Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fluffycrow]

So glad everything turned out well with

Happy day!

mom, and she accepted them just fine! My girl is on day 6 or 7(her eggs are on day 5), I hole she doesn't break!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

So glad everything turned out well with


mom, and she accepted them just fine! My girl is on day 6 or 7(her eggs are on day 5), I hole she doesn't break!

I actually ended up having to give her the eggs a week ago due to some bacteria growing in my incubator (I'm still not sure what's up with that) but she is doing fantastic! Another is hatching now that's an orp (either mauve or chocolate) the rest are OE from my orp roo and wtb and F3 OE. I'm crazy excited I'm hoping the the best for your broody

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Update on Ramblin' Rosie (thanks for the name @fisherlady ). For those who haven't been following, this is the "missing" hen that the neighbors called me up to warn me I had a hen in the brambles (they were removing an old apple tree on the fence line and didn't want to disturb her). I had NO idea she was there because the only way to see her is from their side of their backyard through the wire fence...she had buried herself behind my woodpile deep amongst the brambles on a hidden egg stash. I thought she was gone, eaten by a predator, (or that I'd miscounted birds again) when she had merely absconded to become a mother.

I was gone all day today (daughter's birthday planned trip to the outlet mall), so I left about 11am (having of course first checked on the birds) to return not until after 7pm. I go out to check on the birds before lock up (hot day, making sure babes and moms have water, all is well)...and who do you suppose is sitting fluffed up on the outside of the coop run just in the nook before the run gate...you guessed it...Ramblin' Rose, tickled with herself. I can tell she's got chicks under her by her fluffed stance...and the glimpse of one little head poking out.

I open the run gate wide, knowing those babes must need water on a hot day like this, and then go check on the bramble nest by way of the neighbor's side to see how many might have hatched.

Confession time here...neighbor said when he saw the stash of eggs there was over 2 dozen...yikes...then some of you may remember I had a skunk incident...I got sprayed, the dog got sprayed, coop broody eggs got lost...but when I saw the nest Ramblin' Rose had been sitting on for about 5 days, on her mid-day stroll, there were only 11 eggs. Knowing this must be the nest the skunk was raiding (the devil sprayed the side of the house where my bedroom lies), I was eager to get rid of the skunk and remove his food supply. So, I squeezed my hand between the wire of the fence (no easy trick) and was able to remove 6 eggs, but only 6. Five were out of reach.

Ramblin' Rosie has been sitting on those eggs for about a week and a half. (I'm not entirely sure of timing as this was a secret hidden nest.) Well folks, of those 5 eggs, I saw only one whole egg and a bunch of broken shells, half shells. Yep. She got 4 chicks folks.

I went back to check on her, and she had moved from the front of the coop through the gate and was trying to get them into the side coop. Sadly, I was not prepared for this today and the "baby" gate wasn't up for them to help chicks on the ramp, but she had 4 healthy little babes in tow....and they weren't making it up the ramp.

So tonight she took up residence outside the coop run on the backside of the raised coop (but accessible to food and water) under a tree and the coop fence...really a nice little nook. (Fairly safe there.)

Hopefully we can get her and babes up in the the side coop tomorrow. I put the baby run up tonight to make it easier for her.

Anyway folks...4 babes from the brambles. So far this season I have broody hatched 10 chicks in the oddest of circumstances.

LofMc

 

[fisherlady]

Update on Ramblin' Rosie (thanks for the name @fisherlady ). For those who haven't been following, this is the "missing" hen that the neighbors called me up to warn me I had a hen in the brambles (they were removing an old apple tree on the fence line and didn't want to disturb her). I had NO idea she was there because the only way to see her is from their side of their backyard through the wire fence...she had buried herself behind my woodpile deep amongst the brambles on a hidden egg stash. I thought she was gone, eaten by a predator, (or that I'd miscounted birds again) when she had merely absconded to become a mother.

I was gone all day today (daughter's birthday planned trip to the outlet mall), so I left about 11am (having of course first checked on the birds) to return not until after 7pm. I go out to check on the birds before lock up (hot day, making sure babes and moms have water, all is well)...and who do you suppose is sitting fluffed up on the outside of the coop run just in the nook before the run gate...you guessed it...Ramblin' Rose, tickled with herself. I can tell she's got chicks under her by her fluffed stance...and the glimpse of one little head poking out.

I open the run gate wide, knowing those babes must need water on a hot day like this, and then go check on the bramble nest by way of the neighbor's side to see how many might have hatched.

Confession time here...neighbor said when he saw the stash of eggs there was over 2 dozen...yikes...then some of you may remember I had a skunk incident...I got sprayed, the dog got sprayed, coop broody eggs got lost...but when I saw the nest Ramblin' Rose had been sitting on for about 5 days, on her mid-day stroll, there were only 11 eggs. Knowing this must be the nest the skunk was raiding (the devil sprayed the side of the house where my bedroom lies), I was eager to get rid of the skunk and remove his food supply. So, I squeezed my hand between the wire of the fence (no easy trick) and was able to remove 6 eggs, but only 6. Five were out of reach.

Ramblin' Rosie has been sitting on those eggs for about a week and a half. (I'm not entirely sure of timing as this was a secret hidden nest.) Well folks, of those 5 eggs, I saw only one whole egg and a bunch of broken shells, half shells. Yep. She got 4 chicks folks.

I went back to check on her, and she had moved from the front of the coop through the gate and was trying to get them into the side coop. Sadly, I was not prepared for this today and the "baby" gate wasn't up for them to help chicks on the ramp, but she had 4 healthy little babes in tow....and they weren't making it up the ramp.

So tonight she took up residence outside the coop run on the backside of the raised coop (but accessible to food and water) under a tree and the coop fence...really a nice little nook. (Fairly safe there.)

Hopefully we can get her and babes up in the the side coop tomorrow. I put the baby run up tonight to make it easier for her.

Anyway folks...4 babes from the brambles. So far this season I have broody hatched 10 chicks in the oddest of circumstances.

LofMc

Wonderful news! I am glad your Ramblin' Rosie is a proud mama and looking forward to seeing a few pictures!

 

[TropicalChickies]

In my research for incubators and broody hens I thought it might be nice to have a centralized thread for people who are interested in hatching eggs using the broody hen method. This thread is not meant to put down incubators, as they are a very useful tool, but to share knowledge and experience with each other on how to hatch eggs using a broody hen.

I will attempt to edit this post to include tips and FAQs on some of the best methods and tips to use when hatching eggs using a broody hen. If you have any knowledge please share it. If you know of anything that would be useful to add to the FAQs or tips please PM me.

We can also use this thread to share pics and hatching details with each other.

I am not sure how many people are interested in doing this but I thought it would be neat to see how many people use this method.
It would seem a lot of people are interested in using this method. It allows for a more natural hatching and raising experience and helps provide a more sustainable flock.

Thanks to everyone for making this thread a success. Sharing of knowledge is what we humans do best and the vast information in this thread is helping improve a lot of peoples flocks.

Please take a moment to review the FAQs below.

Much appreciated! The existing online resources are dominated by incubator hatch advice/methods and I think this thread fills a need! I love my broody hens and want to support them as best I can.
And I'd add a vote for Transylvanians (naked necks) as excellent brooders and mamas.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

As requested, pics of Ramblin' Rose (@fisherlady )

Close up of momma and one chick who peeked out (momma is very protective so the other 3 are under and behind her).

She didn't bring them into the side coop, deciding to stay in the cubbyhole under the OLD side coop. She's behind the board and bucket under the coop floor. (There's a reason this is the OLD coop).

This is where she hatched them...behind the woodpile deep in the brambles along the fence line. She had quite the trail to bring them out traveling down the full length of the woodpile, through the maze of my husband's bbq hut.

and just so no one doubts, we do have a very nice new coop with lovely hardwire cloth run

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Okay BYC folks. I don't get it (well I do and I don't).

Ramblin Rose was able to keep 4 chicks in tight tow through brambles, down the whole side yard, under a cubbyhole in the raised old coop, out today to get food, water, enjoy the chicken yard...all 4 tightly in tow.

Now, another broody I had in the old side coop (the one Ramblin has taken residence under) for 2 weeks. I find I lose a lot fewer babes if I let them stay with momma totally locked up for a couple of weeks until they can fly. They stay away from rats, cats, and the various small vermin we have around. Plus they follow momma better. Well Bar (she's a leftover cross from California Grey and Barnevelder) was let out today, week 2.

Thus far she has 3 of the chicks with her after it took her over an hour to convince them to come out of the coop. Two remained huddled in a corner for most of the day (which is very warm so no chance of chilling...plus they've got enough feathers to fly). I finally picked them up late this afternoon and put them into the old run. They huddled into a new corner while mom enjoyed the chicken yard with the fearless 3.

No pics as nobody would hold still long enough. I only got bark.

But honestly. Ramblin Rose has her brood in tight tow at day 2. Bar can't seem to get any of her ducks...her chicks...in line...and they should be older and smarter.

I just shake my head.

LofMc

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Some Moms just understand which chicks need what, when. Please continue to keep us posted on these 2 little families. It brightens my day to read about them, even if it's just a few words. Thank you and Good Luck. Congratulations.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, for those who enjoy my updates (thank you @Ursuline Chick )

Last night Ramblin Rose went back to the brambles. Actually she pulled up into a corner of the chicken yard, again not able to get the chicks up the ramp into one of the old side hutches, even with the baby ramp. Sadly it was pretty exposed. I didn't like that at all as we have coons, possums, rats, cats. I much preferred her in her little alcove under the raised side coop that had fencing 3/4 around with a tub and board in front if she couldn't make it into the coop (and I'd actually close some gates). But no.

She of course wouldn't budge and of course wouldn't let me come close to pick her up...which would have sent the chicks in four different directions (been there, done that). I considered getting the net, but little babes can scurry out from under it too easily and it usually turns out a disaster with babes.

So, here I am a grown (uhm, mature) woman playing Ooga Booga bad man to shoo her out of her open corner. (Cue laughter). It worked like a charm. She went back to some brambles, though not the alcove, and weathered the night there much more protected. (Yes, I would definitely prefer her in my lovely new coop and hardware cloth run...or even the old, tumble down connected coops, with shabby run, but remember my mommas are not playing by the rules this year).

Despite my worry about her safety (and even a troubled dream with vipers chasing the chicks...LOL...I never remember my dreams, we don't have vipers in Oregon!) Ramblin Rose survived the night just fine and was out in the run with her 4 bramble babes. (See photo below).

Miss Bar (who I now remember is 1/4 Marans, 1/4 Cream Legbar and 1/2 Barnevelder) managed to get all 5 chicks in tow this morning, emerging safely from that tumbled down side coop (somehow the broody hens love that old coop...we keep threatening to tear it down, gonna' get 'round to it, then voila, another broody has taken up residence, the rickety old run fence has holes and spots to climb under, and the hens know it). Photo below.

BTW I envy you ladies with your lovely, clear, well centered, close up photos of your broody hens and babes. My rough and tumble gals are experts at camouflage and hiding the moment they hear a sound approaching...which is what I wanted...a sustainable flock. You'll note I've selectively bred colors that match the bark dust...much better to hide from our plentiful hawks, even with the hawk netting up.)

So here are my best shots at it

LofMc

Ramblin Rose with 2 under her and 2 chicks investigating the bark

And Miss Bar with her 2 week olds finally in tow

 

[fluffycrow]

Well, for those who enjoy my updates (thank you @Ursuline Chick )

Last night Ramblin Rose went back to the brambles. Actually she pulled up into a corner of the chicken yard, again not able to get the chicks up the ramp into one of the old side hutches, even with the baby ramp. Sadly it was pretty exposed. I didn't like that at all as we have coons, possums, rats, cats. I much preferred her in her little alcove under the raised side coop that had fencing 3/4 around with a tub and board in front if she couldn't make it into the coop (and I'd actually close some gates). But no.

She of course wouldn't budge and of course wouldn't let me come close to pick her up...which would have sent the chicks in four different directions (been there, done that). I considered getting the net, but little babes can scurry out from under it too easily and it usually turns out a disaster with babes.

So, here I am a grown (uhm, mature) woman playing Ooga Booga bad man to shoo her out of her open corner. (Cue laughter). It worked like a charm. She went back to some brambles, though not the alcove, and weathered the night there much more protected. (Yes, I would definitely prefer her in my lovely new coop and hardware cloth run...or even the old, tumble down connected coops, with shabby run, but remember my mommas are not playing by the rules this year).

Despite my worry about her safety (and even a troubled dream with vipers chasing the chicks...LOL...I never remember my dreams, we don't have vipers in Oregon!) Ramblin Rose survived the night just fine and was out in the run with her 4 bramble babes. (See photo below).

Miss Bar (who I now remember is 1/4 Marans, 1/4 Cream Legbar and 1/2 Barnevelder) managed to get all 5 chicks in tow this morning, emerging safely from that tumbled down side coop (somehow the broody hens love that old coop...we keep threatening to tear it down, gonna' get 'round to it, then voila, another broody has taken up residence, the rickety old run fence has holes and spots to climb under, and the hens know it). Photo below.

BTW I envy you ladies with your lovely, clear, well centered, close up photos of your broody hens and babes. My rough and tumble gals are experts at camouflage and hiding the moment they hear a sound approaching...which is what I wanted...a sustainable flock. You'll note I've selectively bred colors that match the bark dust...much better to hide from our plentiful hawks, even with the hawk netting up.)

So here are my best shots at it

LofMc

Ramblin Rose with 2 under her and 2 chicks investigating the bark
View attachment 3586594


And Miss Bar with her 2 week olds finally in tow
View attachment 3586603

Glad to year you had another night (granted, with worry on your part, but it feels like all of us constantly worry!) where the chicks and the moms did well! If it makes you feel any better, I can't take any good photos of my broody either. This photo is about as close as I can get before the sparrow ×3 turns into a squawking, poofy, and if I come close to the nest bitting sparrow ×3!