Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

I have a hen that went broody. She is not supposed to be broody, clearly she didn't read the brochure. I've never dealt with a broody or hatched chicks before so this will be interesting. I want to interfere as little as possible. I am going along with the process for learning experience. I did not prepare for this and planned to next year. I've done little to no research so will probably need to ax some questions.

 

[BullChick]

You can listen to what we all say, but do what works for you in your coop.

 

[WhyDoILikeChickens]

You can listen to what we all say, but do what works for you in your coop.

To quote the great philosopher and lyricist NF "even good people are great at making bad decisions."

 

[CindyinSD]

I have a hen that went broody. She is not supposed to be broody, clearly she didn't read the brochure. I've never dealt with a broody or hatched chicks before so this will be interesting. I want to interfere as little as possible. I am going along with the process for learning experience. I did not prepare for this and planned to next year. I've done little to no research so will probably need to ax some questions.

I highly recommend broody coops. It keeps things simple. The hen won't choose to sit in a high-up nest box; she won't return to the wrong nest; when she's ready to eat, there will be food; when the chicks hatch they can be isolated for a few days until mama looks like she's ready to go out with them. There are a million advantages and you will be very pleased with the way they simplify your life. They should be small--just a private place to sit and a tiny yard. Mine has a floor in the nest chamber and no floor in the run. When the run needs cleaning I pull it to a new fresh postage stamp patch of grass. Nature does the cleaning for me. It's small enough to set it in the coop if it's still more wintry than summery. So many advantages. I know this partly because I only built one (so far) and wish I had a half dozen.

 

[fisherlady]

I have a hen that is broody again.

One of the SPRs again?

 

[BullChick]

Yup. All three were laying on the 30th, and one is sitting today.

 

[fisherlady]

Sounds about right, LOL... you did say you wanted broodiness.....

 

[BullChick]

 

[BullChick]

She has to wait though. The online sale places don’t have too many bites even during Covid! It took three weeks for the laying pullets (Steven’s) to be adopted for $5!

 

[black_cat]

If you're a first time hatcher, is it generally better to let a broody do her thing if you have one, or just get an incubator?