Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[2 Russo Chicks]

I am proud to announce we have so far two adorable baby chicks so far she is sitting on 16 so we will see

 

[2 Russo Chicks]

As of this morn we have two chicks!! I closed the door to their house so big chickens can't get in there to bother momma and babies. I am going to go down and check again to see how many now. So exciting!!!

 

[CanuckWinter]

My hen and her two chicks, now the other chickens ignore them, and are more interested in the chick food lol. The stinkers.

 

[2 Russo Chicks]

I believe we have 4 chicks she has them all covered. I can still see egg shells in there, will she clean them out? She is in with the other chickens they haven't messed with her so far but they probably haven't seen them yet. I have to work tomorrow so I can hey will be on their own until I get home. I will worry about them all day.

 

[Faraday40]

I believe we have 4 chicks she has them all covered. I can still see egg shells in there, will she clean them out? She is in with the other chickens they haven't messed with her so far but they probably haven't seen them yet. I have to work tomorrow so I can hey will be on their own until I get home. I will worry about them all day.

Congrats! The hen usually stays on the eggs for between 24-48 hrs after the 1st chick hatches. You may not know exactly how many until she stops sitting & starts teaching the chicks. Of course one of the great things about having a broody is that she does all the work for you. She will make sure her chicks learn to eat, drink, & scratch. She will also integrate them into the flock & protect them 24/7.

Sometimes the hen eats the shells for the calcium boost, but she may also leave them. When she leaves the nest, give it a good clean out.

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

So, I have a three year old hen that has never gone broody before.  Yesterday she refused to move off the nesting box, but she's not aggressive at all.  I picked her up and moved her to the water, she took one drink and went right back.  Today I went to check on her, and sure enough, she's in there again.  I let the other girls out to free range, and she just laid there.  I picked her up and brought her out.  She took a big poo, wondered around ruffling up her feathers and flapping her wings, ate a little grass, then right back in.  It just baffles me that she's not aggresive at all.  Do you think there's something else wrong with her? 

My broody was the same way, not aggressive except for fluffing up and "growling" some times. She let me pat her and no problem when candling eggs.

 

[Turk Raphael]

My broody was the same way, not aggressive except for fluffing up and "growling" some times. She let me pat her and no problem when candling eggs.

Folks who don't keep chickens wouldn't believe how intimidating one can be when the mothering instinct kicks in.

 

[dawnpel]

I am so happy for you Russo! What an exciting time. I cant wait for mine to hatch.

 

[2 Russo Chicks]

Thank you

! This morning in the dark by flash light I checked on her there was a chick in the adjoining nest box not under her. She is so nasty when we get close to her so all I could do was scoot the baby so she can see it she started cooing to it, but being it is so hot here in TN 101 yesterday I don't think it will get too cold, when I get home I will be moving mommy and babies to a modified dog crate. Hopefully

 

[dawnpel]

So if mother and chicks are with the rest of the flock, how/what do you feed them if chicks cant eat layer pellets?