Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[yasmin]

I have 3 buff orps that hatched yesterday and are in the brooder now from this morning but somebody please tell me when do the chicks start eating or drinking I have put the food and drink in there but they are not eating I dont know what to do.

 

[Zootopia]

I have 3 buff orps that hatched yesterday and are in the brooder now from this morning but somebody please tell me when do the chicks start eating or drinking I have put the food and drink in there but they are not eating I dont know what to do.

You are on the "Broody Hen" thread, where the hen takes care of the chicks.

Ok, when you put your chicks in the brooder dip their beaks in the water to show them where it is, sprinkle some of the chick starter on the floor of the brooder and they will peck at it on their own as they explore

 

[bobbieschicks]

Quote: Thank you so much! They have such cute lil white fluffy butts. And my momma hen is so sweet she has never pecked me when I reach in for the babies. But that kinda leads me to a question, because she does not peck at me when I reach for the babies, do you think she will still be able to protect them from the rest of the flock when I put them back in the coop? Or do you think she is too submissive and wont be able to ward off the other hens?


Quote:

Like the others have said, the hen will protect the chicks. Keep an eye on her around the others at first and you will see. Smokey seemed so gentle and sweet around her babies (she wasn't that way before hatching her chicks) that I was worried about her ability to protect them. Then the lead roo got near her and the babies. He suddenly picked one up and flung it. The baby was unharmed, but Smokey showed a true broody fight. She took on that rooster and then started after anyone standing around. Smokey looked like she was going to get killed a couple of times, but she did her job and after that only the 2nd rooster even bothered to come near her. She took him down too. So your sweet loving hen will instinctively try to kill anyone who comes too close to her babies. At least until about the 5th week, then they are on their own.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I have 3 buff orps that hatched yesterday and are in the brooder now from this morning but somebody please tell me when do the chicks start eating or drinking I have put the food and drink in there but they are not eating I dont know what to do.

They should start by 3 days. You may need to show them the water and food. Dip their beaks gently in the water. They will start to eat and drink shortly. Congrats on your new babies!

 

[AnnieBLix]

Another update:

Number 5 has hatched! So one more to go and that one has pipped! The older of the chicks have been nibbling on chick crumb - Mummy doing a great job showing them how it's done.

Hopefully all goes well with the remaining egg....

Another update for you all. All 6 eggs have hatched! The last little fella was waiting for me this morning when I came down!

I have moved the hen and her chicks to the broody coop and out of the communal coop where she decided to sit! And the move has gone very well, they've settled in nicely. The older chicks had some food, the younger two were curious but not quite ready for food yet.

I'm so happy with Florence and her efforts, she's proving to be a very patient and loving mother.

This has been a fantastic experience!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another update for you all. All 6 eggs have hatched! The last little fella was waiting for me this morning when I came down!

I have moved the hen and her chicks to the broody coop and out of the communal coop where she decided to sit! And the move has gone very well, they've settled in nicely. The older chicks had some food, the younger two were curious but not quite ready for food yet.

I'm so happy with Florence and her efforts, she's proving to be a very patient and loving mother.

This has been a fantastic experience!

Precious Congratulations.... and enjoy every minute because your hooked now..

 

[This_chicks_place]

Good Morning. We are on day 22 with our broody. No action again this morning.

How many days should we wait before we take them away? What's the longest you had to wait for your hatches? I'm beginning to get worried.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Quote: Precious Congratulations.... and enjoy every minute because your hooked now..

xs2! Congrats!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Good Morning. We are on day 22 with our broody. No action again this morning.

How many days should we wait before we take them away? What's the longest you had to wait for your hatches? I'm beginning to get worried.

Wait three more days. Had you candled to see what's happening with the eggs? Did you know they were growing?

 

[This_chicks_place]

Wait three more days. Had you candled to see what's happening with the eggs? Did you know they were growing?

Yes, we candled last week, took 4 away that were not developing and left her with five. Three for sure were growing and in the other two we couldn't see through the shell very well, so we let her keep those just in case. This is our first time with a broody and I have to say I have never been this impatient!