Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[tjo804]

Keep us posted

 

[tjo804]

Finally might be apart of this thread!! I think my Asil hen wants to go broody. Can't wait to post it if she does, she hatched out 11/11 chicks last time

 

[PRUrbanFarmer]

Good afternoon! Day 25 and our first light Sussex hatched under mama hen early this morning in her nesting box and another is starting to pip. The nesting box is 12x12 how long can I leave mama and chick out there before bringing them into the chick brooder? Somewhere I think I read 24 or 48 hrs..

 

[chickenmomma16]

Exciting news!! Momma accepted the chicks!! I lost my Buff Orpington at some point and not sure how she died but I still have a RIR and 3 Sexlinks so I'm happy.

It was a moment of truth this morning. I opened the broody box and a chick jumped right up on her and she growled at her and went kind of crossed eyed and looked at me and back at the chick and me again with a look like "Something is fishy..." But the chick jumped down in front of her and momma tucked her underneath and that was that! A couple hours later mom was out and everyone had a snack and something to drink.

 

[tjo804]

Good afternoon! Day 25 and our first light Sussex hatched under mama hen early this morning in her nesting box and another is starting to pip. The nesting box is 12x12 how long can I leave mama and chick out there before bringing them into the chick brooder? Somewhere I think I read 24 or 48 hrs..

How many eggs total?
Were they all placed under her at the same time or did they build up over time?
Is the box on the floor?
Are there other chickens around, do they seem to be bothering her?

24 to 48 hours is the time it usually takes for hatching under mama if eggs are all started the same day.

She will need to get up and show the chicks how to eat and drink but will mostlikely sit until all viable eggs hatch.

I wouldn't mess with her if she is safe and the chicks will not fall and get hurt.

Are you separating the Broody from the chicks?

a Brooder may not be necessary

 

[tjo804]

Exciting news!! Momma accepted the chicks!! I lost my Buff Orpington at some point and not sure how she died but I still have a RIR and 3 Sexlinks so I'm happy.

It was a moment of truth this morning. I opened the broody box and a chick jumped right up on her and she growled at her and went kind of crossed eyed and looked at me and back at the chick and me again with a look like "Something is fishy..." But the chick jumped down in front of her and momma tucked her underneath and that was that! A couple hours later mom was out and everyone had a snack and something to drink.

Sorry for the loss of your BO.
But the chicks That is fantastic news.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thanks, for the most part my group are very laid back and tolerant. I find them mellow and easy to be around...find a reputable breeder and ask them about the personality of their strain of birds. Some are broodier than others. This is Lacey's 4th hatch in 11 months.

Thank you, one of these days I'm going to ship a dozen eggs to the PNW

I will look forward to that day.

Now if we can just convince the US Postal service to stop air dropping egg shipments at destination.

LofMc

 

[chickenmomma16]

Quote:
Its odd to me that I cannot seem to keep a BO very long, last one I had was re-homed because the rooster hated her and pecked her eye so bad she was blind in it. She found a really nice home with young pullets so she became their nanny.

I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Never again will I get a BO. It just leaves more room for my Ameraucanas!

I cannot say enough how glad I am that she took the chicks. I checked on them again before their lights went out and their crops (including moms) was full and she had them back in her house tucked in tight.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Just popping in to update

My Sizzle hen, Myrtle, has been completely devoted to her clutch of 10. She's doing a great job, only hopping off her nest for maybe 5 minutes to do her business first thing in the morning when I open the coop. No surprise, this isn't her first trip to the rodeo, she's always been a great broody.

Anyway, I had it in my head that today was supposed to be hatch day. Of course, I made more trips to the coop than usual to just stand there and listen for the sweet sound of peeps. After hearing nothing all day, I finally couldn't stand it anymore when I went to close up for the night. I reached my hand in and gently lifted Ms. Myrtle to take a peek (which was greeted with more than a few sharp pecks) and....nada. But, for whatever reason, I neglected to mark the hatch date on all of the eggs I marked the date I collected them and which pen they came from, but failed to add the all important hatch date I guess I'll continue to stalk the coop and listen for babies. Who knows what I was thinking when I pulled that one.

I've also had another hen go broody, a splash Silkie I call Betty. Betty's been with me for 5 or 6 years now, and still has yet to successfully brood a clutch of eggs. She tries, bless her heart, but she always fails. And she's MEAN as a snake. She drew blood on me while I was giving her her eggs (thanks Betty). I'm not sure why I bother with her, but against my better judgement, she's sitting on 4 eggs. She's actually doing a good job so far this time though. She's a ditzy bird, and during every single one her past attempts, she'd get up for her break and "forget" she was sitting and stay out for a couple of hours. Then she'd remember and go back to them. She also has this weird habit of scooting around the coop while she turns the eggs, inevitably leaving most of them scattered about (she always goes broody on the floor, never in one of the nest boxes where the eggs would be contained to prevent her traveling while turning. Theres no moving or confining her either, so she's ditzy AND stubborn). I think the cold is doing her a favor this time. She gets off real quick then goes right back and has stayed in the same spot since she got started for Betty. I love her dearly, she's a great layer and a sweet girl (when she isn't in dragon broody mode) but she ain't the sharpest tool in the shed...

 

[PD-Riverman]

Its odd to me that I cannot seem to keep a BO very long,

Don't give up to quick on the BO's. I have had many and seem to have less problems out of them than alot of other breeds.