Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[OHfarmerswife]

I am a proud chicken mamma!!!
My first broody who has been sleeping in the nest boxes with her 8 chicks, much to my dismay, has finally moved back to the roost, with 2 of the eight by her side under her left wing!!!! The other 6 chicks were on top of a nesting box that contains my next broody hen.
Hopefully momma will convince the rest to follow her to the roost in the days to come.
Wish I had my camera tonight when I closed up the coop!!!!!!

 

[lawatt]

Can't help you. I've had multiple broodies with chicks at the same time and no one attacking anyone. A few pecks here and there when the chicks aren't listening, but no attacks.

thanks -- a few more attempts at integrating everyone today has revealed that a) only chicks separated from their moms get attacked, and b) the real problem is two of the moms, if they get anywhere near each other, they end up in a vicious fight, i've had to separate them twice now. am now thinking i might have to give away one + her chick, as she doesn't seem to be getting along with anyone in the flock, and the level of animosity between her and the other broody is disturbingly intense.

 

[JodyDI]

Bunny sat for 46 days before I finally got her chicks under her. The hens can't tell time. They usually will keep sitting until either they hatch something or gets chicks.

SOoo I have 6, 2 week old babies. who have a good mama. I have a silkie who is determined to be a mama. I am not getting any more eggs. Are they too old to give 1 baby to her? I didnt know iff the babies would not accept her at this age.

 

[Bikerschick]

She looks like a Welsumer.

Yay!!!
I googled "welsummer" and yes! That's her!

Thank you soo much!

This is the best "face pic" I have of her right now...lol.
But I'm certain Welsummer is right!

 

[heninthehouse]

SOoo I have 6, 2 week old babies. who have a good mama.  I have a silkie who is determined to be a mama.  I am not getting any more eggs. Are they too old to give 1 baby to her?  I didnt know iff the babies would not accept her at this age.

Each hen is different on wether it will "adopt" another's chick. I had a broody hen (no roo at the time) last spring who wouldn't budge off her nest so 2 weeks later I got her day old chicks...tried to place them under her at night and the next morning she only allowed 1 of the 6 near her, and was already siting on another egg and wouldnt budge. So all chicks came in the house and I got her fertilized eggs online. She hatched out 5 and was an excellent mother. You could try and see I your hen will adopt, but watch carefully and don't be alarmed if she won't.

 

[essyd]

'candling experts advice!!'

I had to see curiosity got the better of me!! I'm day 17 with mother hen sitting on eggs.
I used my husbands torch he uses on his helmet when he's working at night on the rail roads- small and poweful!!
There was a large black area with an air pocket at one side!!
Is this a good sign????

 

[fisherlady]

'candling experts advice!!'

I had to see curiosity got the better of me!! I'm day 17 with mother hen sitting on eggs.
I used my husbands torch he uses on his helmet when he's working at night on the rail roads- small and poweful!!
There was a large black area with an air pocket at one side!!
Is this a good sign????

Refer to pics in this thread for candling...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

 

[Johnn]

OMG so cute!! My daughter has turned our home to a rescue shelter for abandonded cats/kittens. So I cannot let mine out of the tractor. Or at least I'm to scared to try. there are too many young curious energetic Meows. Some ferals too, I'm trying to capture to spay. I'm curious Johnn, where do you live, I'm noticing the ground and growth??

Thanks and I live in Cumbria in the UK

 

[chooniecat]

Had a Salmon Fav. hatch out 10 chix last spring(1st time for her/me) and didn't want to encourage such behavior this yr.(feeling overwhelmed) so I noticed 3 days ago a newly matured hen(hatched out to said SF exactly 1 yr. ago)refusing to leave straw filled bucket they all like to lay in occasionally. This was 10 at nite so I so smartly transferred her/bucket to a hutch where she still sits growling/puffing up. She didn't have any eggs under her when found so I watched for first 2 days and she STILL didn't lay. I placed 3 eggs I chose from nests under her yesterday a.m. and am going to time all. Point being I am turning into crazy chicken lady.At least I will process any unwanted chicks(cockerels when large enough) (even though it bothers me-can't keep the boys). This hen is a BA/bar. rock mix and my probable roo is a barred rock.

 

[FeatheredFreind]

Hi . I hope I can get some help from all of you on this thread. I have a few broody hens, 2 of them are large girls especially the Dixie rainbow. I have not seen either of these two girls off of their nest in over a week. The Dixie Rainbow is finished hatching but Just now I tried to get her to take a break and she is having problems standing. As her chicks were hatching I noticed she would keep her right leg stretched out to keep some of her weight up off of the chicks(for 3-4days). Now she cant seem to stand on her own at all. I am thinking I should remove her a couple times a day to help her exercise but I do not want to chance her not taking care of her chicks. The second hen is still sitting a few eggs that i think are not due for a couple more days because of 1 week into her sitting her flock mates addad to her nest. I should of moved her prior to that happening(or marked her eggs) but she sit one other time then quit after a week so I was sorta waiting it out to see if she was in it for the duration this time. She is a speckles Sussex and I am sure she has not went to the bathroom well over a week. For the health of the hens, should I get these two girls up and out for a few minutes? They are both in their own broody pens about (4x4) blocked off so no other hen could disturb them or add more eggs. They have been in the pens now for about two weeks. I do hope someone has some good advice as to what I should do. I am leaving town in a few days so I really can't take a chance of them abanding their babies.