Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[CarolinaHen]

NNNOOOOO! Lol.

She's a horrible hatcher, breaks her eggs and lets everyone into her nest. And I don't need any more chicks.

Guess she needs a "broody breaking" experience then! Good luck!

 

[ilovemy7chicken]

I love your little separate pen idea. I may have to copy it. I hope you don't mind. My Sultan hen has been broody for 2 weeks now and we have a raised coop with two large nesting boxes which the girls share. They are not laying eggs in her box. My concern is that when the chicks hatch they will tumble down the ramp or that the other hens will not accept the chicks. My biggest fear is if I move her she may not like her new home and stop sitting on her eggs. Maybe I should wait for them to hatch.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I love your little separate pen idea. I may have to copy it. I hope you don't mind. My Sultan hen has been broody for 2 weeks now and we have a raised coop with two large nesting boxes which the girls share. They are not laying eggs in her box.  My concern is that when the chicks hatch they will tumble down the ramp or that the other hens will not accept the chicks.  My biggest fear is if I move her she may not like her new home and stop sitting on her eggs. Maybe I should wait for them to hatch.  

Tumbling out could happen but I've not had it happen to my broodies. If you put a lip on the nestbox it might deter them from wandering.

Usually what I've seen is the chicks stay under the mom closely. Unless there are too many to cover, they should be fine in there without interference.

I don't separate anymore. I figure if they hatch, they hatch. If something is going to happen I'm not going to intervene unless its another hen whom the broody can't defend against. Even my meanest girls are not a match against my tiniest broody. She is wise to know how to get those babies covered up and move them away if the mean one is having a bad day. She's also wise enough to teach the chicks chicken manners like how to avoid being beat down by the lead hen.

 

[Donna Lynn]

I've got one pip this morning!

I'm just a little happy, can you tell? It's a little hard to see under her but if I only get one, I'll be thrilled! Yay! Yay! Yay! Tee hee & Hallelujah! LOL


Donna

 

[Johnn]

If this is true then 5 of my Orpingtons eggs made it to day 5! One made it to day 20 and the other was infertile. Too bad they kept falling out of she would have had more chicks then the 2 i had to buy her!

 

[litleme28]

Thanks for posting that, I have really been trying to find a good breed to go back to old fashion broody hen method..incubators are fun and provide a little more control IF you can stabalize them..Iv kinda found that it seems like broody hens are hard to come by, I have been looking for standard cochin hens, and that breed has seemed like its dwindled..is it just me?

 

[litleme28]

I really like the pics demonstrating the stages of developement..it was neat to see

 

[Pyxis]

Thanks for posting that, I have really been trying to find a good breed to go back to old fashion broody hen method..incubators are fun and provide a little more control IF you can stabalize them..Iv kinda found that it seems like broody hens are hard to come by, I have been looking for standard cochin hens, and that breed has seemed like its dwindled..is it just me?

You could also try silkies, they're super broodies and since they're so unusual looking and docile they're really popular. I myself have 15 silkie eggs in the 'bator right now. Orpingtons are another option that's popular. My buff girl is on eggs right now.

 

[litleme28]

I have some silkies, but they are still a few months away from laying..my eggs are fairly large..and silkies are bantams..how many would you reccomend letting them safely set?

 

[litleme28]

oh, I also have have Lavender Orpintons..but they have proven to not be very broody :/ Iv not had buff, but would think that since it just a color difference..but same breed they would act the same..but Iv had no luck gettin them broody ..there little stinkers in that catagory..lol