Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Just sayin]

OK - I'll watch today and think on what's best for her. If I felt she'd do OK back out in the barn I'd move her nest out there, but I want to be sure she can keep them warm enough and she's strong enough first.

She's otherwise being a good momma, and very protective I think. I just worry about her not getting out and about, and not really eating as much as she needs to.


Thanks.

 

[fisherlady]

OK - I'll watch today and think on what's best for her. If I felt she'd do OK back out in the barn I'd move her nest out there, but I want to be sure she can keep them warm enough and she's strong enough first.

She's otherwise being a good momma, and very protective I think. I just worry about her not getting out and about, and not really eating as much as she needs to.


Thanks.

You don't have to move her out of her safe cage... just remove the nest box or even move it to another spot in the cage, or build her a nest in another corner of the cage. It doesn't take a lot of change to make a difference.

 

[Just sayin]

I just went back out there and checked, and I think she'll get up today... maybe without me having to rearrange her. She's just a lot more alert and active in the box, grooming herself and talking, etc. I started tossing some food and scratch right outside the cage, and that really had her interested, I think if I leave her alone now she'll go check that out.

She knows what she's doing, I'm just such a worry wart.

 

[dreweysmom]

My white fluffy butt (silkie) quit being broody after we got her some Buff Orphington hatching eggs, she decided today that she was not going to lay on the eggs anymore. I have 4 more Orpington eggs in an incubator cause the little one couldn't fit 7 under her. What do I do now? I put the eggs in the incubator with the others and they should be ready to start hatching in the next 3 days. My other 4 eggs should start hatching by Turkey Day aka Thanksgiving. I can use all the suggestions and help I can get....

 

[fisherlady]

My white fluffy butt (silkie) quit being broody after we got her some Buff Orphington hatching eggs, she decided today that she was not going to lay on the eggs anymore. I have 4 more Orpington eggs in an incubator cause the little one couldn't fit 7 under her. What do I do now? I put the eggs in the incubator with the others and they should be ready to start hatching in the next 3 days. My other 4 eggs should start hatching by Turkey Day aka Thanksgiving. I can use all the suggestions and help I can get....

Just move the eggs into the incubator and finish them off. You can probably mix the chicks into the same brooder area after the youngest is strong and mobile enough to keep up. Just be careful when mixing them to avoid little ones getting bullied away from food/water.

 

[Just sayin]

My hen finally got off the nest today and took the babies for a walk in the barn. She's being such a good momma.

Here they are back in bed for the night.

 

[CandylandRanch]

I have a flock of 10 hens and a rooster(26 weeks old). This is my first flock. About a week ago one of my EE hens started to show signs of being broody. She just seems to be in that nest box all the time. She does come out to eat and I see her on the roost but then back in the nest box.
of course this excites me! But winter just started her in michigan, we've already gotten over a foot of snow. Ive got all my chicken keeping knowledge pretty down pat, but hatching eggs would be totally new to me.
At the first signs of this broody behavior I researched how to help a hen hatch eggs.
But would that be a good idea being winter? I could make her a maternity ward in a dog kennel in my basement bathroom and brood the chicks in there...
I have already Purchased my spring babies to be here end of March.
Is this bad timing or doesn't it matter? Could I do this now and all be well? I don't have an incubator if she quits on me, but that's a risk a lot of people take, right?
Opinions would be great! Thank you in advance.

-Chelsea

 

[Just sayin]

It's not ideal for them to get broody in winter, and if I had it to do over again I might have interrupted mine, I've nearly worried to death about them, and ended up having to separate them to give them some heat, after losing the first one in the cold, and I'm eager but now a little nervous about reintroducing them to the flock and when.

But it has been fun too. Just more complicated than it might have been if she'd decided to do this in the spring!

On edit... how many eggs does she have? Mine started out with 4. One egg got broken fairly early on, and three hatched. The first one died in the cold, due to a poorly constructed nest I think, and the other two hatched much later, and with more precautions for the cold. Neither one of the survivors came from this hen, we don't think. They were someone else's eggs laid in the nest after all this started. Mystery moms.

 

[CandylandRanch]

We have continued to collect the eggs when she would leave the nest. Although tonight she refuses to leave and she must have a couple under her (one or two) just from today. I thought if I brought her inside I would add others eggs under her and see what happens..?
I too would be nervous as to when to introduce the chicks..

 

[Just sayin]

Mine's only been truly separated from the flock about 3 days now, though she'd been self-separated much of the time during the whole incubation. Been thinking about reintroducing her this weekend, if everyone seems strong and ready, by letting a few chickens into the barn at a time, let them mingle and see if they'll be OK.

Rooster last? Is he higher risk then the hens? Or not?

Questions for the group.