Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[luvmychicken]

My chicks are 6 weeks old. How long will they stay with momma. She is still real protective bit I have noticed her jumping up to the nest box as if she is getting ready to start laying again. Her come and waddles are turning red again. What you think???

Probablies about 8 weeks, that's the normal time. But my hen stayed with hers until 22 weeks!

Wow. That is a long time. Thanks

 

[acsinos]

Right now, I have 5 mama hens hatching eggs. The first clutch hatched last night and we moved mama and chicks to a nursery pen successfully this morning. The pen is completely enclosed to thwart predators and probably 8 feet by 6 feet (lots of room). I made a shelter out of a rubber tub (stuffed it with straw and cut an access hole that both mama and babies can use) and the area is covered with a tarp for water proofing.

The next hen’s clutch of eggs should hatch in about a week. Can I put the next mama and set of hatched chicks in the same pen with the existing mama and chicks I have in there now or will there be problems?

I plan to set the new mama and chicks up with her own “rubber tub house” on the opposite side of the pen, but, as this is my first experience with letting broodies hatch, I didn’t know how well the hens would tolerate each other or if they would try to attack each other or the chicks.

Any advice would be appreciated!

 

[luvmychicken]

My broody raised her chicks with the rest of the flock. No problems!!!

 

[acsinos]

Thanks luvmychicken! I am hoping the hens will be ok together to save multiple pen construction, feeders, etc. These girls roosted and foraged together prior to going broody, so they aren't total strangers!

I have two banty sisters that went broody the same day, in the same pet carrier! I have always heard broodies are pretty irritated by other chickens, but these girls seem to like each other's company. They even leave the nests together everyday to eat and whatnot! I am sure those girls will be fine together with chicks!

 

[OffGridMAMA]

I think I broke my broody I moved her (with entire Rubbermaid box she has been nesting in) to ground level area in corner of big coop in preparation for maybe hatching early...... its dark, chick proof fence ,etc. This morning I find her pacing by the door. Eggs are cool to touch.... ugh. I left her in there.... but I'm thinking she's done.... will check on her later today. She's a pro, hoping she returns to nest..... I did get to finally see/ count her eggs.....12 large eggs in every color..

 

[Moni]

I think I broke my broody I moved her (with entire Rubbermaid box she has been nesting in) to ground level area in corner of big coop in preparation for maybe hatching early...... its dark, chick proof fence ,etc. This morning I find her pacing by the door. Eggs are cool to touch.... ugh. I left her in there.... but I'm thinking she's done.... will check on her later today. She's a pro, hoping she returns to nest..... I did get to finally see/ count her eggs.....12 large eggs in every color..

My broody Jap hen did the same thing this weekend when we moved to our new house. When i put her in her new area she got off the nest and paced the fence. I give her about 30 minutes to freak out and then i picked her up and put her back on her nest and covered the whole litter box with a heavy towel. She instantly chilled out and has been on nest since. I took the towel off that night when she was asleep. I hope that helps!! Good Luck with your hen

 

[AQHAchick22]

I have only ever moved hens twice and one was successful and the other give up after I moved her. You are supposed to move them quietly when its dark and put them in a cosy place. I also got a broody hen off a friend and she brought it to me and I put her in the shed and she just walked over and sat on the eggs that were in the nest box and this was in the day time too! But I don't recommend you mover her at daytime that was a big risk I took.

Hmm so should I move her to a covered or uncovered cat litter box? Also should I put the eggs in it and then sit her on top or put her in the box and then the eggs under her?
I just did all my reserach on incubating, I wasn't expecting a broody hen.

 

[rebecuna]

Squee!!
Here's a sweet video, too...

 

[rebecuna]

Hmm so should I move her to a covered or uncovered cat litter box? Also should I put the eggs in it and then sit her on top or put her in the box and then the eggs under her?
I just did all my reserach on incubating, I wasn't expecting a broody hen.

Mine was in a covered litter box. I removed the lid just yesterday, when the first chick was 1 day old so we could see better and the chicks could get out more easily.

 

[acsinos]

Yes she will keep on turning, I have seen plenty of people hatch ducks out under a hen.
I think the other hens will just treat it the same way they would a chick, think the mother wont be able to tell its a duckling either (I don't think so anyways). If the other hens attack the Duckling just put a dog cage in the coop and put her in that if you have no were else to put her.

The broody we moved today had about 80% of her eggs hatched and she did great. She is so calm since the chicks arrived - not the angry pancake she was a week ago.

We had two pips that made the move (one i assisted with hatch and is fine, one that did not make it). I checked her a little bit ago and she had the group halfway out of the new nest box/house we made her and a few of the chicks were exploring right in front of her. She has made no attempt to leave the babies...not sure she's even drank or ate today. Waiting for the chicks before moving her seemed to work for us.