Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[aliren]

Note: If you see any misinformation, things you think should be added, information needing updated or removed, or any other changes to the FAQs please PM me. I will try and keep them updated. Thanks!

FAQs

How old does a hen and rooster need to be to be able to breed?
They need to be between 16 and 18 weeks old.

How do I know if a hen is broody?
They tend to stay in their nest boxes - getting up only a couple times a day - if that - to get nurishment and to relieve herself. A broody hen also might growl or bite at you if you come too close. They also tend to puff out their feathers to look larger and also to pull some feathers to keep their eggs warm.

Purpose of a broody hen?
A broody hen is great to have around if you want to hatch eggs the natural way. They are great on farms that want to be self sustainable or in case of a power outage when you can't use an electrical incubator. The broody hen will also protect and teach the young chicks. They do however stop laying eggs while being broody and this is a problem for some.

Other hens laying eggs in her nest?
If you find other hens laying eggs in the broody hens nest, it is is best to mark the broodies eggs with a washable non toxic marker. This will allow you to collect the extra eggs each day and ensure the broody continues to sit on the same eggs. Others have had success with moving the broody hen off by herself where other hens can't get to her.

How do I make my hen go broody?
You can't make a hen go broody, especially if it's not in her nature or if broodyness has been bred out of that breed by other breeders or hatcheries. You can however get a few golf balls and put in a nest to see if that will encourage her to go broody. If she sits on the golf balls for a few days without getting up except for a few minutes, then she is broody and you can put some fertile eggs under her.

What are the best broody hens?
Araucana - Frequent Brooder
Australorp - Very Frequent Brooder
Belgian D'Anver - Frequent Brooder
Belgian D'Uccle - Very Frequent Brooder
Brahma - Frequent Brooder
Cochin - Top Notch Brooders
Dominique - Frequent Brooder
Dorking - Very Frequent Brooder
Japanese - Very Frequent Brooder
Java - Frequent Brooder
Marans - Very Frequent Brooder
New Hampshire - Good Brooder
Orpington - Frequent Brooder
Silkie - Top Notch Brooder
Sussex - Good Brooder

So iv just done a first hatch using a silkie, happened today , still a few more to go, I have her in a hutch inside a pen with the flock, I’m planning of moving them plus mum to a larger coop and run still within the flock, but not sure when I should do this? As the coop has a ramp to get in and out, was thinking of around 3 weeks of age ?

 

[Faraday40]

If you have the room, perhaps you could put a cage inside the coop for the hen & chicks. I like to let my flock see (but not peck) the babies right away. It also helps mama keep track of the little fluffballs. (They tend to get themselves stuck / stranded, so a cage keeps them safe and all together for the 1st week.)

You'll be amazed at how early broody-raised chicks learn how to hop up on things. I usually give them a week to learn how to stay close to mama and run to her when she calls. They could probably do a ramp by 1 or 2 weeks.

 

[Faraday40]

Cookie went broody again (about 5-6 days ago) and I just happened to have eggs hatching in the incubator yesterday. I tried moving her & her fake egg to a cage in the garage. She was upset by the move & stopped sitting on the fake egg, so I returned her to the coop. Once settled back into "her" nest, I slipped 2 chicks under her. An hour later I returned and she was "talking" to her babies. I moved her into the big brooder and kept slipping more chicks under her. She's as happy as can be this morning. Such a good mama.

 

[aliren]

If you have the room, perhaps you could put a cage inside the coop for the hen & chicks. I like to let my flock see (but not peck) the babies right away. It also helps mama keep track of the little fluffballs. (They tend to get themselves stuck / stranded, so a cage keeps them safe and all together for the 1st week.)

You'll be amazed at how early broody-raised chicks learn how to hop up on things. I usually give them a week to learn how to stay close to mama and run to her when she calls. They could probably do a ramp by 1 or 2 weeks.

Thank you , I’m trying to keep them within the flock , iv got a large cage I’m adding but can’t add it to the hutch , as hutch is to high off grown, so will have to wait till they can go in other coop, hopefully then in a couple weeks , they are tiny as their little bantam x . Silkie bantam x

 

[room onthebroom]

Hello! Following.

 

[PouleChick]

Hello I've just found this thread and it is just what I need! I have read back to some point last year but not all 2000 odd pages . I started my flock with some 6 week layer hens at Christmas (who have just started laying ). Then in late February I bought 2 x 1-2 year old silkie hens who have apparently been mummy hens before to build the rest of my flock at home the old fashioned way! We have lots of power cuts here so I couldn't deal with the thought of dealing with it all - I have a todzilla who is enough work without having to deal with incubators / brooders etc! So I'm a total newbie just hanging on for the ride!

Hermione my Isalbel silkie went broody about 10 days ago. I contacted some people with eggs and managed to find a lady quite close to me with the arucuanas I wanted as well as lots of other breeds so I got 5 aracuana eggs plus an Australorp, an Orpington, a Bresse and a surprise (she didn't know I was coming when she picked the eggs the day before I went so they were all mixed up!). I'm so excited anyway at the ladies advice she told me to rest them on thier sides after the drive for 24 hours so that is what I did and then swapped the fake eggs for the real ones while Hermione was up having a break. I was a little worried about the fact that they were cold from being in the house and that some were blue (I knew she couldnt' count but want' sure about the colour!). She was awesome and just tucked those eggs under her and carried on . From my total newbie eyes just going on what I have read she is just a fabulous mama, she isn't getting up much at all (you may have seen my worried post about her not getting up all day as far as I could tell) and is happy to peck me if I get to close! So we are now on day 4.

I'm going to have lots of questions but will start with what I really need to know for tomorrow. I understand I should candle them to prevent explosions. I have read / been told 5 days or 10 days so I don't know if I should do it tomorrow or leave it until 10 days? Should I only do it the once? Will I need to go down at night or is there a way to do it in the day (take a cardboard box and put my head in it with the egg ?). Any advice much appreciated!

Here is a couple of pics - the lovely mama:

This is the current set up, she is in a small coop thing on her own, we had just managed to get the 2 new silkie intergrated in the day with the other girls but they were sleeping seperately. When H first went broody I was letting Doris go and sleep back in there with her but she kept laying eggs on her (which of course she just tucked under her!!) I had to throw out 4 hot eggs in the 6 days before I worked it all out and got her the real eggs. Anyway the same day as I sat her on the real eggs I moved the 3 big girls and Doris into the new coop which is going just fine so Hermione is safe and on her own in the little coop. She also has the section of run so the chickens are all seeing her and her them when she comes out (she seemed a bit crazy today fluffing herself up and stuff at them as they were all there clucking at her (they don't like her much I don't think and took ages to intergrate). This is what the set up looks like:

Any immediate thoughts on managing the chicks when they arrive? Modifications I'll need to do to the coop / run? Please don't tell me to build a new one as I don't have time!

Sorry for my huge post!

 

[PouleChick]

Would really love to know your thoughts on the candling if I should do it today?

 

[Isaiah53]

The recommended times for candling are:
1st time: one week after incubation
2nd time: while removing the turning device in your incubator or moving to a hatching tray.



I would think since they were just placed on the nest you could wait until the 10th day to be sure.

 

[aliren]

Hello! Following.

Hello I've just found this thread and it is just what I need! I have read back to some point last year but not all 2000 odd pages . I started my flock with some 6 week layer hens at Christmas (who have just started laying ). Then in late February I bought 2 x 1-2 year old silkie hens who have apparently been mummy hens before to build the rest of my flock at home the old fashioned way! We have lots of power cuts here so I couldn't deal with the thought of dealing with it all - I have a todzilla who is enough work without having to deal with incubators / brooders etc! So I'm a total newbie just hanging on for the ride!

Hermione my Isalbel silkie went broody about 10 days ago. I contacted some people with eggs and managed to find a lady quite close to me with the arucuanas I wanted as well as lots of other breeds so I got 5 aracuana eggs plus an Australorp, an Orpington, a Bresse and a surprise (she didn't know I was coming when she picked the eggs the day before I went so they were all mixed up!). I'm so excited anyway at the ladies advice she told me to rest them on thier sides after the drive for 24 hours so that is what I did and then swapped the fake eggs for the real ones while Hermione was up having a break. I was a little worried about the fact that they were cold from being in the house and that some were blue (I knew she couldnt' count but want' sure about the colour!). She was awesome and just tucked those eggs under her and carried on . From my total newbie eyes just going on what I have read she is just a fabulous mama, she isn't getting up much at all (you may have seen my worried post about her not getting up all day as far as I could tell) and is happy to peck me if I get to close! So we are now on day 4.

I'm going to have lots of questions but will start with what I really need to know for tomorrow. I understand I should candle them to prevent explosions. I have read / been told 5 days or 10 days so I don't know if I should do it tomorrow or leave it until 10 days? Should I only do it the once? Will I need to go down at night or is there a way to do it in the day (take a cardboard box and put my head in it with the egg ?). Any advice much appreciated!

Here is a couple of pics - the lovely mama:

This is the current set up, she is in a small coop thing on her own, we had just managed to get the 2 new silkie intergrated in the day with the other girls but they were sleeping seperately. When H first went broody I was letting Doris go and sleep back in there with her but she kept laying eggs on her (which of course she just tucked under her!!) I had to throw out 4 hot eggs in the 6 days before I worked it all out and got her the real eggs. Anyway the same day as I sat her on the real eggs I moved the 3 big girls and Doris into the new coop which is going just fine so Hermione is safe and on her own in the little coop. She also has the section of run so the chickens are all seeing her and her them when she comes out (she seemed a bit crazy today fluffing herself up and stuff at them as they were all there clucking at her (they don't like her much I don't think and took ages to intergrate). This is what the set up looks like:

Any immediate thoughts on managing the chicks when they arrive? Modifications I'll need to do to the coop / run? Please don't tell me to build a new one as I don't have time!

Sorry for my huge post!

hi iv ju

Would really love to know your thoughts on the candling if I should do it today?

I did mine at day 10 was a little clearer to see what I was looking at, but was still confused as it was my first time, but did see Little blood vessels, I left them be after that, all off mine hatched apart from one which is late Iv heard it pip, but don’t think it will make it , as she’s been off the nest, just going to let nature it’s course.

 

[PouleChick]

Thanks both I think I'll wait then as I have no idea I wasnt' sure if day 5 would tell me anything anyway!

I left them be after that, all off mine hatched apart from one which is late Iv heard it pip, but don’t think it will make it , as she’s been off the nest, just going to let nature it’s course.

Congratulations on your successful first hatch - would love to see some pics! Hopefully I'll be back with a similar story in just over 2 weeks