Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Faraday40]

and chicks are often even tended by 'aunts and uncles' who are currently chickless themselves but willing to help out a little one.

I noticed this in my flock as well. I only had co-broody hens a couple times, but i do see how my flock has gotten used to putting up with hormonal broodies and gives them space. They're also very accepting of young chicks. My 7 yr old EE hen can often be seen near the family and sometimes even tidbits. We jokingly called her "Auntie" b/c she visits for a little while but also leaves and does her own thing. She has never gone broody in her life; she's just getting soft in her old age.

I also noticed that when a rooster calls an alarm or a sudden noise is heard, the chicks will quickly take cover under the nearest hen - not necessarily their mama. For a few moments until the danger has passed, the hen will shelter the frightened fuzzy.

 

[jeannedeaux]

So now I have 4-week old chicks with their mama, 1-week old incubated chick she won't accept, and 2-week olds I bought to give the 1-week company. I'm thinking I need to keep the 1 and 2s in the brooder for at least another week, but is there ANY chance one of the non-broody hens (I have 12, only one is in mama mode) would take them under her wing so I could put them outside? I can move the first family out of the nursery area in the larger pen, if I figure out how to keep feeding them starter, and put the littles in there but then they'd be sleeping without the brooder heater or a mom. One of the other hens seems very interested in the 4-weeks when they are out among the flock, but the mama won't let her get close. She's the bottom of the pecking order but is there a way I could try to get her to take the new ones on? What if I could get her locked into the nursery with the littles?? Thanks for any advice!

 

[Faraday40]

I've only had sucess with adoption when hens are actively in broody mode. Even then, sometimes a broody hen will reject chicks. Being tolerant of chicks is not the same as raising them.

I introduce incubator/ brooder-raised chicks to the flock as a group. I just put them in a rabbit cage for the "Look but don't peck" approach. The chicks are seen by the flock to help them get used to the chicks' presence while the babies are contained in the safety of their cage. If your flock has been through the addition of chicks before, then the opening of the door to allow the chicks some exploration can happen a little sooner. The adults may give a little peck to teach them to stay away, but they won't chase & bully. They also seem to be gentler to a small 3-4 wk old than a bigger 8 wk old

 

[jeannedeaux]

So from what you say, I should put the littles outside sooner rather than later? They would be in small area with tiny coop and run within larger pen so all could see but not touch. The weather is very warm so temps should be okay without a heater? If I let them out a bit each day, the broody mama won’t attack them? I’m sure they like to get out of the brooder box!

 

[Faraday40]

So from what you say, I should put the littles outside sooner rather than later? They would be in small area with tiny coop and run within larger pen so all could see but not touch. The weather is very warm so temps should be okay without a heater? If I let them out a bit each day, the broody mama won’t attack them? I’m sure they like to get out of the brooder box!

A lot may depend on how opinionated and protective the other hens are. I keep mine inside the protective cage for about a week or at least until I'm sure the hens have lost interest in pecking at them. When I open the cage, it's just large enough for the chicks to move in & out of their cage - but not the hens.

In my case I use a double sided clip to keep the door ajar at the desired angle.

Usually the chicks only venture out of the cage and explore the surrounding area when the hens are not present. When the hens return, the chicks go back to their safety zone.

I've started chicks outside pretty young with a "mama heating pad." (Maybe 1.5 -2 weeks old) If in the heat of summer you could probably put them out without heat at 3 wks, but it really depends on your climate. I'd give them a huddle house for cooler days/nights.

Since I like to free range my chickens, it could be dangerous for chicks outside without a broody's protection. I use baby play yards to provide safe grass time = protection from hawks (& hens).

 

[Faraday40]

Here's an idea of one of the cages I use. For this cage, I attach a piece of cardboard with a smaller doorway over the opening.

Sometimes, I just put 2 panels of the play yard in the corner and call it a cage.

 

[jeannedeaux]

Thanks so much for all this info! I'm letting the mama and chicks out now with only a little opening for the chicks if they need it and then putting the entire family back in at night--mostly to limit their access to layer pellets. I like the apron your hen is wearing too--covers her wings. I had to pass along my rooster as half my flock was too small and even with aprons/capes their wings were scratched bare. But this style might have been better. I'll look for a baby play area on the local free cycle sites. Great ideas.

 

[Faraday40]

Our 1st roo was terrible on the hens' wings. That style is called a "butterfly" hen saddle, and it helped a lot with him. Our current boy is rough on the hens' backs & heads.

 

[jeannedeaux]

I just moved the 1.5 week old and two 2.5 week olds out into a nursery area in the chicken pen. I put their Brinsea brooder warmer inside the little coop that is part of the nursery. It doesn't have changeable temperatures, just on or off. We are having low 60s at night this week. Should I leave it until the youngest is 4 weeks or during summer, especially if nights get back into the mid-60s, is it superfluous?
The youngest little chick bonded with me and is cheeping so loudly I can hear him/her in the house this evening. S/he wants to be with me and when I go out tries to fly against the wire enclosure. If I open the little gate s/he runs into my hand. This might be exacerbated by the fact that the mama hen with the older two chicks is attacking all but one of the other hens and causing much anguish and stress in the flock. She's probably scaring this littlest. The desperate cheeping is breaking my heart...Sigh. Chicken care is not for the fainthearted!

 

[fisherlady]

I just moved the 1.5 week old and two 2.5 week olds out into a nursery area in the chicken pen. I put their Brinsea brooder warmer inside the little coop that is part of the nursery. It doesn't have changeable temperatures, just on or off. We are having low 60s at night this week. Should I leave it until the youngest is 4 weeks or during summer, especially if nights get back into the mid-60s, is it superfluous?
The youngest little chick bonded with me and is cheeping so loudly I can hear him/her in the house this evening. S/he wants to be with me and when I go out tries to fly against the wire enclosure. If I open the little gate s/he runs into my hand. This might be exacerbated by the fact that the mama hen with the older two chicks is attacking all but one of the other hens and causing much anguish and stress in the flock. She's probably scaring this littlest. The desperate cheeping is breaking my heart...Sigh. Chicken care is not for the fainthearted!

Sorry, away for weekend and just saw this.
Hoping the coop drama settled, especially for the little ones, it is hard on them sometimes to adjust to being flock members in a big, scary coop rather than pampered pets in the brooder.

As far as heat in the summer... for youngsters I would leave it available to them in a comfy area but make sure there is room around it for them to sleep without it, then they can decide what suits their needs each evening. Leave it until you either see them ignoring it completely or till the smallest is feathered and temps are comfortable. Our hens rarely have to warm up chicks after about 2 weeks during the summer days, but usually a few still tuck under them at night, not sure if it is because of temp things or just a psychological comfort thing though.
Our latest broody pair already have their (almost) 3 week olds up on the top roost with the flock. Chicks think it is pretty cool to sleep under the big rooster, lol.