Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ChickyChickens]

Not sure, but those wives' tales get started somewhere. I had an older buff orp (dominant hen) brood a clutch, and those chicks were indestructible! No problems hatching, and as much as they tried to kill themselves, they were never successful. I have a delta hen (black Cochin) on day 11 now. She's 30 weeks old, and it's her first time, so we'll see.

I hope all goes well with her!!!

 

[vpatt]

Day 4. November 30 is the due date lol. I hope she is eating...I really can't tell. She definitely drank some water......mice could steal food but I don't think they would drink half of her water. And she pooped again.....does that mean she is eating? I sound like a crazy person!

 

[poodlechicks]

Feel her crop before you shut your chickens in for the night to see how full it is. Check again first thing in the morning. It will give you a baseline for how she's been eating. Also, offer her some yummy food and see her gobble it up. It'll sure make you feel better.
I learned here that sometimes they'll eat on their own, but sometimes we have to be proactive in making sure they are eating, drinking and defecating. Good luck!

 

[vpatt]

I don't have the option of feeling anything unless I want to lose a finger, lol. None of my birds were handled before i got them. Plus i dont really know how to check that.....but i may read up on it and try it on a less hormonal hen. I saw her off the nest this morning. So I feel sure all is well. I saw the eggs and she was near her food and water. She walked around the crate and then back onto her eggs. I tried opening the crate during the day but the other chickens would come eat her food. She actually pecked at the dog this morning thru the bars. I am glad cuz the dog likes to run at the chickens sometimes. She is a ten pound dog but I'm sure she could hurt them if she wants to. I was waiting for one of them to nail her and teach her to back off.

 

[losttexan]

I wouldnt label any of my chickens as cuddly or friendly, but I've played the "who's alpha" game with them since day one, and no one has shown any aggression or pecked at me when messing with them on their nests. Now, them with my mother-in-law is a different story . . . .

 

[margaretanne]

My broody hen hatched a solitary chick. The other hens (2 others) joined in on playing mother and together with the rooster formed a squad of 4....one in front, one behind and one on either side of the tiny chick as they provided an armed escort for the chick. I have a dozen cats and I was really worried the cats would harm the chick, but it was the other way around....any cat which came within cooee of the chick was chased ferociously by the proud parents. Baby chick is now a couple of months old and looks to be a pullet and roams with the squad. The cats have learned to be afraid, be very afraid of the chickens LOL
Margaret

 

[vpatt]

I wouldnt label any of my chickens as cuddly or friendly, but I've played the "who's alpha" game with them since day one, and no one has shown any aggression or pecked at me when messing with them on their nests.  Now, them with my mother-in-law is a different story . . . .

Lol.
I need to work on handling them. I can get them off the roost, lol. I didn't think about checking Olivia after dark, duh.I have had 5 of the 11 for two months. The other six were added two at a time. They are very comfortable with me walking among them now....but only a couple of them can be picked up and that is if I am fast enough. Joe Dirt came on the porch with me and laid there for a while. Sassafras will run to me if she thinks the others are not letting her eat. She has acted like I am her protector since I got her. I was able to break Jessica's broodiness by picking her up off the nest and holding her for a moment each time. But Olivia is not very friendly since she became broody. Not that she was overly friendly before...but she laid the best eggs!

 

[vpatt]

She was off the nest again stretching her legs. I went ahead and opened the crate in case she needs to walk more. I guess she is able to chase off the other birds if she wants to. I promise to try really hard not to continue with the minute by minute reports.....sorry



I am just so excited and also concerned about all this....and the fact that the temp dropped quite a bit over nite does not help. Okay I don't seem to be able to quit.

 

[poodlechicks]

I don't have the option of feeling anything unless I want to lose a finger, lol. None of my birds were handled before i got them. Plus i dont really know how to check that.....but i may read up on it and try it on a less hormonal hen. I saw her off the nest this morning. So I feel sure all is well. I saw the eggs and she was near her food and water. She walked around the crate and then back onto her eggs. I tried opening the crate during the day but the other chickens would come eat her food. She actually pecked at the dog this morning thru the bars. I am glad cuz the dog likes to run at the chickens sometimes. She is a ten pound dog but I'm sure she could hurt them if she wants to. I was waiting for one of them to nail her and teach her to back off.

LOL! I keep forgetting most hens aren't the sweetest when broody. I had such an easy time with both of mine that I could check everything. As long as they could see it was me checking them. Once I tried to check my broody at night and she made me fear for my life!

I wouldnt label any of my chickens as cuddly or friendly, but I've played the "who's alpha" game with them since day one, and no one has shown any aggression or pecked at me when messing with them on their nests. Now, them with my mother-in-law is a different story . . . .

 

[darajosami]

My first chick to hatch under broody. Have another 10 due next weekend which i need to candle in Monday as incubator at my sons school.