Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[butterfliesdoku]

My bantam Crevecoeur went broody 10 days ago so I gave her 2 large fowl eggs and 1 of her own and 1 day after she went broody my Jersey Giant went broody so I gave her 4 large fowl eggs. About a week ago I found all the eggs minus one in a single nest box with BOTH broody girls in it. Should I separate them come lockdown? How many regular sized eggs can a bantam broody handle?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, my little chick didn't make it after all. I believe i should have isolated her longer (as suggested). By the time i realized she was in trouble i did separate her, but it was too late. And i guess i will never know, there could have been a reason she wasnt able to hatch on her own. It makes me feel sad , tho.

Yes it is frustrating...and it is hard not to second guess. I'm sure you did the best at the time.

I've actually regretted most of my assisted hatches. Unless you know you've disturbed a hen at the wrong time and caused "shrink wrap," there almost always is a reason the chick cannot make it out on their own. Those that I help like that have not become strong healthy hens. They've either succumbed to something (no one else caught) or I've had to cull for development issues.

But it still is sad to see the little one not make it.
LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Two broodies hatched chicks today in the main coop. 4 of the 5 set eggs hatched lovely chicks. (One was a no develop).

Both mommas have coop hatched before but kept choosing the most popular corner nest and having their chicks crushed. I vowed to never let a hen try to brood in that nest box again.

But alas, apparently a broody hen can learn. Both went broody quickly again and chose a better location...the large open ended box. I put up a partition for one and trusted the other to hunker into the quiet corner it created on the other side.

Both mommas have lovely little chicks this morning, 2 each, all fluffed but still sleepy from apparently hatching late yesterday.

Rest of flock is respecting the space. We'll see how this coop experiment goes. (Most of you know I typically hatch in my nice broody hutch with my bantams, but I've been experimenting with main coop hatching as I have a very nice rooster and laid back flock now having gotten rid of all "persnickety" types...I've really liked how well the chicks integrate into the main flock when hatched in the main coop...if you can get them through the initial "crush" period at hatch).

Here are mommas....chicks are all lovely blue downed...Splash Marans/Barnevelder....to be hopefully darker layers with a blue laced appearance. Sorry no picks of babes. Didn't want to over-disturb mommas after checking this morn to see if we'd gotten hatches.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

My bantam Crevecoeur went broody 10 days ago so I gave her 2 large fowl eggs and 1 of her own and 1 day after she went broody my Jersey Giant went broody so I gave her 4 large fowl eggs. About a week ago I found all the eggs minus one in a single nest box with BOTH broody girls in it. Should I separate them come lockdown? How many regular sized eggs can a bantam broody handle?

That is hard to say. I have heard good stories about broodies together and bad. I had a good co-broody experience. I guess it boils down to personal preference, how much time you have to observe them and how they got along before they went broody.

Depends on the size of the bantam and the eggs. I had a large bantam girl cove 9 LF eggs and did fine. As long as you don't see any eggs poking out from under her they should be ok espically if it is very warm where you are.

 

[butterfliesdoku]

That is hard to say.  I have heard good stories about broodies together and bad.  I had a good co-broody experience.  I guess it boils down to personal preference, how much time you have to observe them and how they got along before they went broody.

Depends on the size of the bantam and the eggs.  I had a large bantam girl cove 9 LF eggs and did fine.  As long as you don't see any eggs poking out from under her they should be ok espically if it is very warm where you are.

If I separate one at night during lockdown do you think she might quit being broody?

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Any time I have ever tried to move a broody to a new nest, the next time they went on their broody run for the day, they went back to the original nest, regardless of where the eggs were. Others might have different luck. That was just my experience.

If you could lock them in the new location for a couple days, they might stick better.

 

[butterfliesdoku]

Any time I have ever tried to move a broody to a new nest, the next time they went on their broody run for the day, they went back to the original nest, regardless of where the eggs were. Others might have different luck. That was just my experience.

If you could lock them in the new location for a couple days, they might stick better.

I planned on moving her and the nest at night to a locked location (unused aviary).

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I planned on moving her and the nest at night to a locked location (unused aviary).

If I were going to do that, I would also make sure I was able to obserrve her frequently during the first day (or two) to see if she sticks and be prepared with a plan "B". Good luck.

 

[butterfliesdoku]

If I were going to do that, I would also make sure I was able to obserrve her frequently during the first day (or two) to see if she sticks and be prepared with a plan "B".  Good luck.

Thank you! This is why I only plan on moving the bantam so if she quits then the Jersey Giant would get all her eggs

 

[PD-Riverman]

If I separate one at night during lockdown do you think she might quit being broody?

She is yours and you can move her if you want. ""I"" would Never move a hen about to hatch. I would have moved her 18 days ago. Now ""I "" would let her hatch then move her when she get through. Most regulars on here know I Move Every broody I have to a private hatching pen ----150+/- broodies in the last 3 years. I might move them then set or I might set her then move her in a day or so. I am just different than some----from day 18 to she is through hatching I do not touch her or go near her---totally hands off so I would For Sure Not be moving "mine" at that time. I do Nothing to disturb/bother/upset her at that time. ALL my hens have great hatches and rarely a problem.