Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Faraday40]

Broodiness is contagious over here. When someone told me that penciled rocks go broody, I thought, "No not mine...." Well, she must had heard about going broody from the other hens & now is sitting tight. I kept trying to kick her off but finally let her keep a few eggs. Then my silly silkie (who just finished raising some chicks and started laying 2 weeks ago) went broody AGAIN! I told her not to but she won't listen. I don't want to give up 2 nest boxes. Since the penciled rock is on the small side & the silkie is a bantam, I just put them together in the same nest. I don't need any more chicks, so they can share eggs. What's very, very strange is that I know I had 8 eggs in the broody nest & there are now only 6. Where'd they go? No evidence of broken eggs.

In addition to the two hens above, I have Cookie, who's still caring for her 8 wk old chicks, and Smudge, who's a big 10lb orp - 1st time broody. I had chicks hatch Fri-Sun, and she seems to be OK with them.

 

[PouleChick]

Oh dear chick mad house at yours then!!! I hope my silkie does that as there a few chicken varieties I still want to add to my flock and dont' want to buy chicks in!

 

[KittyCat13]

I've moved my hens after they've bonded to the eggs. I do it at night & have the cage (large dog crate) all set up before starting. After I move the hen & place her on the eggs, I cover the whole cage with a big blanket that 1st night to keep her on the eggs. The next day the blanket stays on to keep it dark. The 2nd night, I remove the blanket so when she wakes up in the morning, she kind of feels like she's been there the whole time.

Thank you, I'll try that tonight, just got to decide who to go with, the Dorking or the light Sussex!

 

[LizsChicks]

I put 10 eggs under my broody silkie cross last year. That was my first time hatching anything.

It was such fun that I have just ordered 10 Buff Sussex eggs for her. They should be here by Wednesday. Can't WAIT!!!!

Has anyone tried leaving their broody hen with the flock? I would be worried that the other birds might kill the little chicks. I'd love to hear!

Being a new chicken owner. My flock will be a year old in June, I let my broody go completely natural I havn’t marked eggs or anything outside of putting water and feed inside the coop where she can get to it easily. As of this afternoon I have 4 chicks. She still has 9 eggs under her, contributions from the whole flock. I haven’t separated her, everyone has full access and I’ve had no problems. She’s also my least dominant hen so I was a little worried but I’ve had no problems so far! They been hatching since Saturday. 2 sat, one yesterday and one today. Good Luck with yours!

 

[Faraday40]

Being a new chicken owner. My flock will be a year old in June, I let my broody go completely natural I havn’t marked eggs or anything outside of putting water and feed inside the coop where she can get to it easily. As of this afternoon I have 4 chicks. She still has 9 eggs under her, contributions from the whole flock. I haven’t separated her, everyone has full access and I’ve had no problems. She’s also my least dominant hen so I was a little worried but I’ve had no problems so far! They been hatching since Saturday. 2 sat, one yesterday and one today. Good Luck with yours!

The only possible issue with an open policy is that other hens may add eggs after incubation has started. You could get a staggered hatch. Some chicks may already be 2-4 days old & need to learn how to eat/drink but some eggs are pipped and still waiting to hatch. The broody can get confused & must decide whether to take care of the hatched chicks or stay on the nest for the eggs.

A hen with a lower pecking order will get a big bump when broody. Her hormones tell the others not to mess with her. LOL I've left bantam broody hens in the coop with my giant orpingtons and had no problems. I just mark the eggs with a sharpie so I can make sure those eggs stay and the new ones get collected. I sometimes must set up a broody inside the garage if I already have a broody in the coop. I only have 4 nest boxes & can't afford to lose 1/2 of them.

 

[krismares]

Being a new chicken owner. My flock will be a year old in June, I let my broody go completely natural I havn’t marked eggs or anything outside of putting water and feed inside the coop where she can get to it easily. As of this afternoon I have 4 chicks. She still has 9 eggs under her, contributions from the whole flock. I haven’t separated her, everyone has full access and I’ve had no problems. She’s also my least dominant hen so I was a little worried but I’ve had no problems so far! They been hatching since Saturday. 2 sat, one yesterday and one today. Good Luck with yours!

We started chick watch Saturday but so far nothing. Our RIR has about the same number of eggs as yours and we’ll end up with a staggered hatch as well. First timer here too and learning much. We’ll see how this all natural hatching works!

 

[LizsChicks]

We definitely have a staggered hatch here but I placed food and water right in the nesting box (actually on the edge of it) so mama and babies can eat and drink while she’s still on the nest. So far everyone seems fine. When I checked earlier Momma was showing the newest hatchling what to do. Nature is truly a miracle.

 

[LizsChicks]

We started chick watch Saturday but so far nothing. Our RIR has about the same number of eggs as yours and we’ll end up with a staggered hatch as well. First timer here too and learning much. We’ll see how this all natural hatching works!

Good Luck! I’ve been having so much fun I hate leaving for work in the morning but I’m sure my broody appreciates being left alone for 8 hours

 

[KittyCat13]

I moved the light sussex into the crate with two of the eggs last night and popped a blanket over the top. I checked on her this morning and she had stayed put!!

I'll pop the remaining eggs under her tonight, although I do feel a bit mean not letting the Dorking hatch anything!

 

[krismares]

First time momma - hen and me - and we have baby 1 on day 23!!