Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

oohhhh so cute!

Let them out - momma will take care of them. Nobody dares mess with a broody's babies. Is that a polish peeking round the corner?

My broody section - I am really itching to let them outside.. The babies are just so tiny.. My other chicks were not out with the big ones until week 4

These barred rocks are 2 weeks old now.

Here they were at a few days old

 

[stonykill]

My broody section - I am really itching to let them outside.. The babies are just so tiny.. My other chicks were not out with the big ones until week 4

These barred rocks are 2 weeks old now.

Here they were at a few days old

my broody Sumatra's usually bring out their little ones to meet the flock at 2 days old. Everyone gets alongjust fine. The longer you wait, the harder the integration can be

 

[Angiebubs]

Update on mystery duck egg: Came home last night and the broody I put the duck egg under-changed nests!!! I removed all the freshly liad eggs and she is back on it again-just hoping she wasnt off it too long. Going to move this egg under my other broody that stays in just the one nestbox for now. This weekend I am getting some LO eggs-and planning on figuring out a way to seperate the broodys away from everyone else.

 

[aoxa]

My bantam cochin brought her little ones out at 1 week old they are 2 weeks today and they are doing great, mama is not going to let anyone mess with her babies. I haven't seen anyone try for that matter. even my 2 5 week olds who are now on their own don't get picked on. Congrats on your hatch by the way i must have missed it somewhere. 

Yes but this mom is very low on the pecking order.

 

[aoxa]

  my broody Sumatra's usually bring out their little ones to meet the flock at 2 days old. Everyone gets alongjust fine. The longer you wait, the harder the integration can be

The mom keeps attacking my older chicks. She received a beat down from their mother because of it lol. I'm just worried about the others getting a hold of the little ones. Olive (the broody) is very low on the pecking order.

 

[thailand]

Ummm...I might need some advice please. My broody, sitting for the second time around straight after sitting 30 days on unhatched eggs, doesn't seem too interested in coming off the nest to eat or poop or stretch her legs. Should I be concerned? With this egg (solo) she is only on day 2.

The first time around she came off for short spells ok and then went back again. First-time broody and has been excellent - very very determined.

Would love your thoughts please.

~ Angela

 

[MamaRoo]

No fluffballs under Mulberry (the silkie) yesterday. I did discover that I put an easter egger egg, and Welsummer egg under her. There's at least one more that I didn't dig for, but since everyone else lays lightr brown eggs, I don't know who's it/they are. My roo is a silkie, so if anything hatches, the kiddoes should be interesting. If I get nothing by Monday I'll pop down to the store and get a couple chicks to put under her. I'd like some more easter eggers so hopefully someone around hear has some.

I'd also like to raise a turkey for Thanksgiving, so maybe if those chicks are out I'll get a couple. I have a separate pen I can put them in when they start to get big.

 

[bobbieschicks]

She will have to reestablish herself in the pecking order and she will need to get her chicks in the order as well. The old pecking order no longer applies now that she has babies to tend to and she's not been a part of the pack for the past few weeks.

She will protect her chicks. I watched my little EE Smokey take on both of the LF roosters and the other LF girls as needed. She didn't back down even though I thought for sure she was going to get killed. Be nearby and keep an eye on her if you need to - but I would trust her to do her job. She has to get them near the others so the others will learn not to be threatened by the babies.

At first Smokey looked like she didn't care about the others coming around until the lead roo, White Leghorn, picked up one of the day old chicks and tossed it. Boy! Smokey went crazy. She attacked the roo and I had to get him out of there before he got hurt. After that Smokey wouldn't let anyone near her babies. The 2nd roo, Lavender Orpington, kept trying to come around and Smokey gave him so much grief. She'd peck him just for coming near the coop.

The mom keeps attacking my older chicks. She received a beat down from their mother because of it lol. I'm just worried about the others getting a hold of the little ones. Olive (the broody) is very low on the pecking order.

 

[aoxa]

She will have to reestablish herself in the pecking order and she will need to get her chicks in the order as well.  The old pecking order no longer applies now that she has babies to tend to and she's not been a part of the pack for the past few weeks. 

She will protect her chicks.  I watched my little EE Smokey take on both of the LF roosters and the other LF girls as needed.  She didn't back down even though I thought for sure she was going to get killed.   Be nearby and keep an eye on her if you need to - but I would trust her to do her job.  She has to get them near the others so the others will learn not to be threatened by the babies.

At first Smokey looked like she didn't care about the others coming around until the lead roo, White Leghorn, picked up one of the day old chicks and tossed it.  Boy!  Smokey went crazy.  She attacked the roo and I had to get him out of there before he got hurt.  After that Smokey wouldn't let anyone near her babies.  The 2nd roo, Lavender Orpington, kept trying to come around and Smokey gave him so much grief.  She'd peck him just for coming near the coop. 

I'm not really worried about my roos. My last broody did not protect her babies at all from other chickens. It was odd... Olive is much more protective. I just don't want to lose one, as I went on a 4 hour drive to get these chicks.. They are from SQ stock, and will be my breeding group once mature. They have escaped from their enclosure and were fine. I just have one hen that is very mean to chicks.. I saw her pick one up by it's crest (one of my older chicks) and toss it. :S

 

[aoxa]

oohhhh so cute!  Let them out - momma will take care of them.  Nobody dares mess with a broody's babies.  Is that a polish peeking round the corner?

Haha yeah - she climbs all over that fencing. Olive REALLY doesn't like when she does that lol.

I'm going to let them out when I get home. It will be easier to take pictures then. These ones are always hiding under mommy.