatching eggs under her (which have now been developed for about a week). Hens don't count the number of days until the chicks hatch, so they don't care if they chicks come a bit early. However, I have found that a hen seems to do better with a couple of weeks of sitting to really bond to the idea. Two weeks seems to be a good time but is not a hard rule by any means. I just find that 1 week of sitting then babies hatching seemed to be too short a time and while the hen brooded and cared for them, I could see a difference in her attitude...she wasn't as "mothering" nor protective as if she had sat on them longer before hatching.

If she doesn't get into the mindset, you'll have to finish them in the incubator and most likely heat lamp brood them. If you are lucky, she may foster them for you, but I've not had good luck with a hen accepting chicks if she is has not been in a good brood first.

Lady of McCamley

EDITED TO ADD: I saw your cross post thread and there you state you can't put them in the incubator...and you are using fake eggs...so, my answer would be...depends on the hen as to how long to wait before setting the eggs with her...my Silkie I knew in about 2 days...if she was settled we were good to go. My other hens, I'd give it a week before I trusted they were set to go. Good luck with this batch.

Thank you so much for this; it's very informative!!!
Yes, I can't put them in the incubator.
Unfortunately, I don't have fake eggs, so I have to use the actual eggs I need hatched.

The hen seems to be taking to brooding. She's not getting restless, and she's very protective of the eggs. She rearranged them a lot the first few days and kicked a few out. She's slept on them all but the first night (someone moved the cover I had over the nest, but when I put it back, she's slept on them every night). She's been spending more time in the nest every day. She doesn't try to get out when we open the brooder to feed and water her (like she did the first two days).

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the advice, information, and help, especially since I understand that these are not ideal circumstances.
Thank you! =)

 

[TeaChick]

Good luck, TeaChick! I hope your hen decides to help you out.

Thank you! =)

I just let the ladies (and Joe) outside and made sure the coop was chick ready. Olivia was fluffed up more than usual...I think. I didn't hear or see anything. So I will check on her from time to time today. Without messing with her! I don't see how there would be room in a nest for hatching/drying but I guess this has been working for hens and eggs since the first hen or egg.....whichever came first. Today will be in the forties and I think warmer tomorrow.

I hope all goes well with you chicks.
I've been keeping up, but I don't have experience to offer anything.
All the best to you and your hen and her chicks!!! =)

 

[vpatt]

Still nothing......I am imagining the worst.

 

[A6chickenhome]

Ok so my chicks are now 10days old and my broody hen still hasn't tried to take them out of the coop. They are free to roam my 14 acre property so I know it's not a crowding issue. I did notice one of the hens intently following one of the chicks around and pecking at him which I didn't like. My poor mama hen is second to last in the pecking order and it seems that the more dominant hens just ignore her when she growls and puffs up her feathers. She seems like she just kinda likes sticking close to the dog crate and back corner of the coop, maybe she feels like she can protect them better. I have space in my barn that I could make a brooding area for them. What do y'all think, should I move my mama and her chicks?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ok so my chicks are now 10days old and my broody hen still hasn't tried to take them out of the coop. They are free to roam my 14 acre property so I know it's not a crowding issue. I did notice one of the hens intently following one of the chicks around and pecking at him which I didn't like. My poor mama hen is second to last in the pecking order and it seems that the more dominant hens just ignore her when she growls and puffs up her feathers. She seems like she just kinda likes sticking close to the dog crate and back corner of the coop, maybe she feels like she can protect them better. I have space in my barn that I could make a brooding area for them. What do y'all think, should I move my mama and her chicks?

I would move them if the other hens remain aggressive.

While many on this list have no issues with communal brooding, it is very dependent on the momma hen, her pecking order, and general make up of the flock and the yard area.

I have had bottom of pecking order hens unable to protect their chicks, so if in doubt, I keep them safe...I actually built a designated broody hutch (or rather beloved husband did) with separate run so that momma and chicks are completely separate and safe...better since I use banties to brood predominately who get NO respect, and it keeps older chicken diseases away from the babies until their immune systems develop (from momma's good care and bacteria).

I integrate at various ages depending upon the batch and momma, but 4 to 6 weeks can be a good time as babies can't get trampled on so easily and often are often still kept an eye on by momma. Since my Silkie would brood the "babies" until they were much older, I often turned them lose in the general yard at 12 weeks as a sub-flock giving their immune systems longer amount of time to grow. (Ag literature recommends waiting until 12 to 18 weeks before integrating into the flock for disease protection.)

My 2 cents
Lady of McCamley

 

[ochochicas]

I think I'd move them too. The hen and the chicks will be happier (and safer) without the others picking on them.

 

[Kaylish]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU! to everyone again. I came home this morning to a happy broody and even heard some peeping in the nest a few minutes ago when I went to check on her.

I so want to go in and look but I'm going to (try

) and wait until the little fuzzies poke their heads out.