Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Curnow]

She lives being a mommy, I weaned her 3 month old chicks, and the next day she was sitting in the empty nesting box. Good thing I had these guys in the incubator. She only had to wait 1 week on an empty nest.

I was just wondering how that would work. I have another broody Cuckoo Marans hen. She's only been in the box for about 3 days. I was wondering if she would take to some chicks having only been broody for a short time. I don't want to be raising chicks myself right now, but thought If she would do the work I might buy a few if they were the breed I wanted. Guess my husband has not figured out chicken math...made a mistake of telling me one of our local farm stores has chicks again!

 

[greenfeathers]

Does having a broody hatch chicks stress the rest of the flock?

I've introduced new mostly grown chickens to my flock the last couple weeks and egg production as all but stopped. Hoping it starts again soon.

 

[curious chickee]

I was just wondering how that would work.  I have another broody Cuckoo Marans hen.  She's only been in the box for about 3 days.  I was wondering if she would take to some chicks having only been broody for a short time.  I don't want to be raising chicks myself right now, but thought If she would do the work I might buy a few if they were the breed I wanted.  Guess my husband has not figured out chicken math...made a mistake of telling me one of our local farm stores has chicks again! 

It depends on the broody. My older brahmas are easy if they are sitting on a nest for more than 3 days, I know they will take whatever I give them. This last broody, I moved her inside. Gave her 2 eggs to sit on then slipped chicks under her an hour later around 1pm, she has a history of being a good mom. My hatchery australorp needs to do most of the work. She has to be sitting at least 2 weeks and I can only slip chicks under at night. Which is why I just let my brahmas do all the work.

 

[curious chickee]

Does having a broody hatch chicks stress the rest of the flock?

I've introduced new mostly grown chickens to my flock the last couple weeks and egg production as all but stopped. Hoping it starts again soon.

It doesn't bother mine but maybe they are used to it.

 

[Curnow]

It depends on the broody. My older brahmas are easy if they are sitting on a nest for more than 3 days, I know they will take whatever I give them. This last broody, I moved her inside. Gave her 2 eggs to sit on then slipped chicks under her an hour later around 1pm, she has a history of being a good mom. My hatchery australorp needs to do most of the work. She has to be sitting at least 2 weeks and I can only slip chicks under at night. Which is why I just let my brahmas do all the work.

Thanks for the great info. My broody is an excellent mother, but she has only had two broods to hatch so far! This is her 3rd time going broody since spring. Ugh...these broody cuckoos are really cutting down on my beautiful dark terra cotta eggs! I have 4 of them and they have been rotating broodiness on and off all summer! They do a great job though, and are mellow hens...that's a plus!

 

[Curnow]

Does having a broody hatch chicks stress the rest of the flock?

I've introduced new mostly grown chickens to my flock the last couple weeks and egg production as all but stopped. Hoping it starts again soon.

Mine don't seem to care about a broody hen or new chicks. Could be the shorted daylight hours that have recently set in. Some of mine slow WAY DOWN with shorter days. Mine are also starting to molt....that will slow production too.

 

[Curnow]

Does having a broody hatch chicks stress the rest of the flock?

I've introduced new mostly grown chickens to my flock the last couple weeks and egg production as all but stopped. Hoping it starts again soon.

How many new flock members did you add? Maybe it was a big upset and they are all stressed out!

 

[greenfeathers]

How many new flock members did you add? Maybe it was a big upset and they are all stressed out!

It was quite an upset. I have 12 girls and 2 boys which I got as day olds in February. I added 6 red sex links, which were 9 weeks old in a dog crate for a week, then a week where the sex links could go in and out of the crate but not the big chickens.

Then I added 2 light Brahmas 2 gold laced Brahma, and a show girl which are about 4 months and 3 guineas (8 weeks) week ago in the dog crate. They are now out of the crate. Everyone gets along fine and they do all the normal chicken things except they layers laying.

I'm sure it stressed them. I didn't really have any other choice. The new chickens were escaping their temporary house in my garage.

 

[curious chickee]

Thanks for the great info.  My broody is an excellent mother,  but she has only had two broods to hatch so far!  This is her 3rd time going broody since spring.  Ugh...these broody cuckoos are really cutting down on my beautiful dark terra cotta eggs!  I have 4 of them and they have been rotating broodiness on and off all summer!  They do a great job though, and are mellow hens...that's a plus!

I know what you mean out of 10 brahma hens only 3 are laying (the three are at year layers) the rest are in different stages of broodiness.

 

[oconnell]

Please help its our first time hatching eggs under our australorp we got eight two day old eggs after three days one egg cracked I was pretty sure it was because I was lifting her off the nest because I was pretty sure she wasn't getting up so I'm wondering should I keep lifting her up or should let her alone