Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[countrygirl5]

I have a question. . What do ya'll do with all these chicks you hatch? I was told that my buff orp. should go broody again later in the year, and if she does, I'd love for her to sit, but I just got a bunch of chicks from the hatchery to replace the hens I gave to my Aunt. . But alot of you let alot of hens sit on alot of eggs, and I was just wondering what ya'll do with them? Are they for butchering, selling, I'm sure some are for replacing, but you don't need to replace hens every year. Just wondering. I'd love to have about 3 or 4 broodies sitting every year, but not sure what I'd do w/all their chicks.

 

[aoxa]

 
I never get tired of watching mama and her babies, maybe thats why my house looke like a tornado went through..


 

Miss Lydia, are you getting anxious yet? Day 20 is over, we're going on day 21 here! (We set the eggs under her @ 8 am Feb 25th).

 

[kingsfarm]

Scarlett and all, my 5 day old chicks are all over the place with mama...they eat what she finds and I give...they are even going in the cow pasture with mama (now I worry) no protection..I want to scoop them all up and seperate them in a small coop/yard till they are around 6 weeks but that defeats my purpose of letting them do it all NATURAL...I would really be sad if anything happens,,,,,,what do you suggest..let things be!!!! my next hatch will be handled the same way as this, mama is in control...won't be long for them either..the Big hens are now laying in mama's bucket/house when she is out ranging...what a thing, I run in and take them out. so much fun...

 

[Tripp16]

Scarlett and all, my 5 day old chicks are all over the place with mama...they eat what she finds and I give...they are even going in the cow pasture with mama (now I worry) no protection..I want to scoop them all up and seperate them in a small coop/yard till they are around 6 weeks but that defeats my purpose of letting them do it all NATURAL...I would really be sad if anything happens,,,,,,what do you suggest..let things be!!!! my next hatch will be handled the same way as this, mama is in control...won't be long for them either..the Big hens are now laying in mama's bucket/house when she is out ranging...what a thing, I run in and take them out. so much fun...

Sounds normal. I would want my hen to take them out. From what ive heard she will fight for them as long as they dont get left behind then she wont even know they are gone because hen cant count. Just check on them every now and then. Thats what Im going to do when hopefully my girls eggs hatch! I am going to try an let her do everything! Except for when they get to big for her little bantam body (they are EE standards) and she can no longer keep them warm then Ill put a light in with them. Im on day 18 and nothing so. Miss Lydia got lucky with hers hatching so early!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

The temps dropped back into the 50s today - here's momma and the babies this morning in the run.


The other two babies are now 6 weeks old.

 

[Tripp16]

Where did the other white chicks come from?

The temps dropped back into the 50s today - here's momma and the babies this morning in the run.


The other two babies are now 6 weeks old.

 

[bobbieschicks]

They were Bandit's babies we hatched and had in the brooder.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...s-and-result-question-update-we-have-2-chicks

Where did the other white chicks come from?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Scarlett and all, my 5 day old chicks are all over the place with mama...they eat what she finds and I give...they are even going in the cow pasture with mama (now I worry) no protection..I want to scoop them all up and seperate them in a small coop/yard till they are around 6 weeks but that defeats my purpose of letting them do it all NATURAL...I would really be sad if anything happens,,,,,,what do you suggest..let things be!!!! my next hatch will be handled the same way as this, mama is in control...won't be long for them either..the Big hens are now laying in mama's bucket/house when she is out ranging...what a thing, I run in and take them out. so much fun...

I have always let my hens take complete control with their chicks, they have never lost a one from out foraging. We live right smack dead in the woods too and they go all over. boy I bet they love the cow pasture. Have we seen chicks yet, can't remember.

 

[Glasshen]

Seems like things are settling down here. After a couple of days of loud complaints the four big girls have decided to co-exist with Mama and the chicks in their dog crate in the coop. The day before yesterday I gave mom and the babies time by themselves in the whole coop. Yesterday they got coop time and time in the outdoor pen while the others were free ranging. In the pen Mama introduced them to the joys of dust bathing. They really tried to enjoy it, but didnt seem to grasp the true importance as the ground was kind of damp and the soil is clay, not that fine dry dust. Today I set them up with pen time, but Mama decided to accelerate the schedule. She went over the wall to free range. The babies were in the pen, but later they must have found their way under the gate. Today she was finding tiny baby worms for them. She is a good teacher. And the other girls are staying away, so all is peaceful.

I talked to the folks I got the chicks from, and they said that this year the Buff Orpingtons they have are getting darker feathers, but later they will be buff. Hmmm. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss Lydia, are you getting anxious yet?

Day 20 is over, we're going on day 21 here! (We set the eggs under her @ 8 am Feb 25th).

Hey, My broody hatched her chicks out 2 days early, went out yesterday morning and there they were. Waiting to hear about your hatch and Scarletts..