Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ronikins]

Thanks for all the replies! You all make me feel soooo much better! I went out there this morning to check on them and bring some food and water. Baby came out and was pulling at hay straws while mama ate some chick feed (is this ok?) and drank some water. She was making the "look at this.. see what I'm doing?" noise at the baby when she was eating. Soooo cute

I have lots of pics... This is my first hatch, so of course, I overdo it

I was texting everyone on my contact list pics of the baby!

I'll get a better shot of her later. She's already getting dark. The original flock was a pale yellow when they were this small. I'm anxious to see what she turns out looking like

Oh and the broody poop! It's like a treasure hunt. That's usually how I know they've come out of the nest. I love pointing it out to my husband and making him gag

mskittydjs you sound like me! I was so excited yesterday that I couldn't contain myself! My husband was laughin at me! I'm very happy for you! Can't wait to see your pics! And I can't wait to see the BO with the duck babies too

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a sweet picture, I have a hen that hatched in a nest box but has since just set up camp on the coop floor with her 2 chicks, she seems to like it better and it also leaves room for another hen to use the box for egg laying. Mama knows best.

 

[Terri O]

Here's my "mystery broody" that had her babies in the ceiling of the coop:

I had one in the coop too but her eggs all went rotten (I gave her another clutch) So I heard the peeps up there last week Thursday and went out of town for the weekend. On Monday I climbed up and brought them all down for her. I usually dont do that cause she jumps down and then they follow...what a long drop for a little baby! I guess because I had put food and water up there before I left she figured that I would continue to do it for her! NOT--I have enough to do around here! So anyway, I brought her and the family down and got them into the coop in a temp. cage. I was going to let them out today but it is cold again and we are expecting rain and even more snow by the weekend...she can stay in until Monday I guess...I love watching them around the yard with the babies! Terri O

 

[BlackBart]

My Partridge Wyandotte Broody took her 11 day old chicks out for a walk in the pouring rain. They were fine.
Today she took them out to a light dusting of snow.

(Snow!? here, in April? whats going on? I live in the banana belt

)

I have four Broodies due in the next week and three more hens have gone Broody. I'm putting SG Dorking and Welsumer eggs under them.
Pretty sure a couple more hens are going to go. They are making the Broody noises and are puffing up.

It is Ok for the hen to eat chick feed. she is teaching them. I also give my hens regular feed as well. It is too big for the chicks to eat. I am sure she would appreciate a hard boiled egg and some garden worms.

 

[ronikins]

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Hah! I keep telling my husband that another one walking around is making that broody clicking noise and stays puffed up all the time. I tell her "Just do it and get it OVER WITH!" She hasn't listened yet

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Oh, right, I didn't even think of giving her treats. I read somewhere on here that you shouldn't feed them while they are sitting like that. So I'd been trying to just let them do their "thing". But I imagine the new mama would like a nice little treat after sitting for about 2 days straight

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have chick feed in for mama and chicks all my chickens love chick feed, crazy things even my ducks like it. I also read that you want the broody to get up and walk around, to put food close enough for her convience but far enough away that they get some exercise. I have 4 more broodies, next to hatch on Sunday. I want to post pics but my Brahma is so big on the nest I haven't been able to get one of her and chicks yet.

happy hatching!! and very sweet pics Terri O

 

[ronikins]

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That's funny! Do you still have layer feed available for them? It'd be much easier if I could just buy chick feed for everyone

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Aww well I look forward to pics of your hatches

Another thing, I was reading in the Working with Broody Hens: Let Mama Do It article. In part 2 is says you should put broody butt in a special broody box. Well, I don't have one of those. And I don't see me having one in any foreseeable future, to be honest. Is it ok that the hens are hatching these eggs in regular nest boxes? They've been pretty good about getting back on the right nests when they get back on....

 

[Kathryn4629]

Thank you so much everyone for all the great information here on this thread, I would have gone crazy without it. And a big thank you for answering all my silly questions.

And here is the picture I just took of the baby that came out to say thank you as well.

There is another one under her that has hatched and 5 more to go.

The baby has feathered feet so that means my broody Bertha (Cochin) is the mama and Dad is a EE. A puffy cheek Cochin chick is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Oh and she is a first time mom.

 

[NotAFarm]

Sweet! Everyone says you can't beat cochins for broodies but my Wyandotte girl will give 'em a run for their money!! She still won't relieve herself inside their pen. It's a 5 x 8 secure pen with the dog carrier inside. She waits until I open the pen door each morning and brings the chicks out for treats. While they eat, she takes a LARGE dump. What a good momma she is!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Such a sweet picture Kathryn4629, I love feathered feet. One of mine so far has feathered feet!! Right now all mama is eating is chick feed. i also have chick feed and Flock Raiser outside for mama and chicks at the moment, don't feed chicks layer too much calcium. i don't have a special place for my girls to hatch they are in the regular nest boxes. inside the main coop.