Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Faraday40]

Couldn't resist holding the little silkie-serama mix. She's so tiny & looks mostly silkie - including the 5 toes!

The fluff color is a nice shade of red-auburn but looked blackish at hatch due to the black skin. The beak is brown. There's no dome-head but I'm not sure on the cheeks.

I wanted to get a pic of a chick inside a tea cup.... but this little chick is too tiny for the smallest cup I could find. Instead I held her on a teaspoon in front of the cup. (If at the same distance, you'd see that she's less than 1/2 the size of the cup!)

I already have someone interested in her - before hatch. So, I was seriously tempted to put some of my silkie's eggs (currently in the fridge) into the incubator. I have little self control, so I cleaned out the incubator & stored it in the basement..... Maybe that will prevent me from over-populating the backyard with these adorable little birds.

 

[igorsMistress]

2 peeps under this first time mama Ruby. I found them this morning. She sat on some infertile eggs, I switched em out daily, until the eggs came out if the incubator. We had a little musical nest box going on and temps were extreme for a bit. There's 4 more to go, maybe? She won't let me peek!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Couldn't resist holding the little silkie-serama mix. She's so tiny & looks mostly silkie - including the 5 toes!

The fluff color is a nice shade of red-auburn but looked blackish at hatch due to the black skin. The beak is brown. There's no dome-head but I'm not sure on the cheeks.

I wanted to get a pic of a chick inside a tea cup.... but this little chick is too tiny for the smallest cup I could find. Instead I held her on a teaspoon in front of the cup. (If at the same distance, you'd see that she's less than 1/2 the size of the cup!)

I already have someone interested in her - before hatch. So, I was seriously tempted to put some of my silkie's eggs (currently in the fridge) into the incubator. I have little self control, so I cleaned out the incubator & stored it in the basement..... Maybe that will prevent me from over-populating the backyard with these adorable little birds.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Okay...all babes doing well. Opening the side door so the birds have to walk through the coop to forage in the yard has worked really well. Momma and babes stay in the covered run just fine.

Checked Rosie the bantam Cochins 2 eggs. I honestly forgot to mark them and with all the hatching have forgotten when they are due....I thought this weekend. Anyway, clearly 2 fully developed and pretty sure I saw movement. I was beginning to get worried.

Hoping that those two little Barney dust mops (Mille Fleur Cochin-Barnevelder) will make an appearance in a couple of days.

LofMc

 

[Faraday40]

Little Mama Trouble FINALLY abandoned her giant chicks. Here are Oreo & Double Stuff - laced orps. (hatched May 30). Trouble still walks around with them at times during the day, but they're sleeping in different areas.

Mama Jewel is still with "her" babies. 2 chicks & 3 poults.

Mama Smudge & the newest chicks had their 1st grass time yesterday. (They were afraid of the camera, so all smushed into the corner.) Can you spot the silkie? She's always in the middle of it all & has remarkable speed. The silkie will likely go to her new home soon. Technically she was "sold" before hatch, but we've been enjoying her.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have no happy pictures this morning....yet...sniff.

I forgot to mark the bantam Cochin-Barnevelder eggs as to set date, so I was a bit fuzzy on hatch date, granted I've got a lot of batches going this summer amid a very busy summer schedule. (Note to self and others...ALWAYS mark your set date on the eggs or calendar or SOMETHING.)

My little voice told me last night I should close the doors to the broody hutch and temporarily un-roost the Cream Legbar hen who is very sweet but clingy at night. She always wants to sleep right beside the bantam Cochin. She hasn't disturbed much, as the bantam always had the eggs under her, but hatching is always a delicate time....my little voice said "close the doors."

But I didn't....my voice of doubt and fatigue said I can't un-roost the Cream Legbar too soon as she might create havoc down below with the hen and 2 chicks in the dog crate....I was tired....it was late....I didn't listen to my little voice, and I didn't think it through that the babes down below are nearly 3 weeks and hardy enough.. I didn't close the doors.

So, this being Sunday, after a very long hard week, I allowed myself to sleep in. That was a mistake too.

I went out to the runs mid-morning and saw a dead bantam chick in the broody run, pecked on. It was really weird to see it in the run as it is a long, high ramp with the broody box on one end safely away from the door and ramp. It is possible it walked across the box to the door and stumbled down by itself, but doubtful. I think it might have been carried or knocked out by the Cream Leghorn when she let herself out, but equally doubtful. It possibly just followed her as the mom Rosie would have stayed with the eggs.

So I opened the broody hutch trepidly to see Rosie sitting on the 2 placer eggs (to keep the clutch a little bigger I had left 2 nonfertile eggs as place holders with 2 fertile of her small eggs)...and found a very, very chilled still wet hatched chick, gasping its last breath laying on the coop floor beside Rosie but not beneath her.

I quickly picked up the cold but slightly moving chick and put it under Rosie and tossed the 2 placer eggs.

I checked after about 15 minutes of chores and the little chick scurried hard to stay under fluff when I peeked, so there is strong life yet.

So...I think....I hope I've got one little dust mop Barney. But sadly one died, and mostly due to a string of mishaps and some poor choices on my part. .

If only.....sniff.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

In follow up, with my more scientific mind taking over in observations.

It is remarkable to notice the difference in broody capabilities.

The main coop has been disastrous in the past for any hatches as those moms had crushed chicks when other moms sat beside to try to lay eggs.

Yet, this year, I have had 2 moms (themselves brooded, and daughters of broodies) safely hatch and maintain chicks even in the hustle and bustle of the main coop.

The one little black chick has stuck like glue to its mom, who merely chose to set up shop in the wood pile when babe couldn't make it back up the main coop ramp.

That babe even left the safety of foster mom to squirm through fencing to return to original mom. They are safe and sound in the main run with make shift nest.

Yet, this broody bantam Cochin, who is very docile, and has had hatches before, but herself was not raised by a brooding hen, doesn't always catch on to her mothering duties, and the babe apparently wandered off to fall out of the coop or get knocked out.

Anyone else note...and this is aimed at @fisherlady and others with long term broodies with sustained flocks... that after a number of raising chicks by broodies, who in turn become broodies, that a collective knowledge seems to be gained?

My best moms are now those from broody hens who have been brooded themselves.

I read somewhere in a farming for sustainability blog that the first year they let hens hatch chicks only a few survived. But each year more and more survived until now almost all chicks hatched in the coops survive...obviously within a sustainable flock who is hatching and broody from generations.

Interesting.

LofMc

 

[Faraday40]

In follow up, with my more scientific mind taking over in observations.

It is remarkable to notice the difference in broody capabilities.

The main coop has been disastrous in the past for any hatches as those moms had crushed chicks when other moms sat beside to try to lay eggs.

Yet, this year, I have had 2 moms (themselves brooded, and daughters of broodies) safely hatch and maintain chicks even in the hustle and bustle of the main coop.

The one little black chick has stuck like glue to its mom, who merely chose to set up shop in the wood pile when babe couldn't make it back up the main coop ramp.

That babe even left the safety of foster mom to squirm through fencing to return to original mom. They are safe and sound in the main run with make shift nest.

Yet, this broody bantam Cochin, who is very docile, and has had hatches before, but herself was not raised by a brooding hen, doesn't always catch on to her mothering duties, and the babe apparently wandered off to fall out of the coop or get knocked out.

Anyone else note...and this is aimed at @fisherlady and others with long term broodies with sustained flocks... that after a number of raising chicks by broodies, who in turn become broodies, that a collective knowledge seems to be gained?

My best moms are now those from broody hens who have been brooded themselves.

I read somewhere in a farming for sustainability blog that the first year they let hens hatch chicks only a few survived. But each year more and more survived until now almost all chicks hatched in the coops survive...obviously within a sustainable flock who is hatching and broody from generations.

Interesting.

LofMc

That's an interesting observation. I know for fact that some of my broody hens are champion mamas & others make some mistakes. I see obvious differences in parenting styles, but I find that my medium sized & bantam hens make the better broodies. (IF they are prone to go broody.)

My BEST BROODY HENS:
Not broody raised:
Cookie (bantam orp)- great broody in both incubation & mothering, extremely high hatch rates, protective mama & always keeps chicks close. She goes broody several times per year & will adopt chicks within the 1st few days after hatch. (After that she'd attack them as intruders) Mothers her chicks for about 6 weeks.

Not really broody raised:
Trouble - "Sebrights seldom go broody, " they say..... Well this mama is small but fierce. She spent her 1st 3 days with a broody but then was removed to be a companion for a late chick that her mama wouldn't adopt. Like Cookie in many ways, but doesn't have the large spread to mother more than a handful of chicks at a time. She allows her chicks more freedom to explore. She likes to mother her chicks for 8-9 long weeks.

Not Broody raised:
Princess (barnyard mix) was head of the flock & seasonal broody. I was sad when we lost our sweet Princess to a hawk. She was a perfect broody, 100% hatches, never had to be removed from the flock, and made the rest of the flock show her chicks respect. The only downside is there was no way to control where & when she'd go broody. If I broke her while she was setting, then I'd have to wait an entire year before she'd go broody again.

Broody raised:
Oopsie (LF orp) was raised by Princess & became a spectacular mama. Not as large as some of my orps, so she never lost a chick. She adopted any chick of any species for weeks after hatching. She would go broody 3-4xs per year and had a very large spread that could hold 15+ eggs. We sold her, but I'm sure she'll continue to be a great mama when needed



OK BROODY HENS:
* Note= These hens are also young. Hatched in 2017. Perhaps they will move to my list above with more experience.
Broody raised:
Jewel (LF orp) Goes broody about 3xs per year. Takes care of her own bio breaks & always returns to the correct nest. Doesn't like to be moved out of coop until chicks hatch. Because of her size, she broke a few eggs while incubating &/or has squished babies. When broody she will adopt babies of various ages and even species. She even went co-broody and shared chicks.

Broody raised
Smudge (LF orp) Pretty much like Jewel & has similar difficulties due to her size. This is her 1st summer going broody & only 2nd time being a mama. So far, she's been very protective and keeps her babies safe.

Broody raised:
Xansie (silkie) Very determined to steal and hatch eggs.... but sort of scatter-brained. Likes to go broody frequently but can forget which nest she was on. Once chicks hatch, she's a great little mama. She even went co-broody as well.


Other:
I found that the 1st 2 years having broody hens was more difficult than now. My flock is used to having mamas & chicks around, so when a predator call is sounded, the chicks can take cover under the nearest hen. The mature flock leaders may not go broody themselves, but they're very tolerant of chicks. If a chick is separated & crying for mama, the other hens will stop what they're doing & look around in concern (instead of pecking on the intruding chick).

I even found that some hens (like my EE & Welsummer who have never even considered going broody) will purposely lay their eggs in a broody hen's nest. I guess they want to be a mother w/o all the work. LOL

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Good news. The little chick seems well. Still wobbly but gaining strenghth.

Rosie has been scattered brained before staying with eggs and ignoring hatched chicks.

At least it appears this one will survive. Can't decide if I want hen or roo.

Roo might be nice to breed back to Rosie to get more Cochin types...if I can get one more season of eggs from her.

 

[fisherlady]

In follow up, with my more scientific mind taking over in observations.

It is remarkable to notice the difference in broody capabilities.

The main coop has been disastrous in the past for any hatches as those moms had crushed chicks when other moms sat beside to try to lay eggs.

Yet, this year, I have had 2 moms (themselves brooded, and daughters of broodies) safely hatch and maintain chicks even in the hustle and bustle of the main coop.

The one little black chick has stuck like glue to its mom, who merely chose to set up shop in the wood pile when babe couldn't make it back up the main coop ramp.

That babe even left the safety of foster mom to squirm through fencing to return to original mom. They are safe and sound in the main run with make shift nest.

Yet, this broody bantam Cochin, who is very docile, and has had hatches before, but herself was not raised by a brooding hen, doesn't always catch on to her mothering duties, and the babe apparently wandered off to fall out of the coop or get knocked out.

Anyone else note...and this is aimed at @fisherlady and others with long term broodies with sustained flocks... that after a number of raising chicks by broodies, who in turn become broodies, that a collective knowledge seems to be gained?

My best moms are now those from broody hens who have been brooded themselves.

I read somewhere in a farming for sustainability blog that the first year they let hens hatch chicks only a few survived. But each year more and more survived until now almost all chicks hatched in the coops survive...obviously within a sustainable flock who is hatching and broody from generations.

Interesting.

LofMc

Overall we have found the "2nd generation" broodies are less problematic, but not foolproof. Size creates issues with occasional broken eggs or crushed chicks but not an absolute thing, some hens just seem a bit more scatterbrained than others. Many of our 2nd generation broodies seem more patient about teaching ramps, but I don't know why that would be. We have a couple of them who get the chicks up to the adult shelves to roost within a week or two of hatch.
But as Faraday noted the brooding process has become much simpler as the years passed. We have hens who are practically "hands free" for us, first timers get a bit more attention but the flock as a whole just seems to ignore broodies now...or maybe it is more real to say they just shrug their wings and say "yeah, that one is waiting for chicks...again". The chicks are basically running wild in the yard, sometimes staying with their broody, often times running to whichever hen (or rooster) happens to find a goody and put out the "treat call". The hens take it in stride, rarely treating strange chicks as strange, lol... and crying chicks often find friendly adults even when they can't find their own broody for a while.
Doing the new hatch shuffle, as Lady of McCamly has so well described, is often the biggest challenge. And it is only needed to prevent stupid chick trick separations the first few days and to make sure they are sturdy enough to manage ramps and jumps. Hubby and I both work full time and we often camp on weekends so checking on them every few hours isn't an option. We do have cameras we access multiple times a day to check for problems with a couple of folks we can call to fix emergencies.
So in short... I do think our broody raised hens are a bit better in raising their chicks overall, but the hormones which cause the urge to begin with don't seem to follow any set pattern, all of our chicks are broody raised, but not all become broodies themselves, store bought chicks grafted to broodies don't seem inclined to brood later unless they were from a broody prone breed to start with.. So nature vs nurture would need a much more scientific evaluation than I am able to give.