Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

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upcdayz said:
Thank you for the suggestions on how to get just ONE hen to finish sitting on the pipping eggs. What I did was place a broody hen in a large plastic tub, with food, water & bedding, of course, then put the eggs in there and covered it with hardware cloth. I then placed that tub in a darkened area so she would settle down, which she did. Friday afternoon two chicks hatched. I'm not convinced this hen knows what to do with chicks, though. After I picked up the chicks to look at them, then put them back in with the hen, the hen tried to scoop them underneath her like she did the eggs. I've never seen a hen do that before. Until I'm confident that she will keep the chicks warm, I'll keep a close eye on them all to make sure.

Here's the mama with her babies hidden underneath.


Here are the two babies.
s
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They are adorable, and the part about her scooping them under her like she did the eggs is very normal. I hope you don't have to take them from her, hens do a much better job of raising their chicks than we do.
 
Sounds pretty normal to me. That's what my broody hens do with their newly-hatched chicks. In fact, I have 3 broodies right now & the chicks are starting to hatch. The chicks hide in what I can best describe as their mother's "armpits", up underneath their wings. She gathers them up just like she did when they were eggs! This is Olga's 6th clutch in 13 months (she goes broody when the wind blows, I swear). That's how she is with hers every time, including this time.

One of my broodies only had a couple of eggs & they hatched 8 days ago, but one of them died the other night, as it appeared he couldn't find his way back in with his Mama & died in the bottom of the coop by himself. The other 2 broodies started hatching their babies yesterday & I imagine they'll be done by tomorrow (the eggs they're sitting on were a few days apart in age). Whatever doesn't hatch by tomorrow or the next day probably isn't going to. In fact, today is day 23 for a couple of the eggs & I was worried they weren't going to hatch at all, but one of them hatched this morning & another one has pipped (and the hen is none too happy that I lifted her up to take a peek).
 
LilyD said:
I have my first ever official broody hen. I was worried because it was kind of cool out still getting in the 20's and 30's up here in New England but I finally put 6 eggs under her today. I will keep my fingers crossed that they hatch okay even though it's cold. She doesn't want to get off the nest at all even to eat or drink. I have been putting food and water right in with her and that seems to help now we will just have to see if the little fuzzys are warm enough.
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hi neighbor I am from NH
 
i put eggs under 4 broodies this week. 2 silkies sitting together, 1 cochin banty, and today I made a quiet place for a lf cochin frizzle. 2 girls hatched last year and 2 girls are first timers. I usually have all kinds of eggs in bators by now but I have decided to let the girls do the work this year. I have alot of silkies. at one point last year I had 13 broody hens at the same time.
 
1Chick Magnet said:
i put eggs under 4 broodies this week. 2 silkies sitting together, 1 cochin banty, and today I made a quiet place for a lf cochin frizzle. 2 girls hatched last year and 2 girls are first timers. I usually have all kinds of eggs in bators by now but I have decided to let the girls do the work this year. I have alot of silkies. at one point last year I had 13 broody hens at the same time.
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WOW, i i thought my 14 broody Sumatra's over he course of the year was incredible. 16 total broody's, but 14 were successful. I have 1 broody sitting, and one young girl who is on and off of golfballs. If she gets serious she gets real eggs!
 
HHandbasket said:
Sounds pretty normal to me. That's what my broody hens do with their newly-hatched chicks. In fact, I have 3 broodies right now & the chicks are starting to hatch. The chicks hide in what I can best describe as their mother's "armpits", up underneath their wings. She gathers them up just like she did when they were eggs! This is Olga's 6th clutch in 13 months (she goes broody when the wind blows, I swear). That's how she is with hers every time, including this time.

One of my broodies only had a couple of eggs & they hatched 8 days ago, but one of them died the other night, as it appeared he couldn't find his way back in with his Mama & died in the bottom of the coop by himself. The other 2 broodies started hatching their babies yesterday & I imagine they'll be done by tomorrow (the eggs they're sitting on were a few days apart in age). Whatever doesn't hatch by tomorrow or the next day probably isn't going to. In fact, today is day 23 for a couple of the eggs & I was worried they weren't going to hatch at all, but one of them hatched this morning & another one has pipped (and the hen is none too happy that I lifted her up to take a peek).
Click to expand...

Congrats!! sounds like your girls have a good jump on this year already.
celebrate.gif
 
1Chick Magnet said:
i put eggs under 4 broodies this week. 2 silkies sitting together, 1 cochin banty, and today I made a quiet place for a lf cochin frizzle. 2 girls hatched last year and 2 girls are first timers. I usually have all kinds of eggs in bators by now but I have decided to let the girls do the work this year. I have alot of silkies. at one point last year I had 13 broody hens at the same time.
Click to expand...
Thats alot of broodys to be contending with. lol.
 

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