Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Rachel'sFlock]

I'm not sure shes at least nearly 1 year old i got her of some one about 4 months ago and I think this is probably her first hatch ever though. The chicks are 3 weeks old so they are pretty good at running away form bullies and can fly reasonably well they are White Leghorns so there wings are 3 times the size of there bodies

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Oh, so these guys aren't tiny little chicks, then. Whew. As long as they can escape, they will probably be fine. Some Mums leave off Mothering about then, I have heard (tho mine brooded much longer). I didn't know Leghorns were even broodies so much, so maybe she is just as broody as they get! I am no WL expert, tho. Actually, I am no kind of expert, just telling you what I have experienced.
I wish the little guys well!
What a funny image, of the 3x larger wings!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Oh, so these guys aren't tiny little chicks, then. Whew. As long as they can escape, they will probably be fine. Some Mums leave off Mothering about then, I have heard (tho mine brooded much longer). I didn't know Leghorns were even broodies so much, so maybe she is just as broody as they get! I am no WL expert, tho. Actually, I am no kind of expert, just telling you what I have experienced.
I wish the little guys well!
What a funny image, of the 3x larger wings!

Yeah they should be fine, the chicks are White Leghorns the mum is an Isa Brown (Red Sex-Link) and i dont think they are very good broody's as they have been bred no to go broody but i guess there are few exceptions like with anything.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Yeah they should be fine, the chicks are White Leghorns the mum is an Isa Brown (Red Sex-Link) and i dont think they are very good broody's as they have been bred no to go broody but i guess there are few exceptions like with anything.

Sure.
Mine are BAs and they go broody at the mere suggestion of chicks, and are fanatical Mothers. And they are hatchery birds! I can't imagine how broody a heritage, proper bred, Australian Australorp would be!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Sure.
Mine are BAs and they go broody at the mere suggestion of chicks, and are fanatical Mothers. And they are hatchery birds! I can't imagine how broody a heritage, proper bred, Australian Australorp would be!

I have a broody RIR Bantam right now which I've put a few eggs under her, so she should be good form what I've heard even though it's her first time.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rachel- Yeah that's what she does, but my broody has not much interest in the chicks if they dont want to get pecked by the older hens they are the ones who have to hide under mum, mum wont defend them much. I'm trying to get the chicks to be "friends" with my older 8 week old motherless Wyndottes but they just want mum but mum doesn't want them

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Lydia- The chicks are in with her when she goes to the nest box they follow her everywhere she makes no effort to help them get in to the nest box, they have to try there hardest to get in with her.

When i have hens that aren't good moms they don't sit again. Hopefully they are old enough now to pretty much take care of themselves, I had a couple chicks loose their mom at 3 weeks and they did fine and also stony had a hen killed bt a fox i believe and she left 3 week old chicks [if I'm remembering correctly] and they did fine. So maybe it's time to let go and see what happens. They will have to find their place in the flock and yep they will get picked on it part of being a flock member, The part I like the least.is hearing the picking on in the evening when all go to roost.

 

[Fentress]

Looking forward to Spring with my first flock that is now about 9 months old. (New Hamp. Barred Rock and Speckled Sussex) Planning on building a new coop to use as a brooding area in hopes of getting a broody hen, probably would be the New Hamp or S. Sussex. Even though I will separate the broodie, I would like to reintroduce the brood back to the flock as early as possible following the hatch, may be after just a few days. What are the odds that the hen will do a good job of protecting her chicks from the rest of the flock? I have read that game breeds are good at this, but I don't have any of those. From a managment perspective, keeping the brood separate from the flock for a month or more would be inconvienent. Of course feeding them separtely so the chicks get the starter feed will be challenge as well. Any thoughts?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Well...my eggs ended up resting for about 32 hours after shipping before putting under my 8 mo old RIR broody.

Here's a the temporary nest box. It's in an area of the hen house that is separated off from the others.


Here she is in her new box.


And her own personal waterer and food on that side of the coop.


I'LL BET THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG 3 WEEKS!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well...my eggs ended up resting for about 32 hours after shipping before putting under my 8 mo old RIR broody.

Here's a the temporary nest box. It's in an area of the hen house that is separated off from the others.


Here she is in her new box.


And her own personal waterer and food on that side of the coop.


I'LL BET THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG 3 WEEKS!

Looks like a real nice setup, but when chicks hatch your going to want to move nest box to the floor so chicks when they fall out can get back to mama. Yep long 3 weeks. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Looking forward to Spring with my first flock that is now about 9 months old. (New Hamp. Barred Rock and Speckled Sussex) Planning on building a new coop to use as a brooding area in hopes of getting a broody hen, probably would be the New Hamp or S. Sussex. Even though I will separate the broodie, I would like to reintroduce the brood back to the flock as early as possible following the hatch, may be after just a few days. What are the odds that the hen will do a good job of protecting her chicks from the rest of the flock? I have read that game breeds are good at this, but I don't have any of those. From a managment perspective, keeping the brood separate from the flock for a month or more would be inconvienent. Of course feeding them separtely so the chicks get the starter feed will be challenge as well. Any thoughts?

When I have chicks and ducklings everyone eats chick starter I cannot feed separately, And usually after about 3 days mama will bring her chicks outside to meet the flock and most flock members will respect a mama and chicks, sometimes a chick will wander too close to another hen and get pecked but mama is usually right there to keep it from going any further I have a small coop that I use for a broody house now but I have let my broodies sit right in the coop too, whats nice about letting them hatch their chicks away from the flock is they get a couple of days of bonding time and rest from the hatch. But don't be surprised if when mama brings them out for the first time that she doesn't want to take them in the main coop the first night. You'll just have to be ready to make a safe place on the floor for her and chicks so they can have a bit of privacy. Some use a dog crate as a brooder and keep it inside the coop. that way broody and chicks are with the flock but still separate. use your imagination you can come up with some thing I'm sure. I don't know why anyone would want to keep mama and chicks separate from the flock, It's so much better to let them be chickens and work things out the way chickens do best. All the best to you, most important piece of advise anyone can give is to just let the broody do the work, and you just watch, it's such a blessing and relief to just watch. and as stony always says Chickens have been doing this alot longer than us humans. lol

 

[perchie.girl]

Just remember to make that first day you put the eggs under her day Zero. To account for broody hen getting them adjusted and up to temperature. Did you mark the eggs so you could spot other hens eggs being added to the nest? Or is your broody fenced off from other hen intrusion.

deb

Well...my eggs ended up resting for about 32 hours after shipping before putting under my 8 mo old RIR broody.

Here's a the temporary nest box. It's in an area of the hen house that is separated off from the others.


Here she is in her new box.


And her own personal waterer and food on that side of the coop.


I'LL BET THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG 3 WEEKS!