Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Layla1223]

I just had my first chick hatch with a broody today!

This is my first time ever using a broody. She is a Silkie and she is sitting on 4 Black Copper Maran eggs. 1 has hatched and I think I might have 1 or 2 more hatch. They are in the main coop right now but we plan on moving them tonight, I didn't expect them to hatch untill tomorrow.

But I am very excited and hope to do this again!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Both of my roosters are in the coop with broody hens and one hen and chicks, no one messes with mama, it's a written law. or at least it is here. last year all my chicks were hatched by broodies and stayed inside the coop with all the other chickens and everything was fine. I think we forget that chickens have been doing this alot longer than we have.

I try to stay out of it as much as possible. actually my hen moved her chicks back into the main coop yesterday eve. and I started to move them back to where she sat but changed my mind after watching everyone pretty much ignore her.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Yeahhh Layla1223!. I finally let my Silkie mix set on some fertile eggs that I got from a friend and they are due on Easter Sunday.

She is being so good and I literally have to take her off the nest to poo. She will mull around for 10 minutes flapping, running, eating, and then right back on.

 

[marathonmultiplesmom]

If anyone in this thread does not know about the broody hatch contest in THIS THREAD TITLED:

"Mahonri's 2nd Annual BYC EASTER HATCH. Week 2 IN PROGRESS!!" by Mahonri


The requirement is to have a broody hatch at least one chick before April 25th 11:59PM, post pic in the easter hatch thread and PM me with the post number. Prize is any 3 bars of soap from my store. Link in Siggy.
"Spread Love With Bubbles"

 

[Layla1223]

Quote:
Mine is a very good too. In the whole time she was sitting on eggs I think I only saw her leave the nest a few times. Good Luck on your eggs!

 

[IroquoisEgg]

Oh goodness!! I have a chick! This is the 1st time for me using a broody and the 1st time for Black Silkie, Emo. I am so excited!! They are in the main coop with 4 other broodies and about 12 other hens and 6 teenagers...what do I do?!? I know I should've figured this out well, um, 3 weeks ago! DH and I didn't write down when we set the eggs and time goes by so fast...I have other chicks from incubator in the house do Itake them away from her? That doesn't feel right though. Please some advice would be GREATLY APPRECIATED! I can't believe I am a Grandma!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Of course this is just my 2 cents but I'd leave her and the chicks alone they will be fine. and congratulations!!Please don't take her chicks away from her.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
I don't know what the longest time is, but I had one pip, and 12 hours later finally hatch. She was really weak after that, but is perfectly healthy now!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Sounds like things will be fine, if no one is messing with them. I can't be as sure in my coop. My 2 broody girls are the lowest rank in the flock. The alpha hen has already picked at them badly, with them fighting back, but no one looks good now. I would have to remove my broodies and their chicks to safer quarters. And, that is what I will have to do as soon as the chicks hatch.

But, I agree, don't take the chicks away from her.

 

[mprivett]

Okay, so far we have had at least 3 chicks hatch (that I can tell)!! I am soo excited! First time with this and this is my broody's (Rosemary) first hatch too. She is being such a good mama- very concerned about her little ones. She doesn't want to let them come out from under her wings.

We decided to leave Rosemary and her babies in the main coop on her nest (so as not to disturb her) and we ended up putting the other two chickens (my rooster and 1 other hen) out in the dog crate and attached mini run. HA! We are just doing this for one night and then we will move Rosemary and crew once the others hatch out into the dog crate.