Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[abartz14]

Yes I have 1 roo that is always trying to get on top of the hens. I will wait a few more days before checking the eggs as today is day 3 of her sitting

 

[sjturner79]

We currently have a broody barred rock and a golden comet taking turns being broody. They are currently sitting on 2 bb red old english eggs.

I have candle them and we seem to be between day 12 and 18. (Different times they were placed there for our broody girls)

We have more barred rocks, comets, austrolorps and of course the bb reds.

We do not have another spot to place the "momma" and chicks. The bb red hen isn't insterested in her fertilized eggs, only the two broody ones we have.

Our chickens free range all day and are in a large coop together at night. Should we let the chicks stay with the Hen who isn't a momma even though the other hens are around? Or should we bring the new chicks inside once they hatch, if they do? And if we do bring them in, when should that time be?

We have never hatched, but raised chicks several times over.....any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!

I never bring broody hatched chicks inside unless the broody fails to care for them properly.

 

[sjturner79]

We currently have a broody barred rock and a golden comet taking turns being broody. They are currently sitting on 2 bb red old english eggs.

I have candle them and we seem to be between day 12 and 18. (Different times they were placed there for our broody girls)

We have more barred rocks, comets, austrolorps and of course the bb reds.

We do not have another spot to place the "momma" and chicks. The bb red hen isn't insterested in her fertilized eggs, only the two broody ones we have.

Our chickens free range all day and are in a large coop together at night. Should we let the chicks stay with the Hen who isn't a momma even though the other hens are around? Or should we bring the new chicks inside once they hatch, if they do? And if we do bring them in, when should that time be?

We have never hatched, but raised chicks several times over.....any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!!!

If your broody hasn't been sitting for more than a day that is something you can certainly try. I just let mine hatch where they are.

 

[sjturner79]

If your broody hasn't been sitting for more than a day that is something you can certainly try. I just let mine hatch where they are.

This is my setup. The white hen(sillkiecuddles) has 4 chicks week old under her, The Hen in the box behind her (Blossom) has been sittting for about 4 days - i think 7 eggs, and the one you can see eggs in has had Shadows sitting for about a week. She went out for a break just as i went in to get this pic.

 

[vpatt]

Six chicks this morning, yay! I was able to move them into a roomier nest box with no problems from mommy.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Six chicks this morning, yay! I was able to move them into a roomier nest box with no problems from mommy.

 

[vpatt]

I can hear chicks in three more eggs, but she is taking her babies out to dinner already so i dont know if they will hatch.

 

[sjturner79]

I can hear chicks in three more eggs, but she is taking her babies out to dinner already so i dont know if they will hatch.

It's unlikely unless you can keep them warm and humid until they hatch.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I can hear chicks in three more eggs, but she is taking her babies out to dinner already so i dont know if they will hatch.

I seen above where you moved her while she was in the middle of hatching----a lot of hens will not go for that. If ""I"" was going to move her I would have waited till the hatch was over. I move mine at the beginning of setting and I have no problems. If the eggs that did not hatch are still alive they would need to be put into a ready incubator. Good Luck

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

Quick question, and it's possible it's already been answered in the thousands of posts on this thread already.... Lol! Too much sifting!

Does anyone know about how long a hen will stay on her nest after hatching? Mine hasn't got up to do her "business" (like a week!), several chicks have hatched and she's still sitting tight (it's been maybe 30 hrs since hatch began). I'm fairly sure there are a few non-hatchers under her still but I'm reluctant to move her if she's got a few stragglers actually hatching.

So i guess, my question is, how long will she generally sit tight before taking the chicks "out"? First time with a broody here. Thanks!