Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

5 newly hatched Orpington chicks from eggs I was donated/bought.
Mums are sharing a playpen inside the house.
The blue Orpington on the left had 2 white chicks (one white chick is not on view), while the buff Orpington had the 3 cuckoo babies.

love.gif
 
Hi, new to posting. Hello everyone!!! I had a broody Millie Fleur d'uccle (little bantam cutie) establish a clutch of 12 out in a grassy patch under a tree. It took me forever to find her hiding spot there, but after watching her leave the flock when she would come eat and drink once a day, we finally located her tonight after dark. It has been quite cold here over the last few days, today being the coldest by far, a balmy 20 degrees . I moved them to the chicken coop for the night with the other birds and she was very ticked. In the morning, I am going to put her in her own broody pen. Do you think any chance of hatching any since they have been on the grassy ground up to this point?
 
Is it possible to make her mad by moving her and eggs to where she won't sit any longer?
It is possible; however, I moved my broody and she got ticked but never stopped but sat 28 days. The reason she sat 28 days is because she kept stealing eggs from the other nest-boxes and we didn't catch her until day 7. We couldn't figure out which eggs were which so we let her sit until 27 or 28. None hatched because she crushed them.
 
Last edited:
Is it possible to make her mad by moving her and eggs to where she won't sit any longer?
I have one that will completely quit if I move her, but two that will happily change places. I think it mostly depends on the hen. If she was sitting in a location away from the others, I would make her new nest area in a quiet, secluded place. Maybe a dog house or crate inside the coop. That's where I put my girl that hates to be moved. I move them there at night and she grumbles, but will stay. If I move her during the day, she will leave the nest and will not come back.
welcome-byc.gif
 
400


First peep this morning under Mama. Marans seems like a very dedicated mother, hopefully. Oh my gosh...can I be any more excited?!? Can finally hear baby....but fingers crossed for more!! Oh...and this is day 20.
 
4 broody hens in a week......YES!
couldnt be better timed as i just got lots of eggs for the incubator ........hen is way better than the incubator everyday of the year!
THANK YOU!!!! I know what you mean I have a silkie that went broody yesterday and it's November and it's snowy and cold here in Ohio and people were saying you should wait till spring but I say the hens do like you said hatch better than an incubator and take care of the chicks way better than we do in a brooder
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom