Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bumpercarr]

Ok, thanks! day two, and staying strong on that nest

I put the food and water super close to the nest, so that the chick can eat without mom having to get up.

I don't know what your brooder set up is, but I have taken a Rubbermaid type tub in the past and put it close to the other brooder so that the warmth extended into both from the light. Just a thought if you need to set up a second one. I've been able to get the temp in the tub up to close to 100 degrees to finish a hatch when I've had to. The biggest issue can be humidity.

But, at this stage, they should be starting to make noise that momma can hear (but you probably can't). Most broodies won't get up if they hear the chicks or feel movement in the eggs, even though they have chicks. Good idea to keep the food and water close by, that way if she does have to get up, it is only for a moment or two.

 

[saltandpepper2]

kinda drives you nuts, right? Makes me wanna run them out and sit in them myself. Good luck!

It does!! Lol, I would probably a be nervous wreck if I wasn't caring for 3 dogs, 20 OTHER chickens, and Ten horses!

 

[Lenka]

Babies are herreee

 

[rebrascora]

thanks for good wishes and advice Fisherlady


Quote: K Epp, unfortunately I have no means of downloading photos. I'm a bit of a technophobe I'm afraid and consider myself to be doing well just using words on the forum!

Not sure if you have similar sort of old furniture in the US.

Basically, the sideboard is a long low dining room cabinet on legs that are about 16 inches long and the cabinet height is about another 16-18 inches and probably 6 feet long, so it stands roughly 3 ft high. It is divided into three separate compartments. One on the left was a set of 3 drawers, one of which is now a nest box. Double doors in the middle open up into the larger central area where the crockery was kept and the right hand side has a door that is hinged at the bottom and opens downward and was generally used as a drinks cabinet.... that door makes an ideal ramp for little chucks when they are old enough to come out into the big hen house!

I removed the drawers and tacked wire mesh across where the drawer fronts had been, so that provides a "play area". I cut holes out of the partition wood on each side of the main compartment, so chucks can get access right through. The central area I'm using for food and water for Natasha (Tasha for short because of her tufts) my broody and the nest box drawer has been placed in the drinks compartment end where it is nice and dark. I may need to make some modifications as it will not be overly easy to clean out once there are chicks running around. I'm thinking about cutting sections out of the top of each compartment so I can reach in from above. Anyway, that's it basically. I have it standing in the stable that I use as a hen house, so that the other hens will be able to see the chicks once they are up and about but not interact with them, so that hopefully when they are old enough to come out, there will not be too many integration problems.
I got the sideboard given as it was being thrown out. It's very 1960's style but it cost me nothing and it's been recycled, so I'm a happy woman and so is the previous owner.
Hope that gives you a better idea of what it's like.

Regards

Barbara

 

[Scott H]

Babies are herreee

Your broody looks a lot like ours!

 

[atief1253]

I'm glad I saw your post, as this is my first time hatching normally with a broody hen. My hen is also on her hauches with her feathers really fluffed up. Is this a signal that an egg will hatch? I think we did this incorrrectly from the beginning so I wonder if an egg will still hatch. Let me know. It will be exciting to have an egg hatch. Thanks.

 

[Scott H]

 

[rebrascora]

OH WOW!

How gorgeous are both your broodies and their chicks!

Maybe just as well I don't have a camera as Tasha would not compare well..... she's a bit of an odd ball! Still, as long as she is happy and healthy and a good mother, I will be more than happy.
Just hope I don't get too many cockerels. I'm already trying to psych myself up to rear them for meat, although considering her size, I will be lucky if they even make stock! Since they are going to be farmyard mutts there isn't any breeding potential in them. What do other people do with their male chicks. It seems a shocking waste of life to kill them as chicks or youngsters. I wonder if it will be possible to auto sex them with their sire being a cream legbar.?....
Am I perhaps counting my cockerels before they hatch!

 

[fisherlady]

I'm glad I saw your post, as this is my first time hatching normally with a broody hen. My hen is also on her hauches with her feathers really fluffed up. Is this a signal that an egg will hatch? I think we did this incorrrectly from the beginning so I wonder if an egg will still hatch. Let me know. It will be exciting to have an egg hatch. Thanks.

In order to know when to expect your egg to hatch we would need some more info...

how long has your hen been setting on the egg? Hens need to incubate the eggs for approximately 3 weeks... but they can be a day or so early or late.

What is the source of the egg? Is it fertile?

 

[atief1253]

I'm embarrassed to say that I guessed at fertility, figuring since she was one that the rooster picked on that she would be fertile. We had one egg since 5/5 and one since 5/7. Other hens kept going in the box with her, making it messy and leaving eggs. We left a few more eggs under her that the other hens laid there. I know this sounds so very unorganized. The two eggs we candled looked like something was in there. This sounds like a mess and should probably be so easy. Looking forward to your reply. Thanks.