Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[aliren]

Their learning to go up the ramp.

 

[PouleChick]

Oh my goodness they are just adorable

 

[CSAchook]

Hi all

My Broody is on day 20. I have read that with first time broodies you should keep a careful eye on them in case they reject, attack, or accidentally crush the hatching chicks. But (rookie question) how do you tell if anything is happening? Without peeking under her (which I assume would be a terrible idea) how do know eggs are even hatching let alone determine if they are ok?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[aliren]

Hi all

My Broody is on day 20. I have read that with first time broodies you should keep a careful eye on them in case they reject, attack, or accidentally crush the hatching chicks. But (rookie question) how do you tell if anything is happening? Without peeking under her (which I assume would be a terrible idea) how do know eggs are even hatching let alone determine if they are ok?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I checked in on mine at day 20 nothing was happing, next day checked in and there they were, she stood up a little and could see another egg pipping, I just left her to it and hoped for the best, one egg didn’t make it, I heard the chick inside , she was till sat but it never made it out, and she abandoned the nest. Wish I helped it now, but at the time you just do what you think is best, just keep I eye on her, if anything is wrong I think your see.

 

[Faraday40]

Has anyone had success adding new chicks to a bonded broody with chicks?
We have a bunch or 4+ wk old chicks.

Our broody adopted a bunch of newly hatched chicks as well as some 2 wk old silkies at the time. We sold all but one orp (now 2 weeks old) and also kept the silkies.

Back when 1st introducing the chicks, we tried adding all of them: 5 silkies, 2 seramas, 2 OEG, & 1 orp that were all raised together. Cookie disliked the big orp chick so the orp and her tiny bantam friends stayed inside a while longer. Yesterday I put the cage inside Cookie's tractor to let her see them without attacking. Last night I let them sleep under the mama heating pad in the brooder but Cookie still chased them away this morning. I put Cookie & 2 silkies out in the tractor & left all the other chicks mingle in the garage brooder. The chicks get along great when the hen is not around. Cookie is pecking the intruding chicks - but more how a hen pecks at a new pullet in the flock - not trying to do actual harm. Is there hope of her taking them under her wing? Any suggestions to make them bond? or Should I move on & simply set up a cage in the main coop to jump ahead and integrate them to the flock?

 

[PouleChick]

Is there hope of her taking them under her wing? Any suggestions to make them bond? or Should I move on & simply set up a cage in the main coop to jump ahead and integrate them to the flock?

Total newbie just going on what I've read. I'm guessing that it is too late if they are already 4 weeks. I love the ideas on here about integrating chicks early into the flock before they become seen as a threat by the rest of the flock so I think considering it is now warm so they shouldn't need heat much longer I'd be looking at integrating. Let us know how you get on @Faraday40

 

[PouleChick]

Day 14 and all calm in the broody hutch. I'm worried about the amount she is eating (no more than a tablespoon or 2 a day I'm estimating) I just dont' get how they can survive on so little for so long I'm cross I didn't think of it before but I changed her water for water with my vitamin potion stuff so hoping that will help her a little (although again she seems to drink so little). At least they don't have to breastfeed when the chicks are born - they'd have no energy

yesterday I noticed there was some pink on her poo (well on the white bit). Newborns sometimes get something similar and it is nitrates and normal. Any thoughts? anything to worry about?

 

[fisherlady]

Has anyone had success adding new chicks to a bonded broody with chicks?
We have a bunch or 4+ wk old chicks.

Our broody adopted a bunch of newly hatched chicks as well as some 2 wk old silkies at the time. We sold all but one orp (now 2 weeks old) and also kept the silkies.

Back when 1st introducing the chicks, we tried adding all of them: 5 silkies, 2 seramas, 2 OEG, & 1 orp that were all raised together. Cookie disliked the big orp chick so the orp and her tiny bantam friends stayed inside a while longer. Yesterday I put the cage inside Cookie's tractor to let her see them without attacking. Last night I let them sleep under the mama heating pad in the brooder but Cookie still chased them away this morning. I put Cookie & 2 silkies out in the tractor & left all the other chicks mingle in the garage brooder. The chicks get along great when the hen is not around. Cookie is pecking the intruding chicks - but more how a hen pecks at a new pullet in the flock - not trying to do actual harm. Is there hope of her taking them under her wing? Any suggestions to make them bond? or Should I move on & simply set up a cage in the main coop to jump ahead and integrate them to the flock?

Unfortunately there is not a set rule... I have had hens which would without blinking an eye and others that won't tolerate any new chicks after she has established which are hers. Best advice is keep them close, but allow a safe spot for them to retreat to if she gets grumpy. If they mingle with her chicks for a while she will probably mellow to them, but may never be 'cuddly' with them...at 4 weeks though they will be ok with just having a few others to hang out around and the heating pad for overnights. We have a couple of hens who are finished with their chicks at 4-5 weeks old when weather is decent and they join the flock then and have done fine. We were just careful to keep a warm place available.
Ours usually tucked up against roosters on the boards for some reason...

 

[fisherlady]

Busy few days, 3 hens hatched a total of 16 chicks, and Mindy is a happy pup. Already posted on the broody hen thread but thought I would share here too.
The hens all hatched in their own boxes Thursday afternoon and overnight, moved them to floor boxes around mid morning on Friday. The two in our lower coop decided individual boxes weren't needed and we found them sharing a box and 10 chicks Friday evening. Guess they are going to follow the co-brooding trend our coops tend to like. The hen in our other coop doesn't have another hen to share with, will see if she joins the other 2 once we have them free ranging later this week.
Now for the pics...

 

[fisherlady]

And a few more...