Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

Johnn, what breed is Coco?

I let Mama Buffy out in the run today after dosing for mites. She dust bathed for about 30 minutes while the chicks just waited for her to get up. She fought with another hen through the fence, and the rooster came and stood between them! Buffy didn't forget though. Later on I let the other hens have access to the coop and run and Buffy immediately jumped on the hen she was fighting with when she got too close, and Buffy won. Everything else has gone smoothly. She even walked up to the watermelon a couple of hens was eating off of and fed her chicks!

Coco is a Buff Orp x Jersey Giant

 

[bobbieschicks]

[COLOR=0000CD]"The reason you need to do something fast is because usually by the third day after hatching the momma will take all chicks with her and leave the nest for a new nest area."[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]I've seen several people say that here, but in my experience hatching with broodies (I think i count 12 times so far) they have not moved from the place that I set up for them.  Maybe because I remove unhatched eggs at day 23?  But not once have i had a broody even try to move her new chicks.  Hmm...[/COLOR]

Maybe that's the key if you set up a special area for them and they feel secure there then there's no reason to move. Mine nest where they feel like it, usually in a nestbox, and eventually move to the floor with their chicks. The one time I set up a special broody area just for broodies the girls still both moved off the area they had been hatching the eggs and shifted to their new nest about a foot away.

 

[bumpercarr]

I finally have another broody hen. Unfortunately, she's a pretty big Brahma, so we'll see if she managed to hatch any. I picked her up in June after losing my flock again (for the second time this year) to dogs. Anyway, she's the only layer that I have so I know that she's sitting on her own (LF Partridge Brahma) eggs. My cock bird is a LF Partridge Brahma as well. Wish her luck! I have no idea when she started brooding as we've been on vacation for the past 32 days. I don't necessarily need any more chicks right now, but if she hatches them, I'll take them.

 

[Sylviaanne]

Maybe that's the key if you set up a special area for them and they feel secure there then there's no reason to move. Mine nest where they feel like it, usually in a nestbox, and eventually move to the floor with their chicks. The one time I set up a special broody area just for broodies the girls still both moved off the area they had been hatching the eggs and shifted to their new nest about a foot away.

Well, she took the chicks out of the coop today and we can't find her or the babies. I sure hope they are safe. Everyone else is in there. I wanted to put 2 more babies under her tonight.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well, she took the chicks out of the coop today and we can't find her or the babies. I sure hope they are safe. Everyone else is in there. I wanted to put 2 more babies under her tonight.

My silky is fond of making a new nest under the coop. Big pain in the butt, each night I scooped up the babies and her and tossed them inside the coop overnight. Usually by the fourth night she took them in herself. Perhaps she would be fine under there without my intervention, but we get all kinds of wildlife at night and I don't want to chance what I would find in the morning.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I finally have another broody hen.  Unfortunately, she's a pretty big Brahma, so we'll see if she managed to hatch any.  I picked her up in June after losing my flock again (for the second time this year) to dogs.  Anyway, she's the only layer that I have so I know that she's sitting on her own (LF Partridge Brahma) eggs.  My cock bird is a LF Partridge Brahma as well.  Wish her luck!  I have no idea when she started brooding as we've been on vacation for the past 32 days.  I don't necessarily need any more chicks right now, but if she hatches them, I'll take them.

Congrats on the broody!

 

[rebrascora]

Delighted to report that my second broody has hatched 8 of her 9 eggs.... the 9th wasn't fertile. I have 2 cream legbars(1 male and 1 female I think, but haven't been able to get a good look) 4 exchequer leghorns and 2 cream legbar x RIRs

My first broody has been sitting on her second batch for 4 days, so I've got more excitement to look forward to in 17 days time and fluff butts to play with in the meantime!
Also desperately need to do some more construction work on new coups as I'm starting to get overrun!

 

[lablover]

rebrascora, how exciting!!!!

I caught the rooster helping out with the chicks today. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing, but he was there to help! Buffy seemed to welcome his company though.

 

[suyoder]

YAY!!!! She must have started setting before I realized it... out of six. 2 have hatched so far!!! they are TINY!!! Henny is so adorable. She sits there and clucks and chirrs at them - such a good mommy.

 

[bobbieschicks]

rebrascora, how exciting!!!! I caught the rooster helping out with the chicks today. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing, but he was there to help! Buffy seemed to welcome his company though.

Awh, so cute!