Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Curnow]

Moved my latest broody to the brooding house yesterday. She didn't freak out (she been there before!). If she's back nesting today with the bait eggs...I'm going to set hatching eggs. Have a nice "Olive Egger" roo that is too rough and will be hitting the road soon, so doing this hatch hoping for some chicks from him. Was going to wait till spring, but he needs to go soon I'm afraid. Hopefully Broody settled on the nest. Going to set some Buff Orpington pullet eggs. If I'm corrected in who layed them. They are almost full size eggs by now, so not worried about it. Besides, my huge Light Brahma hen has always layed eggs that a small, and I've hatched heathy normal chicks from those small eggs. And yes, they have grown into very large chickens. Even the one crossed with my Spitzhauben roo. The Lights Brahma x Cuckoo Marans are very large as well.

 

[ameliadanielle]

My silkie mix broody that was horrible at it her first go around and pooped the nest and lost all her eggs?

She successfully hatched 4 babies out! No issues. She had a few eggs that went bad. But it was expected. The EE eggs I had just found but wasn't sure exactly when they were laid, they were hidden in the fire pit. One of the cochin eggs stopped halfway. She hatched out one of her eggs (silkie mix/ameraucana... so EE?) and three cochin eggs. I'm excited about the cochin babies. These were the very first eggs my cochin pullets laid.

 

[ameliadanielle]

She didn't poop the nest. She even brooded in a nest box right out on the yard and no extra eggs were laid in the nest and no one bothered her. She was. Model broody this time around. She didn't even peck me.

 

[fisherlady]

She didn't poop the nest. She even brooded in a nest box right out on the yard and no extra eggs were laid in the nest and no one bothered her. She was. Model broody this time around. She didn't even peck me.

That is great! I believe in giving them a second chance, especially if they are very young on their first attempt or if they were in a place that alllwed other birds to interfere. Some hens are just never meant to be good broodies but many will figure it out if you can give them a chance. Glad you let her try again.

 

[greenfeathers]

I got babies! 4 of 7 so far. Weren't even due until tomorrow. How long do I give the other 3?

 

[fisherlady]

I got babies! 4 of 7 so far. Weren't even due until tomorrow. How long do I give the other 3?

Under a broody I give late eggs at least 24 hours, then candle and move any viable to a backup incubator, the hen is likely to want to leave the nest about 48 hours after the first chicks hatch.

 

[ameliadanielle]

That is great! I believe in giving them a second chance, especially if they are very young on their first attempt or if they were in a place that alllwed other birds to interfere. Some hens are just never meant to be good broodies but many will figure it out if you can give them a chance. Glad you let her try again.

I didn't want to. But she was persistent. Last time she was moved to her pen, so no one would bother her. She just was horrible. This time she kept going broody in one of the nest boxes the ducks used. She chased the ducks away from it. I kept taking her eggs and she kept laying more. Finally when she laid another egg and was going broody on one... I added the cochin eggs and the EE eggs and left her right in that nest box on the yard. I moved her to a pen with her babies once they hatched. The EE eggs were no good but at least she got to raise babies. Now she can stop running around the yard puffing her wings out with imaginary babies. She has actual babies. Lol. I thought if I didn't let her hatch something or give her some babies she would just go nuts. I'm also hoping my cochin chicks are sex linked. The dad is a red and blue frizzle, the moms are barred. I got one barred baby and a black baby and a blue baby. If they are sex linked the barred baby will be a boy. My silkie mix is half silkie and half laying hen, the father of her baby is a blue ameraucana. So her baby is blue with a bushy beard and black skin. It'll be the funniest looking EE. I'm hoping is also a girl.

 

[ameliadanielle]

 

[Faraday40]

Chicks got their 1st grass time today. One broody was put in the chicken tractor & the other into a play yard. They were side by side & the rest of the flock surrounded their enclosures. I later tried to put both hens in the tractor. (It's 4'x8') They fought, so I quickly separated them again. It was interesting to see that when the mamas called, their chicks separated & ran to their adopted moms.

So I learned that these two hens will probably never be co-broodies. I also have learned that several hens seem to enjoy being "aunts." When a chick slipped outside the cage, an Orpington (who's never been broody) kept her warm.

I put the chicks & mamas back into their cages for the night. When I did my final check, I caught Cookie feeding her chick. So cute watching as it ate the feed stuck to her beak!

 

[fisherlady]

Chicks got their 1st grass time today. One broody was put in the chicken tractor & the other into a play yard. They were side by side & the rest of the flock surrounded their enclosures. I later tried to put both hens in the tractor. (It's 4'x8') They fought, so I quickly separated them again. It was interesting to see that when the mamas called, their chicks separated & ran to their adopted moms. So I learned that these two hens will probably never be co-broodies. I also have learned that several hens seem to enjoy being "aunts." When a chick slipped outside the cage, an Orpington (who's never been broody) kept her warm. I put the chicks & mamas back into their cages for the night. When I did my final check, I caught Cookie feeding her chick. So cute watching as it ate the feed stuck to her beak!

I have a couple hens who just don't want to play nice with others, though they are always decent with the other chicks. Usually even the grumpiest hens will agree to just peacefully coexist or ignore the other hens. Try letting them out in a yard area where they can roam around and avoid each other and see if they don't settle down after a bit of spatting. Our worst fights usually happen when there are walls or close fences, they get crazy defensive when they feel confined at all.