Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[lawatt]

Okay, so it sounds like the consensus is that if I get hatching eggs there is a chance, even if it's small, that my girls would be exposed to something.

Also, if I get hatching eggs and they hatch successfully, I'll need to keep them separated from my other hen. (I only have two hens- it's a long story. We're accidental chicken owners)

Hmm, not sure if that would be good to keep her alone if Becky had chicks. Maybe I could keep them in the same area. Is keeping the newly hatched chicks separated mainly for protection from other adult birds and germs?

Thanks!

i suppose it's possible, but it seems quite unlikely there would be any problems, unless you know you're getting eggs from a dubious source -- I've just gone through five broodies, got hatching eggs from five different sources, and now the mamas are raising up a happy bunch of chicks... no disease issues, and everyone's in one big flock.

 

[Bresseman]

So I have a Broody Marans. She set on some fertile eggs to no avail for 25 days. I had a hatch going so I placed five new chicks under her two nights ago. I came home and she was still in the nestbox with the chicks, an elevated nestbox and I did not want the chicks to fall out. I removed her and placed her on the coop floor and placed the chicks around her. She immediately sat down and clucked worriedly about the chicks who were running around her pecking around for food. She seems to have adopted the chicks. They go under her for warmth and she clucks at them should they get too far from her. However as of this morning she is still setting in the same location as if she is still setting on eggs. The chicks move about the coop but she will not move to protect them when I or another hen approaches or. It's as if she is paralyzed by indecision. She continues to allow them to forage and I have placed a creep feeder in the coop. So far though she has not moved from her location.

My question is should I take the chicks back or take a wait and see approach.

 

[chiqita]

Many hens sit still for about 3 days waiting for all the eggs to hatch. Even if there are no eggs. I'd leave it unless you are worried they will be killed by other hens. Then I'd see if I could give them a desperate space for a few days if you can.

 

[Donna Lynn]

Beautiful chicks! Don't ya just love watching all this?

 

[Kassaundra]

Here is my broody girl hard at work, Thing 1.


The little tiny bit of time she spends off the nest, if she sees my husband (to her the evil egg snatcher) in the yard she bristles all up and yells and acts like a turkey, even if she is in the yard and there isn't an egg in site, and if he walks towards the coop she takes off in a dead run all bristled up and screaming her head off.

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Broody and 8 babies took well to broody pen.

 

[chiqita]

I figured to chicken we are gobblers right out of " the golden compass" Child stealers!!

Here is my broody girl hard at work, Thing 1. The little tiny bit of time she spends off the nest, if she sees my husband (to her the evil egg snatcher) in the yard she bristles all up and yells and acts like a turkey, even if she is in the yard and there isn't an egg in site, and if he walks towards the coop she takes off in a dead run all bristled up and screaming her head off.

 

[groverlvchx]

Laughing at Thing 1--and cheering her on! Of my 9 hens 1 has new chicks, two are on nests due to hatch in about 10 days, and tonight another one is on a nest and wouldn't get up for dinner! Might HALF my hens be broody?! WOW I guess my flock will grow this summer. SO MUCH FUN!!!

 

[OHfarmerswife]

I have a dorking hen sitting on 6 eggs! Due the 24th! This will be a first for me

Congrats twink!!!!!
You are going to love this!!!!!!
I have my third broody (this year was my first year) due with 12 eggs on the 13th.
DH said NO more.
As luck would have it no more broody hens

 

[bumpercarr]

Looks like I may have another hen going broody. Caught the barred rock (Juliet) sleeping on eggs tonight because I was late taking the eggs out of the nest. Usually, they evacuate the next when I open the door to remove eggs, but she puffed up, gave me the evil eye and when I reached under her started flexing to take my hand as part of her clutch of eggs. We'll see over the next few days if she stays broody. Winnie (silkie mix) has pretty much finished raising her clutch of two and I expect that she will go broody again. She hasn't started laying again yet. I really didn't expect any of the other hens to go broody, so I'm a little surprised by Juliet's broodiness. I guess I need to order some eggs for her. I have a roo, but really don't want any more chicks out of him. I'm looking for some non-related lines.