Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

First, happy early birthday! Congrats on the soon to hatch chicks! Post pics when you get a chance.

I separated my Smokey and her eggs because this was my 1st time with a broody. When I finally opened her side up to the flock they were very curious to get in there and see what happened. My lead roo picked up one of the chicks and flung it. She went balistic and attacked him - I kicked him out and locked them back up for a few more days. Then I just decided to trust her to do her job. She's been great. No one comes near those chicks unless she wants them to. She's protecting them well. Now momma & babies are in the big coop - she moved them over there herself. They hang out on the floor at night and she keeps them warm. She's been teaching them how to fly up - so pretty soon I think she'll move them to the roost.

As far as getting through the fence - I have 2x4 welded wire around my garden fence with 1/2" hardware cloth around the base - only there are a few spots where I didn't finish the job before the chicks were born. It's actually worked well that they weren't finished yet. There have been several times when the babies will duck out of the enclosure through the fencing to avoid the larger chickens and it's given momma the time to come to their rescue. I used to worry that they would get lost and rush to their rescue. I don't anymore. Momma clucks for them and they come running back - I trust my EE to do her job now.

Smokey hatched 1 baby a day earlier then the other 2 - but she stayed with them until all three that were going to hatch had hatched. Then she got up to teach them where to get food and I checked the remaining eggs - they were done - so I removed them. She wouldn't go back to the nest anyway at that point. I would trust her to know when the hatching is finished, but if it looks like she's avoiding her new babies after a day or two then you may have to intervene.

Hey everyone, I've got a broody cochin sitting 12 bantam eggs, that are due to hatch on the 19th! It an unplanned birthday hatch, as my birthday is 20th, I'm so happy! This is my second time trying to hatch eggs under a broody. The 1st time all the eggs were duds

. But now with 6 days to go I've got some questions.… I have her in a small pen inside my coop but new chicks could easily go thru the wire, can I move her into a breeder pen inside the coop after they hatch?
How long should I keep her and the chicks seperate from the flock?
And if she leaves the nest with the 1st chick out, can I confine her and the chick to the nest box(large tote) so she'll stay on the eggs?
Thanks!

 

[bobbieschicks]

My EE did fine without the roosters around - but she's not a silkie. I worried that Smokey would be too timid to protect her babies. Then I let the rooster near her and the 3 little ones. They were fine until suddenly the rooster grabbed a baby and flung it. I freaked. Smokey freaked and attacked the rooster. He freaked and I tossed him out of the coop. The next time a rooster or pullet came around she just attacked them first. HAHA! She's a fierce protector.

SO here is a question: Should I bring my little banty rooster in to hang out with my silkie and her babies when they hatch so that he protects them when they go outside? When I had my other 6 week olds he kept them warm and was a good daddy. He didnt protect them as much as I would have liked though. I am worried about putting them all back in the coop. My silkie is the lowest on the pecking order and I just dont want any mayhem. Any ideas other than putting a dog crate in the coop?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well, to me it looks like momma was trying to help it along - when chicks are in the bator they will help peck out others who are in distress sometimes - so she probably was helping rather then harming it. It would be difficult, but not impossible for a chick to hatch from the wrong end of the shell.

Hope it turns out fine.

ok guys, little guy is still working on it,






he will make it ok ??

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have to say thats a really cool pic. looks like its viable as for time not sure. except for your dates looks like it will still be the 17th. sorry about the silkie egg. what kind of light are you using to get that pic? and look at that stink eye boy you better wear some heavy duty gloves before sticking your hand under her..

This was candled at day 16 - today is day 18 (?) Set them on early Saturday morning (Feb 25) Thought they would be due on March 17th. correct me if I'm wrong!! - Silkie egg died three days ago.. down to four babies, all active and kicking.

Janet has moved to a HUGE blue cage for her to keep her babies safe from the flock for the first little while.

I dare you to touch her eggs....

 

[stonykill]

About the humidity .Im going to lockdown tomorrow. and I have a sponge itside it seems to dry up by the end of the day. Since i resoak it each morning. During lockdown i know your not suppose to open the incubator. So should i just put more sponges in. Humidity suppose to be 50 to 65%?

I have trouble getting my humidity over 50%. but as soon as the 1st chick hatches it rises to at least 60%. Get a few more it is at least 65%. My incubating experience is the hatching chicks take care of the humidity for you. My incubated hatch is happening now. Too many too count. At least 20 out I think.

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of the eggs under my Silkie is this ones niece!!!

I hope that she is like her aunt!!!!!

<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/album/5959105/id/4985966/sort/display_order"><img src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/6612470/width/400/flags/LL"></a>


She was sleeping on my shoulder while we were cleaning up the yard... super cutie

Oh my gosh what an adorable pic..

 

[justacouplemorechicks]

My little bantam went broody the end of February. She gathered up her egg and eggs from the other hens before I even realized what she was doing. I am new at this and she is my first broody! I didn't have the heart to take them away because she clucked so happily everytime I came in the coop. She has 5 eggs total. 3 are full size eggs from my barred rock hen and 2 are small bantam eggs. Do they all have the same 21 day time frame? I moved her into a large dog crate inside the coop because she kept gathering eggs. Good thing I marked the original 5. Every day I had to pick her up & take out the 3 new eggs my girls were laying.
So my questions are:
1) do all the eggs have the 21 days whether full size or bantam?
2) she gathered eggs over a couple of days - does that mean my hatching period will be a couple of days?
3) I have not candled the eggs - should I do that now? and what exactly am I looking for?
4) when they hatch, should I leave her & the babies inside the crate? she's my smallest girl and the others tend to run over her....

Thanks for your help!!

 

[justacouplemorechicks]

oh, I have one more question.... I have a full size barred rock hen, but my rooster is a little bantam fellow.... what will I end up with?? will they be full size or small or somewhere in between???

 

[JakRat]

He did do some pecking, but nothing to serious. More like Hey I am the man around here, listen to me. He is soo goofy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats stony, your getting a jump on your broodys

I have trouble getting my humidity over 50%. but as soon as the 1st chick hatches it rises to at least 60%. Get a few more it is at least 65%. My incubating experience is the hatching chicks take care of the humidity for you. My incubated hatch is happening now. Too many too count. At least 20 out I think.