Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Jharper]

Knowing Topsy she's probably already gone broody several times by now. Lol

Hahaha! That's funny!

 

[CGinJCMO]

Didn't get a photo of the mama with her 3 hatchlings as they were out today, but I'm going to add this guy (she incucbated it, I just allowed it to hatch since she was ready to get up). There were two in my incubator, but one died before I could get it back out to her. I was waiting for it to dry off since I'm going to put them under her when she's sleeping. I have two more pips and one egg that I'm not sure about. Of the ones that hatched, 3 look like this one, one is yellow and I think the one in the egg is also yellow/silvery.

I just got this guy/gal out under the broody. I had to lift the babies into the hen house as they apparently couldn't use the ramp She was sitting on them on the ground outside the coop. Now she's on the floor of the coop right by the entrance. I don't know why she didn't go to the nest. One bonus, it made it easy for me to put #4 under her.
CG

 

[bumpercarr]

Didn't get a photo of the mama with her 3 hatchlings as they were out today, but I'm going to add this guy (she incucbated it, I just allowed it to hatch since she was ready to get up). There were two in my incubator, but one died before I could get it back out to her. I was waiting for it to dry off since I'm going to put them under her when she's sleeping. I have two more pips and one egg that I'm not sure about. Of the ones that hatched, 3 look like this one, one is yellow and I think the one in the egg is also yellow/silvery.

I just got this guy/gal out under the broody. I had to lift the babies into the hen house as they apparently couldn't use the ramp She was sitting on them on the ground outside the coop. Now she's on the floor of the coop right by the entrance. I don't know why she didn't go to the nest. One bonus, it made it easy for me to put #4 under her.
CG

I put a cardboard box on the ground for the mother and her chicks until they mastered the ramp. I think it took about 2 weeks for that to happen. In the meantime, they were safe in the box (inside the wire but not up in the coop). Good luck!

 

[bumpercarr]

So, barred rock broody is not going to be a very good broody hen. She hops from nest to nest, can't seem to decide which one she likes best. I don't think I'll be depending on her to hatch anything for me. Silkie mix has started laying again, so she is done with her babies. Maybe she'll go broody again soon?

 

[Jharper]

So, barred rock broody is not going to be a very good broody hen.  She hops from nest to nest, can't seem to decide which one she likes best.  I don't think I'll be depending on her to hatch anything for me.  Silkie mix has started laying again, so she is done with her babies.  Maybe she'll go broody again soon?

Place her out of the pen into a desperate thing with the clutch of eggs you want her to sit on. Do this at night it should work.

 

[bobbieschicks]

So, barred rock broody is not going to be a very good broody hen.  She hops from nest to nest, can't seem to decide which one she likes best.  I don't think I'll be depending on her to hatch anything for me.  Silkie mix has started laying again, so she is done with her babies.  Maybe she'll go broody again soon?

Hahaha! Thank you for the laugh. Saying "maybe" and "broody" in the same sentence with Silky is just too funny. It reminded me of Topsy who couldn't stop from cycling in and out of broody.

Yes I would be willing to bet your silky will be broody again in 4-6 weeks. Keep us posted.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Didn't get a photo of the mama with her 3 hatchlings as they were out today, but I'm going to add this guy (she incucbated it, I just allowed it to hatch since she was ready to get up). There were two in my incubator, but one died before I could get it back out to her. I was waiting for it to dry off since I'm going to put them under her when she's sleeping. I have two more pips and one egg that I'm not sure about. Of the ones that hatched, 3 look like this one, one is yellow and I think the one in the egg is also yellow/silvery. I just got this guy/gal out under the broody. I had to lift the babies into the hen house as they apparently couldn't use the ramp She was sitting on them on the ground outside the coop. Now she's on the floor of the coop right by the entrance. I don't know why she didn't go to the nest. One bonus, it made it easy for me to put #4 under her. CG

Congrats on the new little fuzzy butts! Momma will usually find a new safe place on the floor to bring up the clutch until she moves them up - to the roost or nest box at night. If you show them the ramp around day 6 they should master it by the end of a week. My RIR chicks were using the ramp when they were 7 days old. Momma tried to sleep outside with them tucked under her and I scooped her plus a couple of babies into the coop, then went back and scooped the rest. Only had to do that a couple of times before they figured out how to follow momma up.

 

[fisherlady]

We placed a large plastic dog kennel in the run with some straw in it for times when the broody can't get the little ones up the ramp and inside when the weather is iffy. Both of our broodies like to be out in the run as much as possible, but when the rain showers hit they try to get back inside and the little ones just don't always cooperate. Twice I found a broody out in the run in the pouring rain covering the little ones (meanwhile she is soaked through!)

Since placing the kennel as a dry spot to shelter I have twice found a broody sitting out a rainstorm in it with her little ones. So if you are worried about it you can set up a little sheltered area within your run for your broody and little ones, it doesn't need to be fancy, anything that provides a dry, sheltered spot will help.

 

[Pyxis]

I can join back up again! This is Penny, who greeted me like this this morning:

We'll see if she sticks it out. Last time she got so offended when I cleaned the coop that she got up.

 

[Jharper]

I can join back up again! This is Penny, who greeted me like this this morning:

We'll see if she sticks it out. Last time she got so offended when I cleaned the coop that she got up.

I've been nonstop from march! Hahaha! I guess broodiness is in the air!!