Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[aoxa]

I finally have my first broody as of Friday I have her setting on 11 eggs total. She is a partridge cochin (LF).

How important is hydration for broodies? I notice her eating, but she doesn't drink like I would expect her to. I have given her a few treats on her nest - I don't leave them there, she eats them out of my hand.

When should I move her, or do I have to at all? I don't really know where I would put her. She is in a big dog crate right now with the door removed. She is in the barn with everyone else. She is high on the pecking order + angry hormones. No chickens dare enter her broody cave. I've seen he bite whoever tries. I'm not worried about any other eggs being laid in there. I check them anyway.

When chicks arrive, should I move them indoors with mom, or will she protect them enough around the flock?

 

[Miss Lydia]

My broody hen recently hatched 7chicks out of 12 eggs! She is a blue laced red wyandotte and the chicks are also BLRW. She is doing great and the chicks are healthy. She is a good mama. I have more hen's eggs due to hatch Thursday, 1 is one 6 the other is on 6, both BLRW and so are the eggs. When will the mama hen start bringing her chicks out of the house? Also, is it normal for the coop to have a funny odor after hatching?

usually around day 3 mama will want to start showing the chicks the ropes. Some mamas will bring them out on day 2 but it's usually around day 3.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I finally have my first broody as of Friday

I have her setting on 11 eggs total. She is a partridge cochin (LF).
How important is hydration for broodies? I notice her eating, but she doesn't drink like I would expect her to. I have given her a few treats on her nest - I don't leave them there, she eats them out of my hand.
When should I move her, or do I have to at all? I don't really know where I would put her. She is in a big dog crate right now with the door removed. She is in the barn with everyone else. She is high on the pecking order + angry hormones. No chickens dare enter her broody cave. I've seen he bite whoever tries. I'm not worried about any other eggs being laid in there. I check them anyway.
When chicks arrive, should I move them indoors with mom, or will she protect them enough around the flock?

Sounds like you have nothing to worry about. as far as drinking they will just take care of it. It's not easy to get as hen to drink if she doesn't want to anyway. We worry about it though. Just make sure food and water is close and let her take it from there. Congrats and keep us informed. and Hi, good to see you over in the chicken section. It's fun having chickens and ducks because we have the best of both worlds. My broody is on day 4 too,

 

[littlecreekfarm]

Maybe your smelling the other 5 eggs that didn't hatch?

Possibly but I hatched a few turkey eggs under a broody once and I smelled the same thing, could it just be the new chicks and the smell of the eggs that they hatched out of?

usually around day 3 mama will want to start showing the chicks the ropes. Some mamas will bring them out on day 2 but it's usually around day 3.

Okay thanks. My chicks are 4 days old and mama hen has them out of the nesting box but still in the coop. I guess sometime she will bring them out.

_______________________________________________
Oh my I heard peeping coming from the nesting box and under my broody hen was an egg shell and a baby chick that had hatched 3 days early

He is very large for a new chick about the same size as my 4 day old chicks and I counted my other chicks and he/she is a new baby, almost all fluffed up. I guess he hatched this morning or during the night. None of the other eggs are even pipped. They were due Thursday but I guess this guy is early.

 

[aoxa]

 
Sounds like you have nothing to worry about. as far as drinking they will just take care of it. It's not easy to get as hen to drink if she doesn't want to anyway. We worry about it though. Just make sure food and water is close and let her take it from there. Congrats and keep us informed.  and Hi, good to see you over in the chicken section. It's fun having chickens and ducks because we have the best of both worlds. My broody is on day 4 too, e


 

Thanks Miss Lydia!

Yes, love both species. I just got two young ducklings this weekend too I had to take Ruth back.. He had tried to mate his last chicken The breeder is going to find him a wonderful home, and gave us two replacement khakki campbell ducks. They are a little under 8 weeks old.

She will eat iceberg lettuce if I give it to her in the nest. Would this help hydrate her any?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks Miss Lydia!

Yes, love both species. I just got two young ducklings this weekend too

I had to take Ruth back.. He had tried to mate his last chicken

The breeder is going to find him a wonderful home, and gave us two replacement khakki campbell ducks. They are a little under 8 weeks old.
She will eat iceberg lettuce if I give it to her in the nest. Would this help hydrate her any?

yes ice berg lettuce is mostly water anyway. sorry about Ruth, them boys. I've never had that problem I guess my drakes have enough girls. Thank goodness. congrats on your new ducklings. you'll be getting lots of eggs...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Possibly but I hatched a few turkey eggs under a broody once and I smelled the same thing, could it just be the new chicks and the smell of the eggs that they hatched out of?

Okay thanks. My chicks are 4 days old and mama hen has them out of the nesting box but still in the coop. I guess sometime she will bring them out.

_______________________________________________
Oh my I heard peeping coming from the nesting box and under my broody hen was an egg shell and a baby chick that had hatched 3 days early

He is very large for a new chick about the same size as my 4 day old chicks and I counted my other chicks and he/she is a new baby, almost all fluffed up. I guess he hatched this morning or during the night. None of the other eggs are even pipped. They were due Thursday but I guess this guy is early.

maybe the smell of the egg shells then. I've never noticed any different smell but that doesn't mean there is something wrong by no means. have you put food close by for the chicks? maybe next couple of days if mama doesn't take them out take up the food and put it outside of the coop, she'll take them where the food is. Congrats on your big hatchling, do you know what breed your big one is?

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I finally have my first broody as of Friday

I have her setting on 11 eggs total. She is a partridge cochin (LF).

How important is hydration for broodies? I notice her eating, but she doesn't drink like I would expect her to. I have given her a few treats on her nest - I don't leave them there, she eats them out of my hand.

When should I move her, or do I have to at all? I don't really know where I would put her. She is in a big dog crate right now with the door removed. She is in the barn with everyone else. She is high on the pecking order + angry hormones. No chickens dare enter her broody cave. I've seen he bite whoever tries. I'm not worried about any other eggs being laid in there. I check them anyway.

When chicks arrive, should I move them indoors with mom, or will she protect them enough around the flock?

Sounds like you've got a broody mama that will take good care of the kids. My broody (from last year) was also at the top. I actually had to lock her and the babies up (caged within the coop) to protect my other chickens from her! She felt she and her 3 kids should have the entire 8 foot by 12 foot coop to themselves. She would stand at the door and storm anyone who dared come near.

Some of the lower girls wouldn't come within 20 feet and still mama would go after them! She was fine free-ranging but had to be confined in the coop for the first 10 days or so.

She also only left the nest every 3 days to eat and poop. I know many folks on this thread remove their broodies daily but I let my mama make her own decisions about food and water. I had both within her reach at all times. I noticed the water going down more than the food but she brooded in the heat of August. For me, I believe in messing with them as little as possible. (Learned that lesson the hard way.)

I caged my broody mid-way through the brood to ensure the eggs didn't get broken. I would worry if you are finding eggs being added because it could mean there are scuffles when you aren't around which can be VERY bad news for the eggs.

Good luck!!!!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have been trying to stay away from this thread because I'm not letting my girls set on any eggs this year. I'm excited for everyone who has new babies hatching.

 

[bobbieschicks]

So how long do I keep Smokey and her clutch separated in the other side of the coop before trying to integrate them into the flock?