Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[winteree]

Looks like I'm not the only one watching & waiting for the hatch (any minute now)

i guess hatching is exciting for birds as well as humans

 

[poodlechicks]

Oh, I forgot to tell you, Sydney Acres, Summer is a Buff Orpington. Hatchery quality, but still pretty.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote: Thank you. It's amazing how different chickens are when you get to know them one on one in your own backyard, compared to the massive numbers in industry.

Your setup doesn't sound so bad. Dog carriers work great as nests, and protect the broody from curious flock members. It just has to be big enough for the broody to stand and move around a little without trampling the chicks. If you haven't already done so, I would recommend checking the floor of the carrier to see if it's flat. Most of the carriers are made of molded plastic, and have an irregular floor for better stacking during storage. If these "mountains and valleys" aren't covered, pressure points can develop under the bedding, which could break eggs or cause pressure sores for the hen (if she's a large breed like my girls -- if she's a 3 pound Silkie you're probably ok with enough bedding). If you think there's going to be a problem, I would recommend putting either a few layers of flat cardboard, or the plastic lid to a tote (if you have one that fits properly), or a cut-to-fit foam tile, or some other flat surface on the bottom of the carrier, underneath the bedding and nesting material. Then put the bedding material, then the nesting material, on top of that. (If you decide to do this and you have a second carrier, it would be easier to set up the second carrier with the flat barrier and bedding and half the nesting material, then when she's off the nest put some of the used nesting material and the eggs in the new carrier. So much quicker and easier than having to pull everything apart to put the flat barrier underneath everything.)

If you can easily remove the top of the dog carrier, that might be an easier way to lift her off the nest than pulling her out through the front door. You'd probably need to set the top back on and replace the door before taking her away for exercise so that her eggs are protected from other flock members. If you do lift the top off, be sure to remove the door first. Sometimes when you leave the door in place and remove the top, the door falls inward. That could injure or panic the broody, or break some eggs.

You aren't likely to be jeopardizing the eggs by pulling the carrier along the ground, if the "mountains and valleys" on the bottom of the carrier are covered by a flat surface, and the bedding is adequate padding, and the surface you're pulling the carrier over is reasonably smooth. If it's a rocky and jagged surface, you can flatten it out by either raking out rocks or adding sand or dirt or straw or grass clippings or whatever you've got. My current broody is temporarily brooding in a three- sided, open-topped cardboard box in my computer room (long story), and the box doesn't have handles so I don't want to pick it up in case I drop it, so I just pull it along on the floor when I need to move her somewhere. She doesn't even notice, and it's a smooth ride.

I usually only keep my hen on layer pellets for one week after her last egg, then switch her to either chick starter or flock raiser. That way she has a week of calcium beyond the last big calcium drain to replenish the mineral storage in her bones, but the planned mid-brood switch then forces me to have chick starter on hand and available when the chicks hatch. By that time the hen is used to the flavor difference and is eating it well, so she can show the chicks how to eat it. Moistening it before feeding can definitely increase her water intake, and in some cases encourage her to eat more. Adding just a little bit of apple juice to the food for a minute or two before adding water can improve the flavor, and encourage her to eat more. And don't forgot healthy treats. Last night after my broody's regular food she got to share my dinner -- ground turkey, sweet potato, spanish rice, broccoli, and watermelon. Even though chickens will eat fairly flavorless pellets, they love good tasting flavors. She eats quite a bit while she broods if it tastes good.

Good luck with your hen, and with your hatch. Brooding is a little stressful for a hen, just like pregnancy is for a mammal, but if the hen is in good health beforehand and she takes care of herself during the brood, she should do quite well. Sometimes they just need a little help to get everything headed in the right direction.

 

[Sydney Acres]

Oh, I forgot to tell you, Sydney Acres, Summer is a Buff Orpington. Hatchery quality, but still pretty.

Oh, that's really good news. Buff Orpingtons have a reputation for being very good broodies, and quite sweet birds. So she's more likely than some breeds to be able to hold her brood despite daily interruptions, and to have a nice temperament to teach the chicks.

It also sounds like she'll be quite protective, but with judgement. I love that she's fine when you handle her during the day, but at night (when she can't be sure that it's you) she's willing to deliver the peck of a thousand beaks!! What a good broody.

 

[Dumb Kluck]

i guess hatching is exciting for birds as well as humans

Even my old Labrador has taken to marking daily about a foot outside the perimeter of the run, just wish the cats weren't so excited

they mingle peaceably with the big birds, but they eat the smaller wild birds as often as they can. The chicks do have a cat proof zone (part of the separate day range zones for separate feeds arrangement) so hopefully no feathery fluff balls pull a Houdini on us

 

[mebberry4]

Thanks, Mebberry! If you were in Mich, I'd send you to the guy who helped me out. I also did my own feather sexing of the three yellow babies. I don't have a lot of experience, but read up on this site and I'll see if I picked out pullets. Apparently if there are two rows of varying size wing feathers, instead of one straight line, then a pullet. You can only do this when they are very young and of course, doesn't work on silkies. Here's a pic of the chicks with a silkie umbrella fringe...better than a heat lamp, I'd say.

I wish I were close to Michigan, but am all the way in NH! It would be nice to have a reputable source for day old chicks locally. I'm definitely going to look up the wing feather sexing again. I had researched when I hatched my chicks in the incubator, but will definitely be looking to find out the pullet to roo ratio asap!

Awesome pic!

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Hopefully the broody hens will teach the cats a lesson, and that'll be the end of it.

 

[mebberry4]

My DH sent me a text that we have one black chick so far!!

I am stuck at work right now and chomping at the bit to leave early so I can go home and peek in on them! I can't wait to get some pics to post.
I hope the rest hatch ok!

 

[Moppet]

First the Question, then the background :.)
How long does the mother hen need to stay with the chicks? And at what age can I introduce the chicks to the remaining girls.
I have 4 chickens, and only one has gone broody and she did it twice in the span of 3 months. I think she is a Rock Island White, and she is a very big girl compared to my other hens. Anyway in the 2nd broody adventure I got some fertilized eggs from a friend. I set up the rabbit hutch in the far corner of the chicken run and just before the chicks hatched, we fenced off almost half of the run for her and the babies. The other chickens are right next door with their coop also in the run, just on the other side. During the day, I set up a play yard outside their door so the chicks can get fresh grass. My other hens free range in my back yard whenever possible. Anyway, the Mother Hen is starting to go crazy I think, she jumped out of the play yard, but then went nuts after she realized that she could not get to her chicks. I am sure she would love some time to roam free, but not sure if she will while the chicks are small. The chicks are now 15 days old.

 

[bumpercarr]

First the Question, then the background :.)
How long does the mother hen need to stay with the chicks? And at what age can I introduce the chicks to the remaining girls.
I have 4 chickens, and only one has gone broody and she did it twice in the span of 3 months. I think she is a Rock Island White, and she is a very big girl compared to my other hens. Anyway in the 2nd broody adventure I got some fertilized eggs from a friend. I set up the rabbit hutch in the far corner of the chicken run and just before the chicks hatched, we fenced off almost half of the run for her and the babies. The other chickens are right next door with their coop also in the run, just on the other side. During the day, I set up a play yard outside their door so the chicks can get fresh grass. My other hens free range in my back yard whenever possible. Anyway, the Mother Hen is starting to go crazy I think, she jumped out of the play yard, but then went nuts after she realized that she could not get to her chicks. I am sure she would love some time to roam free, but not sure if she will while the chicks are small. The chicks are now 15 days old.

You can probably take down the play pen and let them roam with their mother. She'll protect them from the other hens if she needs to. Since they've been in sight of each other, they probably will just ignore the chicks. It will make integration easier if they have their mother with them to guide them in flock behavior.