Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

They really are a wonder to watch though. It's just the best chicken TV there is, watching a broody teaching her chicks how to scratch and dust bath and giving them piggy back rides etc..

This is so very true! I have spent many, many hours just watching and enjoying a broody and her chicks...

 

[Faraday40]

Very cute pics. How did you make the chick waterer? -DB

Yes. I like the ease of the chicken nipples & start all my chicks on them. (No fowled water!) For the hens, I have a horizontal nipple drinker with a heater in the winter. (Stayed liquid even at -25'F) They also have a reg water fountain in the yard when it's nice. Like the waterers, the feeders are made out of items from the recycle bin. I like to tinker.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I really want to let a hen brood some eggs for the kids enjoyment but none of ours seem interested are there certain breeds that are better brooding

I recommend getting a Silkie.

I have had really good luck finding proven Silkie brooders. Silkies are very broody prone, and Silkie breeders will often use one that is less than perfect for looks but an excellent mother to hatch their breeding stock. They retire them out around 2 to 4 years of age. I purchased one at 2 years for about $20 then was given one at 4 1/2 years of age. They can live up to 7 or 8, and will brood contentedly about every 3 to 4 months pretty much through their lifetime.

They are smaller, so you will have smaller clutches, about 5 to at most 6 large fowl eggs, or twice that for banty size, depending upon the Silkie's size and "spread factor."

Bantam Cochins can be a good choice as well, and are common birds for 4H-ers. I purchased a bantam Cochin from a turkey breeder who was using a flock (and I do mean flock) of banty Cochins to hatch turkey eggs. I purchased 2 pullets from her that were out of a very broody mother, and I've already been rewarded with a good brood from the older one at 8 months of age.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

The Queen Mum has fledged the OE and Cal Greys, at 8 weeks of age, just in time....I'm getting 3 Isbar eggs to set under Rosie this Wednesday. She's divided out into the side nest. (Mimsy, her sister, kept trying to snuggle at night kicking the dummy eggs about)....I do think they will co-brood once Mimsy gets old enough to brood as well.

So I'll be trying that Isbar project again soon.

LofMc

 

[fisherlady]

The Queen Mum has fledged the OE and Cal Greys, at 8 weeks of age, just in time....I'm getting 3 Isbar eggs to set under Rosie this Wednesday. She's divided out into the side nest. (Mimsy, her sister, kept trying to snuggle at night kicking the dummy eggs about)....I do think they will co-brood once Mimsy gets old enough to brood as well.

So I'll be trying that Isbar project again soon.

LofMc

sending good hatching vibes your way!

 

[perchead]

I recommend getting a Silkie.

I have had really good luck finding proven Silkie brooders. Silkies are very broody prone, and Silkie breeders will often use one that is less than perfect for looks but an excellent mother to hatch their breeding stock. They retire them out around 2 to 4 years of age. I purchased one at 2 years for about $20 then was given one at 4 1/2 years of age. They can live up to 7 or 8, and will brood contentedly about every 3 to 4 months pretty much through their lifetime.

They are smaller, so you will have smaller clutches, about 5 to at most 6 large fowl eggs, or twice that for banty size, depending upon the Silkie's size and "spread factor."

Bantam Cochins can be a good choice as well, and are common birds for 4H-ers. I purchased a bantam Cochin from a turkey breeder who was using a flock (and I do mean flock) of banty Cochins to hatch turkey eggs.  I purchased 2 pullets from her that were out of a very broody mother, and I've already been rewarded with a good brood from the older one at 8 months of age.

LofMc

soo my son loves tying fishing flies and a family friend gave offered him a phoenix roo. We went to pick up the roo and when we expressed interest in brooding hens he gave Tristan 3 brooding hens sitting on 17 eggs. When we got home and set them up they showed zero interest in brooding the eggs so after 3 hours I got worried about the eggs and popped them in the incubator. Unknown to me Tristan put 4 duck and/or guinea eggs in each nest and the hens are sitting happily? ?????????? I'm so confused but I guess we're joining in

 

[sktlmt]

I found one of my 6 month old chickens sitting on a clutch of 19 eggs. I had to move her since the alpaca barn is not an ideal or safe location. She was rather ****** off that I moved her. She abandoned that nest. I put them in the incubator. And she started to lay for a new nest. UGH!! I stole those eggs and so far she has not tried again. So I am now in uncharted territory. I have hatched eggs twice under a broody hen but never in an incubator. I have marked and set the eggs. The incubator is holding temp but I can not seem to get the humidity correct. I have no idea how many of the eggs are viable. One of my girls laid one for the cause so I know there is one egg that was fresh going in. At what day do I candle the eggs and what is the best way to go about this. They are all brown eggs if that makes a difference. Any help will be helpful.
Thank You

 

[Johnn]

Well that was stressful! I bought Lacey and Coco a day old chick each lastnight and both of the chicks must have been quite silent over night as I don't think they noticed they were there and were shocked when i lifted their wing up. Both attacked the baby, but after I threw their eggs away they started being nicer and just sat there whilst the chicks pecked them in the eye. Coco let hers go back under and Lacey pulled hers back under like an egg! So hopefully they should be ok! Think they were just scared as they're both first time mothers so was a bit risky getting day olds anyways.

 

[vpatt]

I saw a little black face peeping out from under Jessica just now. I hope she brings them out of the nest soon so I can see how many hatched....she had two Cochin eggs so I'm curious if they hatched. Olivia and the frizzle are sitting tight...their hatch days are next month.

 

[Johnn]

Coco's baby sadly died, but Lacey is bonding with hers better now