Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[KendyF]

Will do! Thanks!!!! And I just posted up asking to join on an August hatch-a-long! Think I'm going to need the moral support...LOL! My broody will probably be cool as a cucumber

I completely understand it was a first for me and the broody also. I made a few mistakes.

If the eggs cool down, DON'T break them. She kicked a few out of the nest, I should have just put them back, because they were air-temp I thought they were not going to be good. I was told they would have been fine. What a terrible beginner's mistake.

 

[calichicken]

I completely understand it was a first for me and the broody also. I made a few mistakes.

If the eggs cool down, DON'T break them. She kicked a few out of the nest, I should have just put them back, because they were air-temp I thought they were not going to be good. I was told they would have been fine. What a terrible beginner's mistake.

Awww..bummer! OK, got it! If there is anything else you think of PLEASE do not hesitate to post. I have been reading up, but appreciate any experience advice!

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Wow, there are hundreds of details that I've learned since I joined this thread. My best advise has already been given -- trust your broody. It may be her first brood, but the information is hard wired into her brain, so she probably knows what to do. Also, don't overwhelm a first time broody by giving her too many eggs. Ideally, a first time broody should only have 6-8 eggs or less, even if she can cover more. Bantams need to be evaluated by size -- don't give so many that it will be difficult for her to cover them, because she needs it to be easy the first go around. Do not wash the eggs -- they have a protective sealant on them called the bloom, which prevent bacteria from getting inside. When you wash off the bloom, you remove the chick's first line of defense against infection, and the hatch rate will be much lower in washed eggs. Make sure her nest is appropriate -- private, comfortable, safe from both predators and harassment, big enough to accommodate her, the chicks, a shallow bowl of water and a bowl of food within beak reach, but not so big as to feel open or insecure. Go back through this thread for several months and you'll learn an amazing amount. And read the Hatching Eggs 101 article before the eggs arrive if possible, especially the part about shipped eggs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 After you've got the eggs under the broody, re-read the article about 10 more times. There's so much information in there, it's like a textbook, and there's tons of links. A lot of it's about using incubators instead of broodies, but most of the information is the same and important to know.

This was my first year ever hatching chicks, and I now have 18 beautiful chicks under three different broodies. They did most of the work -- I just interfered, worried, and supervised. It's an amazing thing to share with your hen, especially if the hen is tame and totally trusts you.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask questions. This is a friendly thread, and we don't pick on the newbies for being new.

 

[loobyloo88]

You may find that on days 18-21 she goes into "lockdown."  She doesn't move, and is a little more annoyed with interruptions.  At that point it's more important to keep food and water in front of her in the nest, within beak's reach, and in a shallow container that the chicks can't drown in, but wide enough to not spill into the nest easily.  If she does get up, she may be more careful not to move the eggs around when she gets back on the nest.  Not all hens do lockdown, but don't be concerned if she does.

You may hear the chicks cheeping either before, during, or after the eggs hatch.  You may see her talking to her eggs quietly, as the babies can hear her now.  As the eggs hatch, you may see her in a slight squatting position (as opposed to fully setting down), slightly hovering over the eggs but still keeping them warm, although this is fairly subtle and doesn't look a lot different than just regular setting.  You may not see the chicks for 1-3 days, depending on how shy they are.  They are very fragile and chill easily, even in hot weather, during this time.  They tend to just cling to her fluff, or stay under her wing.  They do not need to eat or drink for the first 3 days, although they can and often are quite hungry and thirsty, so chick-safe waterers and feeders that don't spill are important.

Congratulations on your upcoming hatch.  Remember that 21 days is only average -- many chicks are hatched out and completely normal anytime between days 18 - 23, and sometimes even up to day 26.

thank you! Been to check her this morning just (im in UK) and found my first pip! Could hear the chick peeping out of it to! Eek! So excited! X

 

[Sydney Acres]

Quote:
Oh congratulations. So exciting!!

There's a wonderful article on hatching on BYC called Hatching 101: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 It covers everything you're likely to need. It is long, but worth it. It is mostly oriented toward the incubator, but most of it also applies to using broodies.

 

[DBerryhill]

Just in case anyone was curious...the chick I helped last night is still alive and snuggled up under my broody! For a first time broody I am so impressed with her. Last night when I took that chick back out, she was MAD as soon as she heard it peep. I set it in front of her and she reached out and tucked it in under her. Then gave me a look that clearly said "you are dismissed. Off with you now"

 

[KendyF]

Just in case anyone was curious...the chick I helped last night is still alive and snuggled up under my broody! For a first time broody I am so impressed with her. Last night when I took that chick back out, she was MAD as soon as she heard it peep. I set it in front of her and she reached out and tucked it in under her. Then gave me a look that clearly said "you are dismissed. Off with you now"

This is the first year I have experienced Chicken Mommas and it is absolutely amazing. Good job on rescuing the chick!!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah! The chicks have shipped. Hoping I still have a broody when they get here.

 

[calichicken]

Just in case anyone was curious...the chick I helped last night is still alive and snuggled up under my broody! For a first time broody I am so impressed with her. Last night when I took that chick back out, she was MAD as soon as she heard it peep. I set it in front of her and she reached out and tucked it in under her. Then gave me a look that clearly said "you are dismissed. Off with you now"

LOL....congrats! Glad she is making a good momma! I have eggs coming Thursday for a first time broody also, so hopefully she will be a good momma too

 

[calichicken]

Wow, there are hundreds of details that I've learned since I joined this thread. My best advise has already been given -- trust your broody. It may be her first brood, but the information is hard wired into her brain, so she probably knows what to do. Also, don't overwhelm a first time broody by giving her too many eggs. Ideally, a first time broody should only have 6-8 eggs or less, even if she can cover more. Bantams need to be evaluated by size -- don't give so many that it will be difficult for her to cover them, because she needs it to be easy the first go around. Do not wash the eggs -- they have a protective sealant on them called the bloom, which prevent bacteria from getting inside. When you wash off the bloom, you remove the chick's first line of defense against infection, and the hatch rate will be much lower in washed eggs. Make sure her nest is appropriate -- private, comfortable, safe from both predators and harassment, big enough to accommodate her, the chicks, a shallow bowl of water and a bowl of food within beak reach, but not so big as to feel open or insecure. Go back through this thread for several months and you'll learn an amazing amount. And read the Hatching Eggs 101 article before the eggs arrive if possible, especially the part about shipped eggs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101 After you've got the eggs under the broody, re-read the article about 10 more times. There's so much information in there, it's like a textbook, and there's tons of links. A lot of it's about using incubators instead of broodies, but most of the information is the same and important to know.

This was my first year ever hatching chicks, and I now have 18 beautiful chicks under three different broodies. They did most of the work -- I just interfered, worried, and supervised. It's an amazing thing to share with your hen, especially if the hen is tame and totally trusts you.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to ask questions. This is a friendly thread, and we don't pick on the newbies for being new.

Thank you so much for your advise! I did read he hatching 101 info and a lot of this thread! So far I think we are on a good track. I ordered 6 Bantam eggs for her, nest is all set! She is our household pet, so she is very tame and friendly

Hopefully we will have success....she has been broody off and on since May so thought we would finally let her try and see what happens! Eggs come Thursday...so excited/nervous!!!!