Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PortlandHen]

Our hens frequently co brood, but not all birds have a cooperative mindset. Best case is if you can put them in floor boxes in the same area, but spaced out a couple feet, with enough space to allow a couple of feeders and waterers. This allows them to see each other and the chicks from early on. Often even if the hens dont completely cobrood this allows them to recognize the other chicks as part of their group, rather than intruders. Then the hens care for anyone's chicks rather than only their own. And the chicks grow up mingling so they have a bigger group of 'friends' to hang with as they grow.

Some hens are clearly and stubbornly solitary, you should be able to see it early... if one is like that then just allow her space to move to the level of privacy she wants.

This our coop. Mind the construction. We added a patio and more fun is coming.

Oh, and you can see the two white bantam Cochin frizzles and the random tiny chicken in the photo.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I was reading earlier about the ladder up to the run and the babies so thought I'd chime in.

We started out with a ramp but I observed that even the adult birds would sometimes slide on it, and even though it was in decent shape, I found that they would hurt their feet on it occasionally by getting a sliver, etc.

We had some old logs around so we made steps from the logs. It immediately stopped the foot injuries, and the baby chicks were able to hop from level to level with ease. They also make great items to put here and there for them to jump on and play. I also have some inside the coop to hop up to the roosts on.

Here's a photo of the "steps". If you need to cut down a tree or have access to some from elsewhere, I highly recommend.

 

[1cock2hens]

the salmon faverolle hen did not follow through, she had one chick hatch then abandoned the nest
time to take care of baby

 

[1cock2hens]

hatch day for my other broodies isnt until tuesday but i can hear a chick chirping in the shell already, i may try to put this chick with those chicks and see if one of them adopts her

 

[fisherlady]

hatch day for my other broodies isnt until tuesday but i can hear a chick chirping in the shell already, i may try to put this chick with those chicks and see if one of them adopts her

Having back up hens is great, we try to set 2 or 3 for each hatch for this exact reason. Babies have multiple 'mamas' and we have a security blanket built in.

 

[1cock2hens]

this morning I came out to a chick that was killed by one of the gamehens and the salmon faverolle had returned to her nest.. so after some debate I took the eggs out from under then gamehens(i dont trust them to not kill another) and put them under the faverolle, would rather risk them being abandoned then killed / the one chick from yesterday is doing wonderful

 

[PortlandHen]

this morning I came out to a chick that was killed by one of the gamehens and the salmon faverolle had returned to her nest.. so after some debate I took the eggs out from under then gamehens(i dont trust them to not kill another) and put them under the faverolle, would rather risk them being abandoned then killed / the one chick from yesterday is doing wonderful

That’s sad. I’m sorry.

 

[PortlandHen]

For anyone that was helping me with the tall ladder situation, here’s what I purchased for any babies that can’t figure out the ladder. It will fit nicely in our run.

We are fixing up the ladder today.

 

[1cock2hens]

just went down and there was a newly hatched chick laying out in the open and cold to the touch, I picked it up and it was still alive so I brought it in and its doing just fine. i'm going to raise these all myself i guess. there was another bird hatch, i'm going to go get it in 30 ish /

 

[PortlandHen]

just went down and there was a newly hatched chick laying out in the open and cold to the touch, I picked it up and it was still alive so I brought it in and its doing just fine. i'm going to raise these all myself i guess. there was another bird hatch, i'm going to go get it in 30 ish /

Oh! I’m glad you found it.