Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[yoopergirl1211]

I'm kinda amazed by them. So cool having my own babies. 3 more eggs look like they'll hatch. All of them are hers but have everything from black to white and mixes of the two. Dad is a frizzle. Well and a RIR. One looks suspiciously like a very tiny RIR....

 

[SumPeach77]

Hello everyone!
I'm jumping on this thread because I have two broodies set to hatch in 4 days. My concern is the height of the coop and the ramp. Coop sits about two feet off the ground, ramp is not too steep but should I secure them in? Maybe for a few days? They have 16 square ft of space inside plus the nesting area.
Am I overthinking it? I wouldn't want one to fall and be injured.
Thanks!

 

[Faraday40]

Hello everyone!
I'm jumping on this thread because I have two broodies set to hatch in 4 days. My concern is the height of the coop and the ramp. Coop sits about two feet off the ground, ramp is not too steep but should I secure them in? Maybe for a few days? They have 16 square ft of space inside plus the nesting area.
Am I overthinking it? I wouldn't want one to fall and be injured.
Thanks!

It may depend on the size of your nest box more than the coop ramp.

Tiny chicks take 1-2 days before they can jump around with ease. It certainly wouldn't harm them to block them in for a couple days. I read that someone had a loss due to a newly hatched chick falling 10" out of the nest box & unable to climb back under mama, so it got too cold. My nest boxes have slightly high walls, so a chick must be capable of jumping up before it can jump out.

Once the broody leaves the nest & is walking around, the chicks will follow her. You'll be able to see them gain confidence in their motor skills & know when they can handle the ramp.

I tend to be more cautious in the beginning. I have an area large enough for a rabbit cage. When all the eggs have hatched, I just put mama & chicks into the cage for 4-6 days. It keeps them safe from all the other big hens and allows the flock to get used to the new arrivals before I open the cage door. I then leave the open cage in place as a "safe zone" where the chicks may get feed & water, but it's the mama that does all the work.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hello everyone!
I'm jumping on this thread because I have two broodies set to hatch in 4 days. My concern is the height of the coop and the ramp. Coop sits about two feet off the ground, ramp is not too steep but should I secure them in? Maybe for a few days? They have 16 square ft of space inside plus the nesting area.
Am I overthinking it? I wouldn't want one to fall and be injured.
Thanks!

@Faraday40 gave you very solid advice.

I too have a high brooding hutch, about waist high. (It is actually re-purposed exhibit crates sitting on top of an old grape arbor platform). It makes for really easy cleaning for my bad back (that doesn't bend well for extended periods) but a bit of a challenge for new chicks.

I too have a lot of inside coop space, so I do lock them in for about a week, or until they get their feathers in and can fly like little sparrows. Momma then almost never has a problem getting them back up the long ramp. Before then, some babies are bright enough to follow mom, others stand below cheeping. I've got a dog crate under the grape arbor structure (but still inside the wired and netted coop run) for mommas and babies to set up shop if she can't get them back up the ramp.

But learning to lock them in until older, especially letting them feather in helped me a lot.

At 24 inches, you haven't got much height, really, so 4 to 5 days should be adequate for them to get enough coordination to follow momma wherever she goes.

Do keep an eye out for places that a chick could strand itself that first week, as they seem especially vulnerable to "stupid chick" tricks then...it is amazing how they can find the hole in the netting and get out but can never find it to get back inside.

LofMc

 

[SumPeach77]

@Faraday40 and @Lady of McCamley thank you both for excellent advice!

Lost one today, found the egg outside the coop cracked and cold. My Cochin must have had it stuck on her feathers. Poor baby didn't get a chance to hatch .

 

[Faraday40]

Sorry for the loss. If it was cold & no reaction /movement (especially opened like that) then yes it was dead. If you ever find a cold egg(s) unpipped & not under the broody, it's worth it to put them back under the hen or in an incubator. Many times I thought it must be dead, but the eggs usually hatch - about 1-2 days late, but still hatch. Just give them a quick candle to make sure it's not a clear, bloodring, or smelly egg.

 

[belindaschicks]

How long from pip to zip? Have a broody sitting on 19 day old bantam eggs?

 

[Abriana]

My Dutch Bantam is NUTS about hatching. Not a week after she's done with her last batch she wants to hatch more. I am hatching some for the neighbors, but i don't know what I'll do for the next three years when she wants to hatch. My state will be overrun with chickens!!! She just hatched out some chicks about a week ago.

 

[Faraday40]

How long from pip to zip? Have a broody sitting on 19 day old bantam eggs?

With a broody, who knows? It's not a good idea to keep looking under her. Try to relax & let her do all the work. Once your hear peeping, you may see a chick peek out, but usually you have to wait to count your chickens until they're all done hatching.

With an incubator.....
I've had the first chicks take a 12-24 hour nap after pipping.
During the middle of the hatch, the rest time is much less. (I think the chicks hear all the commotion of the already hatched siblings & hurry up!) Those only take a 4-8 hr rest. A few times I had a chick pip in the mid morning & hatch out by noon.

 

[Faraday40]

Here's a ?
Do broodies ever assist hatch?
I've never had a chick get shrink wrapped, so I was wondering about it.