Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Susiederkins]

After reading much of this post, I am going to get busy and get some hens this spring....and hope one gets broody and saves me the stress of the incubator. Wish me luck!

 

[BoereMeisie]

I found half a shell in my broody Rhode Island Red hen's nest today

She just needs to get up and take them for a walk now, I'm so excited to see them! Will go check again tomorrow morning (it's evening over here now...)

 

[fisherlady]

After reading much of this post, I am going to get busy and get some hens this spring....and hope one gets broody and saves me the stress of the incubator. Wish me luck!

good luck! Check out the breed characteristics and keep your fingers crossed that your hens get in the mood! Don't get discouraged if it takes a year or two. Sometimes we are lucky and get a young broody, but many breeds who are prone to be broody don't get that way till their second or third year.

I found half a shell in my broody Rhode Island Red hen's nest today :yiipchick She just needs to get up and take them for a walk now, I'm so excited to see them!  Will go check again tomorrow morning  (it's evening over here now...) 

Congrats!! Hope you can get some good pics to share!!

 

[Susiederkins]

Thanks for the encouragement. I can't believe how much I read on this forum!!! Addiction is supposed to be bad!

 

[Susiederkins]

YAY...Post pics ASAP!

 

[Pyxis]

A question to all of you with orpingtons - do they usually take chicks whenever you give them to them, even if they've just started sitting? I'm pretty sure my buff orp went broody in the last day or two, and I really don't want her hatching any more mixed breeds this year, but two weeks ago I rescued eggs from a broody that quit and they're pipping now. I'd be happy to give them to her once they're done. Do you think she would take them this early? I've never tried giving a hen chicks before three weeks had passed.

 

[bumpercarr]

A question to all of you with orpingtons - do they usually take chicks whenever you give them to them, even if they've just started sitting? I'm pretty sure my buff orp went broody in the last day or two, and I really don't want her hatching any more mixed breeds this year, but two weeks ago I rescued eggs from a broody that quit and they're pipping now. I'd be happy to give them to her once they're done. Do you think she would take them this early? I've never tried giving a hen chicks before three weeks had passed.

I'm not an expert, but I don't think chickens can tell time. I've read on this and other forums where people have given chicks to hens that just went broody and the chicks were accepted. As everyone says, just keep a close eye on the hen to see if she rejects them. Good luck!

 

[chickydee64]

A question to all of you with orpingtons - do they usually take chicks whenever you give them to them, even if they've just started sitting? I'm pretty sure my buff orp went broody in the last day or two, and I really don't want her hatching any more mixed breeds this year, but two weeks ago I rescued eggs from a broody that quit and they're pipping now. I'd be happy to give them to her once they're done. Do you think she would take them this early? I've never tried giving a hen chicks before three weeks had passed.

Just depends on the hen some will, some won't....no matter what breed..............
You will just have to try and be there to watch...................Good Luck

 

[MzPlacedHippie]

And I'm not sure that some don't have a kind of internal calendar that says 'nope, not long enough, not my chick.' But it really does depend on your girl. I know most of the folks here say try slipping them in at night and see. I'd guess you'd want to stay pretty close by so you don't have any sad surprises in the morning...

 

[NCChickchick]

Hey folks! May I jump in?
I have a broody silky. Don't know her age as I got her and my other 3 hens full-grown in July but Little Silky was my best layer out of them all (australorp, polish, and mixed Americauna) so I think she's youngish. She sat on golf balls and whatever the others added (and I removed daily) for over a week til I got my Serama eggs in the mail. i put 7 under her and 7 in the Brinsea last night. I pick her up every afternoon and pull out any additions. We will see who does best-Little Silky or Brinsea!
I havent seen her off the nest but she eats scratch when I hand feed her. I'm sure she's getting up at some point or she'd have died before now. It's so funny how she acts-really kind of stupored. I put on work gloves when I pick her up to remove other eggs. She bites but it doesn't hurt. Especially with the gloves. It seems to work better if I just pick her up and grab eggs rather than slide her around.
Now to make it for 3 weeks. LOVE this thread! Thanks, guys.