Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[loobyloo88]

both chicks made the first night well! Mummy trying to show them food and water and its so cute watching them stumble after her. Our grass isnt very steady so they were struggling so are currently shut inside protected from our forcast storms too, as well as coping better walking in there! I think I have one roo and one hen....my grandad is saying two hens so we'll se if I beat the 'expert'. Haha. Thanks all for your support. These two chicks have out weighed the loss of the other eggs. We'll hopefully take on a few more hens from the same batch of eggs that my grandad was dealing. Once their sex is confirmed, as I had my hopes on 4 hens from our hatch! Thanks again for all support!

 

[poodlechicks]

I'm glad your chicks are doing well, loobyloo88. Lovely picture!

 

[rebrascora]

So pleased it all turned out well for the remaining two chicks. Will keep my fingers crossed that that your granddad is right and they are both pullets, although at a day old, that's an optimistic prediction unless they are an auto sexing breed.

Mine are now 5 weeks old and there is a distinct difference in comb development. Judging by that, I may be fortunate to have 8 or possibly 9 out of the 13 still alive that are pullets and the 1 that died appeared to be a pullet too, so it's looking like I'm more than 50% in the right direction, even with that loss, which is a great result in my book.

Hope your chicks continue to thrive and give you lots of opportunity for photo shoots, so that you can share the results with us. I'm not able to post photos, but I love seeing everyone else's pics. Your little chicks look just gorgeous!

My mother hen has decided her chicks are now old enough to look after themselves today. She has pecked them a few times when they have got near her to forage, as it to say, "Off with you! This is mine. You're big enough to find your own food now." I'm pretty sure she started laying again yesterday too. Can someone confirm that 5 weeks is about right for that to happen?

Thanks

Barbara

 

[poodlechicks]

Mine turned 5 weeks and momma is still taking care of them.

 

[chippysmom327]

So pleased it all turned out well for the remaining two chicks. Will keep my fingers crossed that that your granddad is right and they are both pullets, although at a day old, that's an optimistic prediction unless they are an auto sexing breed.

Mine are now 5 weeks old and there is a distinct difference in comb development. Judging by that, I may be fortunate to have 8 or possibly 9 out of the 13 still alive that are pullets and the 1 that died appeared to be a pullet too, so it's looking like I'm more than 50% in the right direction, even with that loss, which is a great result in my book.

Hope your chicks continue to thrive and give you lots of opportunity for photo shoots, so that you can share the results with us. I'm not able to post photos, but I love seeing everyone else's pics. Your little chicks look just gorgeous!

My mother hen has decided her chicks are now old enough to look after themselves today. She has pecked them a few times when they have got near her to forage, as it to say, "Off with you! This is mine. You're big enough to find your own food now." I'm pretty sure she started laying again yesterday too. Can someone confirm that 5 weeks is about right for that to happen? 

Thanks

Barbara  

What are the night time temps? They should be mostly feathered (although cockerels feather in slower) but it may be too cool at night for them.

 

[calichicken]

both chicks made the first night well! Mummy trying to show them food and water and its so cute watching them stumble after her. Our grass isnt very steady so they were struggling so are currently shut inside protected from our forcast storms too, as well as coping better walking in there! I think I have one roo and one hen....my grandad is saying two hens so we'll se if I beat the 'expert'. Haha. Thanks all for your support. These two chicks have out weighed the loss of the other eggs. We'll hopefully take on a few more hens from the same batch of eggs that my grandad was dealing. Once their sex is confirmed, as I had my hopes on 4 hens from our hatch! Thanks again for all support!

Awwww...adorable!!!!

Crossing fingers for pullets

I can't wait to watch mine mother hers...so adorable! My eggs are being delivered today so we shall begin the process soon!
Quote:

 

[rebrascora]

External night time temps are in the 12-15C range (sorry I'm no good with Farenheit) but the chicken house is a stone built building so it's cooler than outside during the day, but warmer at night. They have not all been able to roost under her for several weeks with there being 13 of them, but they snuggle up to each other, so I'm not really concerned on that score, if that is the only factor to consider. Not that I would be able to do anything much to change her mind now and I would never manage to catch all the chicks and keep them in a brooder.... more that my life is worth to even try! They are flighty little monkeys, like their mother!
Having been an absolutely wonderful mother till now.... I mean really amazing!!...., she has suddenly become quite brutal with them and is most definitely saying "Don't bother me, you're on your own now kids!". Having just started laying, she has produced 2 eggs in 2 days, so she seems committed to casting off the first family and starting a new one and had moved up to roost with the other adult birds last night, instead of roosting with the chicks.

I'm hoping that she will lay a clutch and go broody again but I would like to switch her eggs for some of my legbars and leghorns this next time as they will be pure bred rather than letting her raise her own little farmyard mongrels.... cute as they are! I know this is a common enough practice and it's probably more unusual to let a hen sit on all her own eggs but has anybody had a broody hen that refused to accept another hens eggs? Her eggs are tiny, so is she likely to notice a difference with normal size eggs? She's a really crafty little bird, so I wouldn't be surprised if she spotted a switch.

Thanks

B

 

[chippysmom327]

External night time temps are in the 12-15C range (sorry I'm no good with Farenheit) but the chicken house is a stone built building so it's cooler than outside during the day, but warmer at night. They have not all been able to roost under her for several weeks with there being 13 of them, but they snuggle up to each other, so I'm not really concerned on that score, if that is the only factor to consider. Not that I would be able to do anything much to change her mind now and I would never manage to catch all the chicks and keep them in a brooder.... more that my life is worth to even try! They are flighty little monkeys, like their mother! 
Having been an absolutely wonderful mother till now.... I mean really amazing!!...., she has suddenly become quite brutal with them and is most definitely saying "Don't bother me, you're on your own now kids!". Having just started laying, she has produced 2 eggs in 2 days, so she seems committed to casting off the first family and starting a new one and had moved up to roost with the other adult birds last night, instead of roosting with the chicks.

I'm hoping that she will lay a clutch and go broody again but I would like to switch her eggs for some of my legbars and leghorns this next time as they will be pure bred rather than letting her raise her own little farmyard mongrels.... cute as they are! I know this is a common enough practice and it's probably more unusual to let a hen sit on all her own eggs but has anybody had a broody hen that refused to accept another hens eggs? Her eggs are tiny, so is she likely to notice a difference with normal size eggs? She's a really crafty little bird, so I wouldn't be surprised if she spotted a switch.

Thanks

B

12 C is a little too cold for them at night. If there's 13 and they're snuggling, they'll be fine.

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks for that info chippysmom

I would imagine it's about 15C out there tonight and a good 2-3 degrees warmer in the hen house and it's now after midnight, so I'm sure they will be fine, but it may be an issue for the next brood if she has one as I can't see the temps staying this high for another 10 weeks or so.

They gave me a right run around tonight when I went to shut them in at 10pm. There were only 3 on the juvenile perch area, 4 were up with the adults, but only one was on the perch, the other 3 were on the drop boards underneath and very liable to be pooped on, 5 were on the windowsill and 1 "Billy no mates" was perched on the gate outside the hen house and looked set for the night. I really didn't need them to be rebellious tonight because I'm going away for the weekend tomorrow and I'm stressed enough about leaving them without them deciding that they are not going to go in to roost where it's safe the night before!

 

[itspebbl]

You don't have to wait until night, it depends on the broody and how she's behaving. I just did the same thing with my Silky and Maran. The Silky didn't miss a beat, she was willing to take any chicks I put under her. She was like that the last time as well. The Maran however freaked out, pecked me & the chick and flew out of the nest. I waited a bit and tried again and she took them the next time. I was more careful with putting the chicks under her rather then in front of her the second time.

I removed the eggs and then immediately put in the chicks.

Thanks a bunch for the info!