Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

Johnn I love your stories and photos of your hens. So pleased Coco has recovered so well from her rat trap ordeal.

Thank you! I have my own thread with pics of all my hens in and stories that aren't broody related if you'd like to see https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/887767/picture-thread-of-my-hens/190

 

[poodlechicks]

I wasn't expecting such dedication being that he is so young.
Isn't dark legs a dominant trait in silkies? His are yellow.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I'm glad you found her such a good companion! It is great that he is so good with her... some roosters just can melt your heart when you see them taking care of 'their girls'!

Yep...he'll be nice and protective of her, right up through old age. He's likely what I call a roo'savant. He'll make sure she gets special treats and will protect her eye but he will expect payment in full ...over and over again...

Just kidding...I love to watch the antics chickens go through...at all stages of their lives. Humans could learn a lot if they really paid attention.

Turk

 

[poodlechicks]

It is great to see folks stopping back in... broodies not required!

We have 3 broodies due to hatch Thursday or Friday, and another hen waiting for eggs, which we should be able to give her tomorrow. We have had 25 or 26 broodies this year... honestly would have to set down with our 'chicken calendar' to get an accurate count. Ours hatch in the coop with the flock, get a couple of days of 'special treatment' if they want it, then they are free to mix and mingle. Right now I can't even keep half of the hens and chicks straight as to who belongs to who, since the hens tend to share their chicks and chick raising duties and often they are all in groups. Even at night it isn't unusual to find Janeway (a top broody) with her chicks and others in a nest while the other broody goes up to the roost for the night.... in the morning the 2nd hen comes down, gathers up her own chicks and heads out for the day?.?... my DH and I are constantly amazed and amused by the strange antics of the flock.

Thank you, fisherlady

26 broodies sharing the care of their chicks. That's amazing! Keep us posted on the hatch
It wasn't possible for us to build a bigger coop this year, but I am hoping next year we have sufficient space to hatch some lavender Orpington chicks under a broody.

 

[fisherlady]

Thank you, fisherlady

26 broodies sharing the care of their chicks. That's amazing! Keep us posted on the hatch
It wasn't possible for us to build a bigger coop this year, but I am hoping next year we have sufficient space to hatch some lavender Orpington chicks under a broody.

I honestly think there is a lot of truth to the phrase 'broodiness is contagious' ... our set up and flock dynamics just seems to be very broody and chick friendly. We have only kept roosters who have proven themselves to be chick friendly, we have sold or culled hens who were aggressive to chicks for no reason or overly aggressive toward chicks around food. We understand that establishing a pecking order is needed, so normal pecking as a reprimand is acceptable. It seems after a couple of broody types hatched out early in the spring there was very 'communal' atmosphere within the flock and the general cooperation of the broodies has been a surprising plus. We usually set eggs between 2 or 3 broodies at a time, this keeps it easier for us to manage them at hatch time. The hens seem to gravitate to the each other once the little ones are two or three days old and they are heading out to free range. I honestly think it is just a convenience for them to cooperate and share 'chick watching' duties.
Almost all of the barnyard mixes we have raised with broodies have now been broody themselves, and they have fallen into the cooperation routine which they were raised under. Lots of 'Aunts and Uncles' for the chicks growing up! LOL. In fact, all of the chicks we sold we have warned the buyers that broodiness is normal with our stock so they know up front that it is very likely with the birds they get. I think it is only fair, since some folks don't want broody hens or don't have the set up to allow for chick rearing.

 

[bumpercarr]

I wasn't expecting such dedication being that he is so young.
Isn't dark legs a dominant trait in silkies? His are yellow.

Yes, but if he is a mix, he could have any color of legs. Does he have 5 toes? 5 toes and feathered feet are dominant traits, requiring only one gene to show themselves. Silkies have 5 toes and feathered feet. On the other hand, dark legs and silkie feathering are recessive traits and require 2 genes (one from each parent) to show themselves. That is why most silkie crosses have 5 toes and feathered feet, but don't necessarily look like a silkie in the feathering. I have noticed that most of the silkie mixes that I've seen have some dark on their legs, just not dark like a silkie is....I can't really explain the genetics of that, but I do know it happens.

 

[poodlechicks]

Oh, and I thought dark legs required just one gene. Then he could be a silkie mix. I'll check his toes.

This afternoon, I was coming from home and saw my chickens by the fence, looking intently at something. I decided to go see what it was. There was a huge coyote sitting on my lawn some 6 feet from the fence observing the chickens. He ran to the forest when he saw me. I called the chickens to the coop, looking alarmed and they followed me. My chickens aren't afraid of land animals. I hope they got the message and don't linger around at the sight of a coyote again. They hide pretty well when they see a bird of prey, though.
Sorry, totally off topic, but I had to tell.

I think Haru is going broody again.

 

[bumpercarr]

Oh, and I thought dark legs required just one gene. Then he could be a silkie mix. I'll check his toes.

This afternoon, I was coming from home and saw my chickens by the fence, looking intently at something. I decided to go see what it was. There was a huge coyote sitting on my lawn some 6 feet from the fence observing the chickens. He ran to the forest when he saw me. I called the chickens to the coop, looking alarmed and they followed me. My chickens aren't afraid of land animals. I hope they got the message and don't linger around at the sight of a coyote again. They hide pretty well when they see a bird of prey, though.
Sorry, totally off topic, but I had to tell.

I think Haru is going broody again.

I don't think dark legs require one, but maybe that is why I see so many with "weird" colored legs, neither dark nor light.

Scary about the coyote. You probably need to start carrying a gun out there when you go out. Now that he/she has seen the chickens, it will probably be back.

 

[JaceAgain]

Hi!! I have so many questions! My silkie is 7 months old and had been broody and trying to hatch a golf ball and the 3 other hens fertilized eggs for 3 days now. Today I talked to my neighbor about it, and they brought me over 6 fertilized eggs to put underneith her, to see if she'll continue to sit. I guess thats chicken math, since I never intended on having more, but I felt so bad for her!
Anyway, is it possible to leave her in the coop the whole time and let her do her thing? She is the only silkie, but the other 3 are protective of her (2 slw and 1 EE). Not aggressive at all. They have a 4x8 coop that is 7ft tall, so there is a ton of space, and they free range from 8am to 8pm ish.

 

[Jacqdiva]

When I ask about unmedicated flock raiser/ grower they look at me like I made it up at the feed store. I am in Australia. What can I feed my whole flock from 6 weeks, 15 weeks, to layers, retired layers, and roosters? Any advice for Oz?