Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bumpercarr]

No worries as to the fertility of the eggs. It only takes a couple of days of covering to produce fertile eggs.

http://msucares.com/poultry/reproductions/poultry_long.html

But of course broodies will ALWAYS go broody when you LEAST are ready. That's part of the genetics!

Lady of Mc

I know, like I said she just couldn't wait a little while longer. You should have heard my sigh when I saw her rolling todays eggs under her and giving me that look....you know the look.

I took all of the eggs away in the hopes that she's only "thinking" about it. After I took the eggs she came back to the nest, rooted around wondering where her lovely clutch went and proceeded to make another nest (after all, I'm sure I moved a feather or something...LOL). When I went out a little while ago, she wasn't on the nest anymore, but we'll see what happens when she sees eggs again tomorrow.

I just moved some 4 week old chicks into the coop, I wonder if their peeping is what made her decide she wanted some of her own? She's been squawking up a storm for the past few days, seemingly unhappy with something.....probably her hormones. Ah well, if she is broody I'll get a male in with them and get her some fertile eggs next week.

 

[Hayduke27]

So I am roughly 5 days into my first broody incubation. I have 9 eggs under 2 hens. I started out with 6 under a cuckoo marans that is 2 years old, on her third time being broody. I put the remaining 3 eggs under a young bantam cochin.

A couple days in, I had noticed that, because the marans has chosen to nest on the bottom row of nest boxes, almost every day she either gets up to get a drink and has her box taken by a hen wanting to lay, in which case she comes back and finds different eggs to sit on. Other times I think she just stretches her legs, sees another nest full of eggs, and chooses to go sit on those. Anyway, I work from home so I've managed to be diligent about checking on her periodically, not only to establish what's going on, but also to move the proper eggs back under her.

The little cochin, on the other hand, is glued into her nest. I've only seen her up once. She did, however, switch nests one time. Same routine, I checked on them, saw her on the wrong eggs, put the correct eggs under her, and she's been on that nest ever since. She now has 6 of the eggs as she seems to be sitting a little more tightly than the marans.

I understand that this is not the ideal scenario. I know that the eggs can get broken is jostled too much by the layers, and I also wonder about the changes in humidity as the hens trade turns over them.

I do plan on candling the eggs within the next couple of days, just to see if anything is taking. Should I be thinking about changing the scenario here? I am not too worried about the cochin, as she is sitting tight and won't let anybody near her. The marans is fierce when the other hens come near her on the nest, but usually once a day she changes nests. I do have a basement in which I have a chicken area. I could move them down there, but I don't have nests. I worry that if I moved them into the basement onto newly built nests, it might be enough to kick them out of their broodiness. Other than the occasional nest swapping, everything is going pretty well.

Should I just keep chugging along? Also, I have been thinking a lot about what I will need to do if and when the chicks hatch. There are warm, dry nests in the coop, and I have enough that there is usually one open on the bottom row for the potential mom and babies. I have a covered run with straw bedding. This is where most of the chickens spend their time during these snowy months. They are free to leave the run as well, but right now the compost pile is the only place to go where there's no snow. Anyway, I just wonder if by March 13 (hatch date) there will be less snow, and therefore less chicken activity within the run, which I imagine would be better for the chicks going on adventures with mom. I could also move moms and babies to the basement for a little while after the hatch, just to give them some alone time. Again, I am not very keen on taking away their chance to go outdoors, their chance to socialize, and I hate for the hens to have to re-establish themselves into the pecking order.

If I can, I'd like to try and let these moms hatch their babies out in their current nests, and raise them with the flock. Does anybody have any thoughts on my situation?

 

[losttexan]

So I am roughly 5 days into my first broody incubation. I have 9 eggs under 2 hens. I started out with 6 under a cuckoo marans that is 2 years old, on her third time being broody. I put the remaining 3 eggs under a young bantam cochin.

A couple days in, I had noticed that, because the marans has chosen to nest on the bottom row of nest boxes, almost every day she either gets up to get a drink and has her box taken by a hen wanting to lay, in which case she comes back and finds different eggs to sit on. Other times I think she just stretches her legs, sees another nest full of eggs, and chooses to go sit on those. Anyway, I work from home so I've managed to be diligent about checking on her periodically, not only to establish what's going on, but also to move the proper eggs back under her.

The little cochin, on the other hand, is glued into her nest. I've only seen her up once. She did, however, switch nests one time. Same routine, I checked on them, saw her on the wrong eggs, put the correct eggs under her, and she's been on that nest ever since. She now has 6 of the eggs as she seems to be sitting a little more tightly than the marans.

I understand that this is not the ideal scenario. I know that the eggs can get broken is jostled too much by the layers, and I also wonder about the changes in humidity as the hens trade turns over them.

I do plan on candling the eggs within the next couple of days, just to see if anything is taking. Should I be thinking about changing the scenario here? I am not too worried about the cochin, as she is sitting tight and won't let anybody near her. The marans is fierce when the other hens come near her on the nest, but usually once a day she changes nests. I do have a basement in which I have a chicken area. I could move them down there, but I don't have nests. I worry that if I moved them into the basement onto newly built nests, it might be enough to kick them out of their broodiness. Other than the occasional nest swapping, everything is going pretty well.

Should I just keep chugging along? Also, I have been thinking a lot about what I will need to do if and when the chicks hatch. There are warm, dry nests in the coop, and I have enough that there is usually one open on the bottom row for the potential mom and babies. I have a covered run with straw bedding. This is where most of the chickens spend their time during these snowy months. They are free to leave the run as well, but right now the compost pile is the only place to go where there's no snow. Anyway, I just wonder if by March 13 (hatch date) there will be less snow, and therefore less chicken activity within the run, which I imagine would be better for the chicks going on adventures with mom. I could also move moms and babies to the basement for a little while after the hatch, just to give them some alone time. Again, I am not very keen on taking away their chance to go outdoors, their chance to socialize, and I hate for the hens to have to re-establish themselves into the pecking order.

If I can, I'd like to try and let these moms hatch their babies out in their current nests, and raise them with the flock. Does anybody have any thoughts on my situation?

Everyone has a different approach, all I can do is tell you what has worked for me.
I have had success with moving the hens, but not far - just into a dog carrier in the same coop. It is cozy, it is secluded, it is warm. There may be less of a chance of her returning to the wrong nest, since it is dissimilar to the others now. I can control access to/egress from the nest by her and others (tip: mark her setting eggs so you can easily tell when they've been added to, to avoid a staggered hatch). She is still in sight of the rest of the flock, so no problems reintroducing like you might experience if she was moved away. Plus, when the chicks hatch, I can keep them enclosed with momma when I wish. I can keep food and water separate to better monitor intake.
I understand your concerns about "breaking" her if she's moved, and that's a legitimate concern. Like most things with chickens, changes are better accepted if done at night. I would sneak in after everyone's asleep and quickly, gently, and quietly move her to the carrier. Once she settles down, and everyone wakes up to the new situation, you're often surprised how quickly they accept and adjust.

That's just the quick and dirty - others may have different ideas.

 

[Hayduke27]

Thanks for the reply! I did read about marking the eggs before I started out, and that was one of the smartest things I've done yet, as it's been crucial every day to sort out which eggs are which. Because I marked them, I know for sure that the original 9 eggs are the ones under my hens right now. That is great advice.

I guess my biggest question about post hatch is whether is will be possible for a hen to raise her young in the coop, even with the comings and goings of all 12 actively laying chickens? Is that just too much adult chicken activity around the babies?

 

[losttexan]

Much depends on the broody's prior status in the flock, but most mommas are fiercely protective of their chicks and will go at the other curious flock members who get too close. I had a delta hen (Cochin) who became a T-Rex in full swing when she had little ones. Even the alpha hen gave her a wide berth.
As far as "too much adult chicken activity" I wouldn't worry. Chickens are social creatures and thrive in groups. The greater concern is trying to raise a single. Young chickens get bumped into, stepped on, randomly pecked at, fall off of perches, get into tight places, and they come out ok. When raised with the flock, they watch the adults, learn "chicken" language and behavior, gain immunities, adopt foraging skills, and generally have an easier time growing up (in my opinion). As long as mom keeps them safe from undue aggressiveness until they are able to fend for themselves (which happens much quicker than you think), I would leave them in.

 

[Kaylish]

Thanks for the reply! I did read about marking the eggs before I started out, and that was one of the smartest things I've done yet, as it's been crucial every day to sort out which eggs are which. Because I marked them, I know for sure that the original 9 eggs are the ones under my hens right now. That is great advice.

I guess my biggest question about post hatch is whether is will be possible for a hen to raise her young in the coop, even with the comings and goings of all 12 actively laying chickens? Is that just too much adult chicken activity around the babies?

Much depends on the broody's prior status in the flock, but most mommas are fiercely protective of their chicks and will go at the other curious flock members who get too close. I had a delta hen (Cochin) who became a T-Rex in full swing when she had little ones. Even the alpha hen gave her a wide berth.
As far as "too much adult chicken activity" I wouldn't worry. Chickens are social creatures and thrive in groups. The greater concern is trying to raise a single. Young chickens get bumped into, stepped on, randomly pecked at, fall off of perches, get into tight places, and they come out ok. When raised with the flock, they watch the adults, learn "chicken" language and behavior, gain immunities, adopt foraging skills, and generally have an easier time growing up (in my opinion). As long as mom keeps them safe from undue aggressiveness until they are able to fend for themselves (which happens much quicker than you think), I would leave them in.

Just keep an eye on her and the babies the first few days to make sure Mama is protecting the babies and double check the box/area she is in to make sure there is nowhere for the little ones to get stuck where they can't get back into the nest or separated from Mama.

 

[vpatt]

Congratulations KrystalRose and Eliseswart on your hatches.

I've got new chicks due this Wednesday/Thursday...hopefully a couple of Isbars and a couple of OE's (Marans/Isbars)....

Lady of McCamley

Have you got any new chicks yet?

 

[Hayduke27]

Thanks so much for the replies!

I have seen the marans get extremely vicious with the others when she's broody, and they definitely steer clear of her in that nest. The cochin sure sounds like a velociraptor, but she's so little and cute I have trouble picturing her kicking anyone's butt, haha! I'll leave them and keep an eye on them!

 

[812mommyof4]

I have a broody silkie. She has been on and off since December. She would sit on nothing. So I kept booting her out of the coop. But she wouldn't give it up. So I tried something new this year and I ordered fertile eggs off ebay. A dozen cochin/frizzle combos. My khaki Campbell duck laid a fresh egg so I stuck it under her too. Another new things for me. Yesterday I woke up to a fresh duckling. I was so excited. I had been candling it so I got to watch it grow. It was so neat. So far I have 3 chicks and a duckling. Can't wait for the rest to hatch.

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks so much for the replies!

I have seen the marans get extremely vicious with the others when she's broody, and they definitely steer clear of her in that nest. The cochin sure sounds like a velociraptor, but she's so little and cute I have trouble picturing her kicking anyone's butt, haha! I'll leave them and keep an eye on them!

I am one of the ones who is willing to take the risks of allowing brooding in the flock, with some hens I know I can just let them do their thing, with others I help stack the deck in their favor by partitioning off the nest box they are in with a length of chicken wire to restrict them to a smaller area (maybe 2x3ft) most of the time, with a way for me to leave it open to let her out to really stretch when I am out in the coop cleaning or doing chores. Creating such a division accomplishes many things. It helps the hen avoid nest confusion, it prevents the other coop residents from picking on her or fighting to lay their egg in her chosen nest, which will reduce eggs breaking... It allows me to place a dish of high protein feed or treats in her area for when she does want to get up to stretch and eat. I put about a 6" high piece of 1/2" hardware cloth around the bottom of the enclosure to make it chick proof. Our coop is very, very active, but also very chick friendly (personality wise) so after a few days of peace and quiet the barrier can be removed and the mama and chicks can move about more.
Yes, their can be scuffles between hens, and often are for the first few days while the broody educates the other coop residents on the new 'broody rules'... and there is always a chance on chicks being hurt when mixing in with birds so much bigger.... so you have to determine what level of risk and/or loss you consider viable and base your set up around that. You may choose to make an enclosure big enough for both of the broodies to use for the first week or so and then let them out or you can give them each their own zone. There are just too many variables for there to be any one 'perfect' answer.