Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[jgervais]

Thanks Miss Lydia for the info. I kind of feel like nature will take its course since nature has been doing this for far longer than I have. So I'm just trying to accommodate my hens the best way I can. The hen boxes are in sort of a 'second floor' of the overall coop. We used the Garden Coop plans so Im afraid I will have to get something closer to the ground for the first few weeks of the chicks lives. Im hoping mama will let me move her chicks a few days after they hatch.

Here is the coop they are both sitting in now:
http://simplelifeainteasy.blogspot.com/2011/05/best-chicken-coop-ever.html
The hen boxes are tucked in really nice and they are safe. The rooster doesnt go into the actual hen house much so I think they like how quiet it is in there. I have food and water hanging within a few feet from them, so this all seems ideal until the chicks are hatched.

Heres our 'pallet coop' thats currently empty and Im hoping to move all new chicks and the 2 mamas into once hatched.
http://simplelifeainteasy.blogspot.com/2011/09/pallet-coop.html
I hope the move goes smoothly and the mommas dont get in each others way.

Im so dang excited you can bet ill have pics as soon as one pops its little head.

 

[Morganwood]

I think we are going to have to move our broody's. We've had 2 chicks end up in the main part of the coop despite 2 layers of wire around the bottom. I'm thinking hens are grabbing them out from the single wire in the top. We might be grabbing my daughters wading pool out of storage and bringing them into the house. How will that work for reintegrating them later?

 

[bobbieschicks]

I can't remember how old your new chicks are - but I know that my babies could squeeze through the 2x4 welded without any problem all the way up until this week - they just turned 5 weeks today. So unless you're using hardware cloth - they can get through - they can easily squeeze through chicken wire for awhile - probably a good two weeks or so. I doubt the chicks are being pulled up - but if they're as adventerous as mine are - they will find a way to get out. Taking them away will be harder to reintegrate - unless you leave them with the broody to do the reintegration. She'll fight for them until she's done with her momma job.

I think we are going to have to move our broody's. We've had 2 chicks end up in the main part of the coop despite 2 layers of wire around the bottom. I'm thinking hens are grabbing them out from the single wire in the top. We might be grabbing my daughters wading pool out of storage and bringing them into the house. How will that work for reintegrating them later?

 

[flowerchicks]

I think we are going to have to move our broody's.  We've had 2 chicks end up in the main part of the coop despite 2 layers of wire around the bottom.  I'm thinking hens are grabbing them out from the single wire in the top.  We might be grabbing my daughters wading pool out of storage and bringing them into the house.  How will that work for reintegrating them later?

I have been using the wire cube kits from Bed Bath & Beyond. Its $20 for the kit and it is enough for a pen and lid, 2 if you have banties. When they are ready to go outside i will just put the 'cage" in the coop or run for a couple weeks and let the hens get used to them. I did put mesh fabric around it to keep the serema chicks from getting out, and my bigger chicks kept poking their heads out, so i put mesh around them, too, so my dog wouldnt bite there heads off.

 

[Morganwood]

We are thinking of bringing the broodies in too. Keep the little families together. The wire is 2x4 with chicken wire across so maybe they are sneaking out. I'd put them in a dog crate out there but I need them for the dogs. Just don't want to lose anymore.

 

[bobbieschicks]

We are thinking of bringing the broodies in too. Keep the little families together. The wire is 2x4 with chicken wire across so maybe they are sneaking out. I'd put them in a dog crate out there but I need them for the dogs. Just don't want to lose anymore.

Oh yes they can definitely fit thru that. You'll need 1" hardware cloth to keep them in. I saw my 5 week old AM slip thru the 2x4 a few minutes ago. I thought she was too big now but obviously not.

 

[Tripp16]

Sad day today. My little Gracie lost one of her chicks. I was headed out of the coop and my coop has a heavy door on it which closes hard. She always runs up to the door when it opens and of course the chicks follow well needless to say the silkies were being stupid and trying to get out after I got them all pushed back I didnt look around for chicks so the door closed and I wont go into detail but the chick died a few seconds later.

Im still sick to my stomach. Momma seems ok she still has her two but its still really sad!

I hope you guys will post some pictures to brighten my day a little.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Sad day today. My little Gracie lost one of her chicks. I was headed out of the coop and my coop has a heavy door on it which closes hard. She always runs up to the door when it opens and of course the chicks follow well needless to say the silkies were being stupid and trying to get out after I got them all pushed back I didnt look around for chicks so the door closed and I wont go into detail but the chick died a few seconds later.

Im still sick to my stomach. Momma seems ok she still has her two but its still really sad!

I hope you guys will post some pictures to brighten my day a little.

So sorry for your loss. I'm so worried about stepping down on the little ones when I exit the coop. They are small and quick. At least they had a great life, albeit short. Hugs.

 

[Morganwood]

Just went out to put a board across to block off the chicks from escaping until we can sort out something permanent and found we now have 5 chicks at least. There was a bit of a clamor when I brought the board into the coop and the chicks all ran out to see what the fuss was. I'm glad to see we have more than one chick left and the broodies are still sitting on more.

Scarlett456 I'm so sorry about your chick. We've lost 3 now and I didn't think it would bother me as much as it does. I guess I'm not a thick skinned farmer yet.

 

[Farmin Momma]

Looks like I have my first Broody hen,

my lil black cochin mix. She has not come off her nest all day. I set a just laied egg next to her and with in seconds she scooted it right under her. So I decided to test her by giving her a few eggs that I was willing to sacrifice to find ou tif she truly is ready. I marked the 2 that she already had and gave her 3 more that are marked. She makes a really funny noise when I come into the coop, she does not peck at me when I reach under her mut she does not seem happy when I do. I also caught her moving the eggs around and moving the straw around ontop of herself. She is so adorible! I hope this works sence my first try on hatching in an incubator did not work at all. Got my fingers crossed!