Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Leahs Mom]

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

Yes - that area is totally separated. She can see into the other side but there's a door between so she's totally protected from company!

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

Yes.. my plan is to cut down a straw bale to about 1/5th height and still keep it sitting on top of that. I don't use straw on the floors of the hen house (prefer wood chips) but the hen house sets up off the ground about 2' so the wind blows under it. I wanted to keep an "insulation buffer" over the floor to keep it a little warmer from below.

I'm thinking I'll cut the straw piece down to about 4-5" high by the time of hatch.

My other idea is a piece of insulating styrofoam under it which is also about 4 " thick. I don't like putting plastics in the hen house and don't like the idea that they might start pecking at it but it could be covered with a tarp very easily. I may actually opt for that as I don't really want the straw coming apart and going all over the floor. I'd have to be convinced that it can be totally covered in such a way that the "kiddos" can't get to it and eat any!


Question:
At this time of year, will momma be able to keep the HATCHED chicks warm enough on her own or do I need to add a little heat to the mix? I've even considered putting one of the pet heating mats in the bottom of the box after they hatch for a little added head - but only if I need to! I'd rather it be done by mom if she can take care of that adequately.

 

[perchie.girl]

Question:
At this time of year, will momma be able to keep the HATCHED chicks warm enough on her own or do I need to add a little heat to the mix? I've even considered putting one of the pet heating mats in the bottom of the box after they hatch for a little added head - but only if I need to! I'd rather it be done by mom if she can take care of that adequately.

They should be ok the way you have it set up. Especially if you have the area blocked off from wind. And the straw as a buffer insulator should be enough as well.

Stonys hens have their chicks out in the snow within a day or so. So I suspect the hen will know when its time to warm her chicks up and gather them together.

deb

 

[Johnn]

I really don't know how but Asparagus is above his mother in the pecking order now, its really weird because i cant imagine them fighting, meby shes jsut letting him be :/, shes above Bella though, she give her a peck today!
heres asparagus now:

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

and as stony always says Chickens have been doing this alot longer than us humans. lol

Stony is my go-to broody guru!
Having the hen and chicks mingle with the flock from the start, at her discretion, is the biggest blessing of broody-raised chicks. No integration issues.
When she stops Mothering, they learn to find their own place in the flock, and you didn't have to lift a finger to make it happen!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Stony is my go-to broody guru!
Having the hen and chicks mingle with the flock from the start, at her discretion, is the biggest blessing of broody-raised chicks. No integration issues.
When she stops Mothering, they learn to find their own place in the flock, and you didn't have to lift a finger to make it happen!

Yep!! isn't it wonderful.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I really don't know how but Asparagus is above his mother in the pecking order now, its really weird because i cant imagine them fighting, meby shes jsut letting him be :/, shes above Bella though, she give her a peck today!
heres asparagus now:

He's a pretty boy Johnn , and I suspect if he got out of hand with her she'd let him know who's boss. my young roo who is the same age as Asparagus gets daily scoldings from the big EE's.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes - that area is totally separated. She can see into the other side but there's a door between so she's totally protected from company!

Yes.. my plan is to cut down a straw bale to about 1/5th height and still keep it sitting on top of that. I don't use straw on the floors of the hen house (prefer wood chips) but the hen house sets up off the ground about 2' so the wind blows under it. I wanted to keep an "insulation buffer" over the floor to keep it a little warmer from below.

I'm thinking I'll cut the straw piece down to about 4-5" high by the time of hatch.

My other idea is a piece of insulating styrofoam under it which is also about 4 " thick. I don't like putting plastics in the hen house and don't like the idea that they might start pecking at it but it could be covered with a tarp very easily. I may actually opt for that as I don't really want the straw coming apart and going all over the floor. I'd have to be convinced that it can be totally covered in such a way that the "kiddos" can't get to it and eat any!


Question:
At this time of year, will momma be able to keep the HATCHED chicks warm enough on her own or do I need to add a little heat to the mix? I've even considered putting one of the pet heating mats in the bottom of the box after they hatch for a little added head - but only if I need to! I'd rather it be done by mom if she can take care of that adequately.

They should be ok the way you have it set up. Especially if you have the area blocked off from wind. And the straw as a buffer insulator should be enough as well.

Stonys hens have their chicks out in the snow within a day or so. So I suspect the hen will know when its time to warm her chicks up and gather them together.

deb

No extra heat needed. but when first hatched until at least 4-5 days old even 4-5 " maybe a bit much to maneuver when trying to get back to mama, I usually remove the nest box completely And just let them have the nice pine bedding on the floor because almost lost a chick once when it fell out of the nest box which was sitting on the floor and couldn't get back into get warm. and mom didn't leave the rest of her brood to help it,. this was just a simple box with a 2" lip to hold the bedding inside.

 

[Johnn]

He's a pretty boy Johnn , and I suspect if he got out of hand with her she'd let him know who's boss. my young roo who is the same age as Asparagus gets daily scoldings from the big EE's.

Im not 100% sure if hes the boss of her but it looked like it, he knocked her out of food bowls and when he walked over to a bowl she was at she would leave with out a problem. The reason i would be shocked by this is because hes not above any other hen apart from Bella, and his mother is high in the pecking order so i cant imagine her going down with out a fight....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Im not 100% sure if hes the boss of her but it looked like it, he knocked her out of food bowls and when he walked over to a bowl she was at she would leave with out a problem. The reason i would be shocked by this is because hes not above any other hen apart from Bella, and his mother is high in the pecking order so i cant imagine her going down with out a fight....

I'm sure she will not let him get out of line.

 

[Johnn]

I'm sure she will not let him get out of line.

haha, hopefully not!