Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

Asparagus had frost bite so i am going to have to sort that out on Friday!, im sure hes leading up to attacking me!

 

[3riverschick]

2 pullets setting and hatching in one 4x8 coop?
Hi,
Can one have 2 setting hens in one 4x8 coop? They are sharing large nestbox right now. What will happen when eggs hatch? Will they steal or kill each other's chicks? They are Sussex, 1/2 sisters raised together.
Should I build a nest box in the other end of the coop and move one hen there? The rooo is still in the coop, should I move him to batchelor quarters? He is gentle and gallant with his ladies. Should I leave the roo in the coop with one hen and move the other hen to the batchelor quarters with a nest of her own? The weather is foul and they don't have access to outside right now.
Thanks,
Karen

 

[CoopChick719]

I'd take it and candle it in the dark. If it were still growing she probably wouldn't have left it. I WOULD NOT OPEN IT. Just saying.

Okay, will do.

How many does she have?

She's got 4 babies. I gave her 6 eggs. There was one I thought may be porous and she pushed that one out of the nest yesterday.

 

[perchie.girl]

2 pullets setting and hatching in one 4x8 coop?
Hi,
Can one have 2 setting hens in one 4x8 coop? They are sharing large nestbox right now. What will happen when eggs hatch? Will they steal or kill each other's chicks? They are Sussex, 1/2 sisters raised together.
Should I build a nest box in the other end of the coop and move one hen there? The rooo is still in the coop, should I move him to batchelor quarters? He is gentle and gallant with his ladies. Should I leave the roo in the coop with one hen and move the other hen to the batchelor quarters with a nest of her own? The weather is foul and they don't have access to outside right now.
Thanks,
Karen

Take a deeep breath Karen..... LOL. Unless anyone is fighting I wouldn't change a thing. Including the roo. Just keep an eye on him when the chicks hatch. Most roos take on dad duty.

deb

 

[bobbieschicks]

                [COLOR=0000CD]2 pullets setting and hatching in one 4x8 coop?[/COLOR]
Hi,
 Can one have 2 setting hens in one 4x8 coop? They are sharing  large nestbox right now. What will happen when eggs hatch? Will they steal or kill each other's chicks? They are Sussex, 1/2 sisters raised together.
Should I build a nest box in the other end of the coop and move one hen there? The rooo is still in the coop, should I move him to batchelor quarters? He is gentle and gallant with his ladies. Should I leave the roo in the coop with one hen and move the other hen to the batchelor quarters with a nest of her own? The weather is foul and they don't have access to outside right now.
 Thanks,
 Karen

As long as they are getting along I would leave them alone. Do they both have some eggs under them? I wouldn't worry about them harming each other or their eggs/chicks if they are normally getting along fine. I would definitely not move them unless they hate each other and keep pecking each other.

Also the roo will probably leave the girls alone, except for maybe warmth or comfort. I've noticed my Roos leave the broody girls alone and focus on the layers. So I wouldn't separate him unless he becomes aggressive, which would be unusual.

My silky Topsy was broody at the same time as my EE/Arucana Smokey for at least two clutches. They fight all the time. Usually it's Smokey getting on Topsy's back and pecking her. So when they went broody at the same time I merely moved them at night into the broody area of the coop and stapled a piece of landscape fabric between them from the ceiling to the floor. They had a curtain to keep them apart. They hatched their babies within a foot of each other and didn't have too much trouble. Then I took it down once the babies hatched and they both moved about with their babies and still had no trouble. Once they abandoned the babies around week 4 they started back into the fighting again.

The last time Topsy hatched she had a nest box buddy, Vanilla Ice. VI is a pullet who Topsy hatched and she has not started to lay. But when her hatchmate was killed by a hawk she climbed into the nest box with Topsy and stayed there until the chicks hatched. After they were born she helped Topsy raise the chicks. Then when Topsy left the babies at 5 week sold, VI took over the momma duties and stayed with the babies until 12 weeks. Then she left them for the roost.

 

[CoopChick719]

Okay so I candled the last egg. There is definately something in there but it's not moving or peeping. This is Day 26. Momma went out to the pen this morning but it was quick. She was back in w/the babies & the egg within 5 minutes if that.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Okay so I candled the last egg. There is definately something in there but it's not moving or peeping. This is Day 26. Momma went out to the pen this morning but it was quick. She was back in w/the babies & the egg within 5 minutes if that.

It might not peep or move at this late stage of the game. Put it under her and the next time she leaves it will be the time to remove it. But do not open it, just dispose of it gently.

 

[delisha]

Hello Karen,

Your hens might want to co nest. Many times they will share chick duties. They might even steal each others eggs. They should be fine. Roosters like his girls to have chicks, that is what it is all about. He will take his job seriously now. Some roos will even keep a nest warm while a hen has a potty break and eats.

 

[3riverschick]

2 pullets setting and hatching in one 4x8 coop?

Hi,
Thank you all so much for your help.

I am a warm weather hatcher. Unfortunately, Sussex start laying and hatching in late Jan. thru March. We are in frigid western PA. I have a foundation trio of Light Sussex. So, I had a carefully researched and thought out hatching schedule starting Feb. 1st and running thru April 10th. The girls decided to go broody the last week of Jan. First one, then both. Just determined to brood!

The weather is foul here and they have been in their spacious coop 24/7 with lights on with their rooster. So I finally gave up my schedule and decided if they were so determined, to let them hatch out the eggs.

Then I am thinking I will take the peeps from them and brood them? Then will the girls start to lay again? I have never had broody hens hatch eggs before. Always used my Brinsea Mini-Advances.
Suddenly, despite all my planning, I am in uncharted territory,

. I just never studied any of this because I already had a different plan.

Best,
Karen

 

[fisherlady]

2 pullets setting and hatching in one 4x8 coop?

Hi,
Thank you all so much for your help.

I am a warm weather hatcher. Unfortunately, Sussex start laying and hatching in late Jan. thru March. We are in frigid western PA. I have a foundation trio of Light Sussex. So, I had a carefully researched and thought out hatching schedule starting Feb. 1st and running thru April 10th. The girls decided to go broody the last week of Jan. First one, then both. Just determined to brood!

The weather is foul here and they have been in their spacious coop 24/7 with lights on with their rooster. So I finally gave up my schedule and decided if they were so determined, to let them hatch out the eggs.

Then I am thinking I will take the peeps from them and brood them? Then will the girls start to lay again? I have never had broody hens hatch eggs before. Always used my Brinsea Mini-Advances.
Suddenly, despite all my planning, I am in uncharted territory,

. I just never studied any of this because I already had a different plan.

Best,
Karen

Hi there, We are also in Western Pa... and just had our hen hatch out 8 eggs (Jan 26th). We let her keep the chicks, so far they are going strong and having a good time learning how to be little chickens. If you give them some deep bedding to nest in and your coop isn't drafty or damp they should do just fine. This afternoon I was out spending time in the coop with them, it was 30 degrees or so in the coop and they were running around like a bunch of hooligans.