Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Anyone know how long before Mama starts taking them to explore? How to coax her out?

 

[Perris]

when she thinks they are ready for it. They all have to recover from hatching first. Patience required. Hard, but do-able Congrats on a lovely clutch!

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

when she thinks they are ready for it. They all have to recover from hatching first. Patience required. Hard, but do-able Congrats on a lovely clutch!

Thanks. And I just wasn't sure if there was a timeframe to watch out for. Last night she brought them down to ground nest box. One had a rough start (I had to intervene) which funnily she was one that was running around once she moved them and two yellow siblings were still in nest lol and I know they chickens know what they are doing saying lol

I had put the eggs under her Nov 11 and they hatched Dec 1, and she sat for a few days before I got the eggs. She always got down and took care of business no issues.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

Well, she lets them out then then rush back under her lol

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Well, she lets them out then then rush back under her lol

I don't know what your temps are up there, but I guess they could be wanting the warmth or still want momma's safety.
They are cuties.

 

[PrettyBirdRocky]

I don't know what your temps are up there, but I guess they could be wanting the warmth or still want momma's safety.
They are cuties.

It was around 50F today with some wind, but where she's at she's in the covered(top/side) pen so wind is blocked. Rest of the week 40F. They got a little braver as mama ventured out a smidgen at a time lol

I have a 100watt bulb for added warmth, only during day and when super cold, CHE is for the water once it drops past 32F.

Got to see them run around some, one was hopping and had the zoomies right back to mama lol

I also noticed they'd come out more when the big aunties weren't around. One Brahma kept trying to coo at them and pace the gate (she tried going broody last week, told her we didn't need more winter babies!) Lol

 

[Ursuline Chick]

It was around 50F today with some wind, but where she's at she's in the covered(top/side) pen so wind is blocked. Rest of the week 40F. They got a little braver as mama ventured out a smidgen at a time lol

I have a 100watt bulb for added warmth, only during day and when super cold, CHE is for the water once it drops past 32F.

Got to see them run around some, one was hopping and had the zoomies right back to mama lol

I also noticed they'd come out more when the big aunties weren't around. One Brahma kept trying to coo at them and pace the gate (she tried going broody last week, told her we didn't need more winter babies!) Lol

Mom looks very protective.

 

[RcoM]

I've been having a hard time hatching my white rock bantam eggs in my hovabator, so I have seven in the 'bator and seven under my white rock hen (who decided to go broody after I needed a hen...

). We'll see if nature does a better job than my hovabator on these eggs. Will post back with results!

I have had no luck moving the hen, so I moved the rest of the flock, lol! I have two pens bacause my rock cockeral fights with my cochin cock, so I just took all the hens (mutts) from the pen my rocks were in and put them in the other pen. This might not work for everyone, but it's OK for me. You might also be able to partition off a part of the coop, like we did for a new batch of youngsters a couple of years ago.

Our nest boxes are raised off the ground, and I am concerned about the chicks falling out and not being able to get back up to mama. Should I make a ramp? Should I close off the front of the nest box until everyone has hatched and then move the chicks and mama to ground level?

I made small incremental steps So the chicks could climb back in. Some fall off ramps..

 

[Faraday40]

With my Easter hatch coming soon, I've been hoping for a broody. A very unlikely candidate started hanging out in the nest box for a few days and is now grumbling at me.

It's my golden Spitzhauben, Sprinkles. They are not considered a broody breed. I wonder what kind of mother she will be.

A friend has had several Spitzhaubens who have gone broody, but I've never experienced it here. For me, it's always been the little bantams. It will be fun to watch a big-time forager teach her babies.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

With my Easter hatch coming soon, I've been hoping for a broody. A very unlikely candidate started hanging out in the nest box for a few days and is now grumbling at me.

It's my golden Spitzhauben, Sprinkles. They are not considered a broody breed. I wonder what kind of mother she will be.

A friend has had several Spitzhaubens who have gone broody, but I've never experienced it here. For me, it's always been the little bantams. It will be fun to watch a big-time forager teach her babies.

My Spitz go broody constantly in nice weather. Half the time, they co-nest with each other