Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Im on day 8 with my broody Bantam.... she's a champ! ;-) Her nest box is about 6" off the ground... should I move her into her own small pen before the babies hatch? I believe they could probably get out of the pen she is in now. Dutch bantams are TINY.

I wouldn't move them until after she has hatched the chicks. Even then I let my broodies decide where to move their clutch only putting them in the coop at night if they don't make it back themselves. Usually the new nest is a location close to their old nest on the floor of the coop. The chicks will stay very closely with her and under her for a couple of days after they are done hatching. Then she will lead them away from the nest and make a new nest somewhere else. And 6" isn't too far off the ground for the babies to jump down with her.

 

[Sylviaanne]

I have a problem.
One of my roosters keeps trying to mate with my broody while she is on the nest. I have shooed him away twice and snatched him off of her two more times. Should I leave them alone to work it out or should I put him in chicken jail?

 

[Johnn]

Taking her babies out. It's like a family unit. Big sisters and one little siste

Spot the little sister

The two big chicks are maturing now and want to know who's boss!

Bella's boy

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Sylviaanne

I would be inclined to do something because otherwise the eggs are at risk of being crushed.

Either move the nest somewhere where he can't get to her, in a dog cage perhaps or cage him, but it makes more sense to cage the hen and nest since she is not needing to move around much at the moment anyway and you can always let her out for a quick exercise and a dust bath whilst you are there to protect her. It will also prevent other hens trying to lay in her nest.

It sounds like perhaps you have too many cockerels and this one, in desperation of raging hormones, is taking advantage of a sitting duck or hen in this case. What sort of ratio of males to females do you have?

Good luck with sorting the problem.

Barbara

 

[bobbieschicks]

[COLOR=333333][COLOR=141823]Taking her babies out. It's like a family unit. Big sisters and one little siste[/COLOR][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=333333][COLOR=141823]Spot the little sister[/COLOR][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=333333][COLOR=141823]The two big chicks are maturing now and want to know who's boss![/COLOR][/COLOR]
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[COLOR=333333]Bella's boy[/COLOR]
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Beautiful pictures. They grow so fast.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hi Sylviaanne

I would be inclined to do something because otherwise the eggs are at risk of being crushed.

Either move the nest somewhere where he can't get to her, in a dog cage perhaps or cage him, but it makes more sense to cage the hen and nest since she is not needing to move around much at the moment anyway and you can always let her out for a quick exercise and a dust bath whilst you are there to protect her. It will also prevent other hens trying to lay in her nest.

It sounds like perhaps you have too many cockerels and this one, in desperation of raging hormones, is taking advantage of a sitting duck or hen in this case. What sort of ratio of males to females do you have?

Good luck with sorting the problem.

Barbara  

I agree with this. Usually the roo will not mate a nonlaying hen. So something odd about him trying now. If you leave him alone won't he just continue to try and mate her.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hi Sylviaanne

I would be inclined to do something because otherwise the eggs are at risk of being crushed.

Either move the nest somewhere where he can't get to her, in a dog cage perhaps or cage him, but it makes more sense to cage the hen and nest since she is not needing to move around much at the moment anyway and you can always let her out for a quick exercise and a dust bath whilst you are there to protect her. It will also prevent other hens trying to lay in her nest.
...
Barbara

X2
I always like the broody in her own quarters. She doesn't miss the flock and when the chicks hatch they'll all benefit from starter feed. Otherwise, if you feed layer, you'll have to switch the whole flock.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Hey everyone! Been a long time since I've posted in this thread. Have been so thankful for the input I got here in the past!


I want to do a survey! For those of you that have experienced using a broody hen to hatch and brood:

Is there any breed that has a tendency to help the new youngsters become part of the flock as they become "teenagers" and come into adolescence? Have you experienced a hen that continued to help them become part of the flock as they are coming into adulthood rather than ditching them and even becoming aggressive toward them herself?


Is this a "breed tendency" or is it an "individual bird tendency".

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hey everyone!  Been a long time since I've posted in this thread.  Have been so thankful for the input I got here in the past!



I want to do a survey!  For those of you that have experienced using a broody hen to hatch and brood:

Is there any breed that has a tendency to help the new youngsters become part of the flock as they become "teenagers" and come into adolescence?  Have you experienced a hen that continued to help them become part of the flock as they are coming into adulthood rather than ditching them and even becoming aggressive toward them herself?


Is this a "breed tendency" or is it an "individual bird tendency".


 

My Silkie girls have been great mommas and their young tend to leave them rather then the other way around. My Maran stays pretty close to her chicks even now at five weeks old. The RIR has attempted to return to the roost, but is still with her six weeks olds on the nest.

Most broodies will leave the chicks for the roost at six weeks old. The chicks are feathered enough and huddle for warmth. Some even sleep on the roost by that time.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have only had one hatchery red girl brood. She brooded 2 times so far. Each time she stayed w/the chicks until they were 13 weeks old. You can imagine how funny it was to see those big kids still trying to get under the mom!

But..
When she was done with them she was done. One day she was mamma and the next day she was their enemy - literally pecking them and attacking them if they came near her. After that they were on their own and it almost seemed like the example of the mamma being mean to them seems to inspire some of the rest of the flock.

I was hoping that I could find a broody mom that would still give them a "place"...not attacking them and helping them to be accepted into the larger flock a little better as they continued to grow...maybe protecting them still from the others and helping them be part of the flock.