Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ChickyChickens]

Coco is inheriting her mothers backside!

Hahahaha!

 

[Johnn]

Hahahaha!

 

[Turk Raphael]

Hahahaha!

Based upon what I know of your part of the country, it might well be a wonderful place to live. I am curious about what kind of predators that plague your area.

 

[poodlechicks]

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

Oh my gosh, Turk! I hope not

The other hens aren't his friends, so he's left with this only hen... I do think he is so sweet so far. I hope he stays that way. This is my first rooster, totally unplanned.

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.

I know. That coyote was huge.

My Haru isn't broody anymore. Just a one day false alarm...

 

[poodlechicks]

Gotta love Coco's fluffy butt!!

 

[appps]

This was their first time up on the big roost, about a week ago. Mama was not happy when I moved them all back to their side of the coop. They're just too little to be up on that high roost with 8 other large chickens. They're now 4 weeks old though, and the temps have dipped into the 60s. I'm not letting them out to free range, because they're already cold in the coop. Last night, Mama had all four under her on the roost, so no worries there, but what about during the day? She doesn't just lay around for them any more....

Love that second photo. How cute is that!!

 

[bumpercarr]

My great-niece ran up to the door this morning saying that there were chicks! So, I went out to the coop and found a lone egg out from under momma, chick was halfway out of the shell. I put it back under her, hoping that the chick makes it. It hadn't been out from under her very long. I suspect that she didn't know what was going on, so the movement startled her and so she got rid of the irritant. I'm worried that she might not take the chicks. But, we'll wait and see. I've been listening all day, about 1/2 hour ago I heard some peeping from under her. Fingers crossed!

Oh, by the way, I didn't think these guys were due until Thursday...but I had been on vacation so I didn't have an exact date that she started sitting.

 

[AmericanMom]

Went out at 3:30 to gather eggs and heard a chirp from broody box #1 gave her some encouragement and then locked her in just incase another hen decided to bug her... I am dying to see them bit wont bug her until tomorrow

 

[ChickyChickens]

I heard peeping under my broody NN hen (today is day 18) Went to check and there were already 4 cute chicks and the rest of the eggs were peeping!
Oh yes and our Hideaway hen has now got 9 chicks (gave the rest to NN due to staggered hatch rate)

Loving my broody life...

 

[Quailsong]

Thank you all very much for the broody advice. The main thing I took from it is a BIG broody requires a LOT of space & a deep nest. I don't have any atm but I'll make sure when I make my next nestbox to keep that style in mind in case it's needed. Better to over plan a bit anyways...esp when Chicken Math is a possibility.