Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

Well it is a week after hatch day and we have been delightfully surprise. Our Light Sussex hatched seven chicks



Sorry this picture only shows the first six chicks (all black) but we found a seven chick (yellow

) but I don't have a photo

Congrats! Beautiful mamma and chicks!

 

[Bernadine503]

Well it is a week after hatch day and we have been delightfully surprise. Our Light Sussex hatched seven chicks

Sorry this picture only shows the first six chicks (all black) but we found a seven chick (yellow

) but I don't have a photo

Soooooo cute!! I can't wait for my girls to hatch theirs! They decided to go broody side by side. I noticed today they are stealing each others eggs, but sitting on them diligently. Is that okay?

 

[fisherlady]

Soooooo cute!! I can't wait for my girls to hatch theirs! They decided to go broody side by side. I noticed today they are stealing each others eggs, but sitting on them diligently. Is that okay?

A pair of Ours did the same and were fine with it, but it depends on the hens, it increases the risk of broken eggs so you will have to decide what risk level you are ok with.

 

[Bernadine503]

They are quite gentle with them as they roll them, but it's the rolling of the eggs I'm mainly concerned about.... although they are side by side. It's really cute to watch them pull the pine shavings all around themselves, as to make sure there are no drafts for the eggs. The even put the pine shavings over their wings and back. They are so darn cute!

 

[slordaz]

well hoping sometime today tor tomorrow to post pictures of our hatch in improvised incubation

 

[Faraday40]

Cookie (monster) successfully hatched her chicks. (7 remains her lucky number!) Because of the unplanned parenting & no room for more chickens, I found them a good home before they hatched. The chicks stayed with Cookie for a week I made a nice cozy, darkened shoebox nest with a microwavable heat pad underneath. The chicks settled in & actually slept on their journey. I was expecting a lot of stressed peeping but their transition was flawless. We happened to be driving an hour north & saved the new owner an extra 60 min of driving. I normally would have liked Cookie to keep her chicks for a a few weeks, but giving all of them away at the same time was more convenient for us. (trying to get the flock size down before winter)

Cookie's transition was not as easy. I put her in the coop so she wouldn't see me removing her chicks. I removed her broody (rabbit) cage from the run and then let her out. She called for them for a while but the flock was bullying her, so I had to bring the rabbit cage back for her own safety. Poor girl had to stay separated while we were away for the day. She slept with the flock that night but is pretty much keeping to herself during the day. To lift her mood, I tried to give her a secret treat, but she made the treat noise (the sound they make to call the chicks) Then rest of the flock came over and stole her food. Aside from not separating her from the chicks, is there anything I can do to help her through the transition? Her former babies went to her, but she still pecks them away.









Our fav chick below. A Cream Crested Legbar x Black English Orpington = a big beautiful Easter Egger

 

[hmbrown05]

So probably a silly question, but what the heck. I have a broody who is due to hatch on Saturday (unproven, but third generation from very good mothers), and 11 eggs in the incubator due to hatch the following Saturday. Think there is any hope of the broody hen accepting chicks a week younger than her own? I have had good sucess grafting chicks previous (to this hen's mother), but am kinda thinking that may be too much difference in age. Thoughts??

 

[appps]

So probably a silly question, but what the heck. I have a broody who is due to hatch on Saturday (unproven, but third generation from very good mothers), and 11 eggs in the incubator due to hatch the following Saturday. Think there is any hope of the broody hen accepting chicks a week younger than her own? I have had good sucess grafting chicks previous (to this hen's mother), but am kinda thinking that may be too much difference in age. Thoughts??

No idea on that but wondered if you had any tips for grafting them? About to try that for the first time in a couple days I hope with two eggs currently heading into lockdown (they were shipped and have detached air cells so hatching upright in incubator rather than on side under broody who is currently trying to hatch a plastic egg)

 

[fisherlady]

So probably a silly question, but what the heck. I have a broody who is due to hatch on Saturday (unproven, but third generation from very good mothers), and 11 eggs in the incubator due to hatch the following Saturday. Think there is any hope of the broody hen accepting chicks a week younger than her own? I have had good sucess grafting chicks previous (to this hen's mother), but am kinda thinking that may be too much difference in age. Thoughts??

I agree it may be too much difference, not because the hen will specifically reject them, moreso because the abilities and needs of week old chicks and day old chicks are so different. By one week the chicks are up and about as much, if not more, than they are under the hen. The hen is out of the nest with the week olds for the majority of the day. Day olds need mama hen to stick to the nest for a few days while they get their legs under them, so to speak. Mixing the two ages can cause issues unless very specific needs are met, and even if you are able to cover the needs there are still a couple of factors out of your control.

#1- not all broodies are willing to mix ages, once they have spent time with their initial brood they will probably recognize that the new ones are different and reject them outright or reject or even attack ones they think are causing problems for her original group, the new ones will not recognize her vocal cues as quick and may be left behind either because they are weaker or because they just don't understand that they are to follow yet. Chicks who are left behind and get scared, or are cold because the broody isn't warming them as often as they need will make a lot of noise...the cheeping may actually cause more upset for the hen...it basically could end in an ugly cycle and noisy chicks can attract unwanted attention (predators) which upsets the broody even more.

#2- the older chicks may attack the youngsters outright or may bully them away from the food, causing the youngsters to not thrive...even if the older ones don't cause harm deliberately they can still hurt the little ones by accident.

Given the right environment and the right hen it could work, but it would be labor intensive for you to manage the introductions to minimize risks to the little ones. You would have to decide if the risks are worth the benefits.

 

[Faraday40]

Poor Cookie. She's not gonna be able to hatch THAT! LOL