Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Jloeffler]

Good luck Bobcart and congratulations on your

!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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It's a wonder we don't run into each other in the hall going into all these rooms to talk..

 

[SadieSue]

Gosh, it's been nearly 4 weeks since I posted. I had a broody, borrowed some EE eggs from a friend to see if she'd hatch them for our mutual benefit and had some newbie issues, but many of you were very helpful. So, a belated thank you and here are a few photos as promised. We ended up hatching 4 in the incubator after I thought she'd kicked them out of the nest, and she hatched 2 more on her own. I put the other 4 chicks under her and she happily accepted them all. Unfortunately, we lost one pretty silver chick day later after she was either stepped on or suffocated under the broody.

4 weeks later, Mama is taking good care of her 5 chicks. I'm finding advantages to chicks raised outside, (less mess for me!) but I never get to touch these chicks since the mama takes food from me, rather than let the chicks eat from my hand. I'd like them to be well socialized before they go to their new home. Are broody raised chicks ever friendly with people once they're on their own?

Two days -

A week later -

At 3 weeks -

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Great pics, congrats on the hatch. as for friendliness, it sure takes longer for them to come around, but most of mine from this years hatch will at least come into the vicinity to get the mealworms I toss out.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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If you can it is amazing to hear the little chick peeping inside the egg and I know your first grader would be tickled to hear it. if they are due to hatch tomorrow then you should be able to hear some peeping. Is your hen a first time mama?

Well I couldn't resist. I had to go listen. I checked four eggs but didn't want to bother her too much and stopped there. Amazingly, I could hear peeping from the first one! The others had pipping or pecking sounds but not peeping. I'm hoping that's not a bad thing? All eggs but two of the remaining 13 are at 21 days. The unknown two were added a day later by an opportunistic other hen before I got them all labeled. That was important, because even 4 more were added before I made the separate broody box.

I couldn't hear a thing out of any of my eggs and they hatched just a few hours later. (And they are the noisiest chicks I've EVER had!!!)

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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Beautiful babies! Congratulations!! My broody mama always delivered the treats as well - up until this week. We are coming up on 5 weeks and now the kids don't wait for mom's approval. They seem to be fully aware of where the treats have been coming from and are now jumping all over the delivery person (me) - much to mom's dismay!! They are now getting much more touchy feely with me VERY quickly. So they have obviously been paying attention. (They will also come to me if there is trouble and they get separated from mom. If I am the closer option, apparently, I'll do.)

 

[bobcart]

This is amazing! We now have at least three hatched and one has made a hole in the shell. Amazing all the activity broody can hide in those feathers! Any idea on a normal time frame from first to last to hatch or perhaps from first to the hen walking off?

 

[stonykill]

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my 13 broody hatches this year (#14 sitting on eggs) have all lasted 24 to 72 hours. Mama general leaves the nest after 72, but I've had a few take care of their little ones after 72 hours, then go back to the nest to hatch the rest of the eggs . Experienced Sumatra moms. Others just hatch and leave eggs. Those that do that I candle, and incubate (or slip them other another broody) to hatch them.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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My broody kept 3 chicks completely hidden from me for at least 5 years.

(Well, that's what it felt like at any rate.

)

3 eggs hatching here was about 24 hours. But I am by no means experienced with broodies. The experienced folks will chime in soon, I'm sure.

 

[stonykill]

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beautiful chicks and mama! Broody chicks at least in my experience never are as touchy feely as hand raised incubated chicks. THIS IS A GOOD THING! Chickens aren't supposed to be held. I really feel it messes with their insticts on survival.
With this said, 80% of my large flock of Sumatra's are from broody's. As they get older, they do come to me for food when they see me. They are more skidish. This is a good thing. The roosters follow me, but won't get too close. The hens get closer. My favorite blue "mama" (who currently is raising her 2nd brood of the year) will walk right up to me. Walk in my workshop and yell at me for food. I can kneel right next to her to talk to her, but can't touch her. Now by comparison my incubated and fenced in Sumatra's. I handle 9 of the 22 daily. Those 9 let me pick them up. The girls I have to put on roost nearly every night (Sumatra's prefer the outdoors to a coop). Some of the boys will complain, but I can pick them all up without getting bit or pecked, or even the attempt of either. These birds will never freerange. Never. They would not survive.
So, in my experience, no the broody chicks will never be cuddly chickens. As nature intended it.