Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PetRock]

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That would be a terrible thing to come home to. How sad!

I ended up slipping 3 one day old Speckled Sussex chicks under my broody last night about 2 hours after dark. She gave a little peck on the first one before I could get it all the way under her. But then spread her wings out and made mama clucking sounds while I put the other two under her. I did not sleep well last night and kept thinking that I was hearing chick distress calls. I went out at the crack of dawn and she is pancaked on top of them. I haven't seen the chicks this morning but could hear them peeping. Now my question is, what do I do now? The chicks were eating and drinking yesterday before putting them under mama hen. Do I need to be concerned about making sure they eat and drink today or will my broody take care of them? She is a first time mama and our first broody. She and the babies are in a medium sized dog kennel with food and water in with them. I have to work all day and I hate to leave them. I sure hope that I don't come home to a horrible thing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mama will take care of everything Pet, and congrats!!

 

[PetRock]

Thank you, Miss Lydia! I wish that I could just watch all day instead of going to work. I can hear them peeping and trilling this morning. Mama has been rearranging herself and I caught sight of one little leg. I'm thrilled with how it is working so far. It will be so fun to watch her raise them! If she goes broody again, I'm going to give her eggs!

 

[Zoomom]

How long until the Momma takes the babies out to eat?

 

[PetRock]

I just checked on mine. All 3 babies out from under mom! They are eating, drinking, and pooping! Mama is clucking up a storm. I think that she is going to be a naggy mom!

 

[Fuffy]

Usually she will take them out when she is sure all the ones that are going to, have hatched.

It's one of Natures magical moments to see a first time broody take her babies and call them to eat and drink. She will even take food in her beak and give it to a baby even though she herself is starving!

 

[marymac]

Well, This was my first time leaving a broody in the coop in a nest box to sit on 12 eggs without separating her from the rest of the flock. I wanted to see how it would go. All I can say is if you have lots of chickens and you really aren't picky about how many hatch out I would do it again , but if you're trying for something in particular, intervene and separate them in a broody house or some place by them selves. I don't know what happened to 5 of the eggs, maybe they were tossed out and got eaten, not sure, I had 2 for sure hatched and after the second day the last to hatch was found dead, not sure why. All the rest were either dead and I found 2 dead in shell with half of shell gone. So I am left with 1 beautiful chick. Oh and this chick has 2 mommas, My white rock decided she wanted to help sit on the eggs along with my BO and she is still right there taking care of it and protecting it. It is so sweet to see how they watch over it together, such doting mothers. They take the baby outside now every evening when I let them all out and one good thing I guess I won't have to worry about integrating them back to the flock, they have all accepted them as part of the gang, with 2 moms who would dare to pick at the baby right. Here is a pick of the baby and the 2 mommas. Could any one guess as to the sex, not a real good pic but maybe?

 

[happyhappy]

Oh my gosh that is the cutest thing!

Don't know for sex is it to late to do the wing thing? What luck TWO moms!

I just broke my broody took almost two weeks but just can't have anymore chicks at this time, but next time!!!!! Funny part was I had just given up and was looking for eggs and she pulled out of it, guess she got lonely or tired of sitting in the cage!

 

[marymac]

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I'm not sure how the wing thing works, and this chick hatched 4/28/11. Had I know the white rock was gona pull this stunt I would have put more eggs under them, but I did learn from this experience.

 

[Zoomom]

Thanks! looking forward to when my babies go for their first venture out of the nest.

So adorable the one chick with two moms.