Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[JakRat]

oh and also today the chicks learned how to go up the ramp. It was super cute. Mom was having some difficulty teaching them so I had to intervene and show them that they could stand on the ramp. Then when mom went up the next time they followed her right up! It was super cute. This whole ordeal took about 45 min because at first they didn't get the whole ramp idea. So they went to the one roost and tried to jump from there (which is impossible). Mama then went and tried to show them that they could jump from the roost, but she failed to jump so back to the ramp she went. She then gave up for a while and sat down with them. Then after I went and helped out a bit it was smooth sailing. They have hunkered down in the one nest box for the night. Super cute I just hope that they can make it down in the morning.

The one egg that never hatched is in there too... I still see blood veins and what not, so I put it up there with her just to see... an experiment if you will. I am still so traumatized from that egg I opened that still had the baby alive in it that I just cant bring myself to throw it away.

I love this whole experience of having a broody hen!!! Also today mama and babies were dust bathing together! They are only a week and a half old! It is amazing how fast they pick up things when they are shown how by mama. Broody is the way to go!

I took some video, but I will have to up load that later.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

Probably be a good idea. that way you don't have to worry about the others making her get off so they can lay their eggs. silly things.

Update (for bobbieschicks too)-- she took a break this morning and meandered about too long, and the eggs cooled off again. As soon as I put her back in the coop and she saw them, she was like, "oh, right, those..." and sat once again. But considering it's day 16, I don't want her to abandon them. So I fenced her in. Kinda tight quarters, but she can stand and stretch, and has water and mash. I guess I get to clean the poo out

but best I can do. There are rocks filling up the space between the nest boxes, and shavings over that. Chicken wire with hardware cloth on the bottom 6". Do you see anything I should change?

Questions: How long should I keep her and the (hopefully) chicks in there? Should I let them out soon-ish and provide a ramp so they integrate with the rest? If she leaves the coop, will they follow her? Mine have been ramp-less for a while to keep other critters out. I should re-attach it, yes?

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[JakRat]

Update (for bobbieschicks too)-- she took a break this morning and meandered about too long, and the eggs cooled off again. As soon as I put her back in the coop and she saw them, she was like, "oh, right, those..." and sat once again. But considering it's day 16, I don't want her to abandon them. So I fenced her in. Kinda tight quarters, but she can stand and stretch, and has water and mash. I guess I get to clean the poo out

but best I can do. There are rocks filling up the space between the nest boxes, and shavings over that. Chicken wire with hardware cloth on the bottom 6". Do you see anything I should change?

Questions: How long should I keep her and the (hopefully) chicks in there? Should I let them out soon-ish and provide a ramp so they integrate with the rest? If she leaves the coop, will they follow her? Mine have been ramp-less for a while to keep other critters out. I should re-attach it, yes?

Thanks for all of your help!

Your coop is so nice and clean! I like her little space. It looks so cozy.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

Your coop is so nice and clean! I like her little space. It looks so cozy.

Really?

Thanks! I've only had the coop and the chickens for a year, so give it time... I'm sure it'll get that nice patina that you all's have.

So, reading your post, they learned how to walk up the ramp and follow their mother? How old were they when they started to do that? Mine is only brooding two eggs, but it would still be cute to see... Hope they make it and looking forward

 

[JakRat]

Really?

Thanks! I've only had the coop and the chickens for a year, so give it time... I'm sure it'll get that nice patina that you all's have.

So, reading your post, they learned how to walk up the ramp and follow their mother? How old were they when they started to do that? Mine is only brooding two eggs, but it would still be cute to see... Hope they make it and looking forward

lol mine definitely has that "patina" blech!

I had to show them that they could walk up the ramp and then they did. They are pretty smart and mom was spending all that time trying to get them to go up. The moms really do take care of everything. I only have 2 as well. Good for her first hatch I guess. She is handling them well. Its so cute. They are only a week and a half old!!! They forage with her and everything. When ever I toss seeds to them the mama makes this certain sound as if to say EAT THESE THEY ARE YUMMY.

 

[bloom chicks]

That is a very nice set up.... I put my broody hens in a large dog crate in the coop so that they are still with the flock but nobody can bother her and the chicks...... I keep them in there for a couple of weeks. We let them out to free range every day but I stay with them and if I am not out with them then I put them back in the crate with mama..... It seems to work really well..... I hope all goes well with your new babies......

Update (for bobbieschicks too)-- she took a break this morning and meandered about too long, and the eggs cooled off again. As soon as I put her back in the coop and she saw them, she was like, "oh, right, those..." and sat once again. But considering it's day 16, I don't want her to abandon them. So I fenced her in. Kinda tight quarters, but she can stand and stretch, and has water and mash. I guess I get to clean the poo out

but best I can do. There are rocks filling up the space between the nest boxes, and shavings over that. Chicken wire with hardware cloth on the bottom 6". Do you see anything I should change?

Questions: How long should I keep her and the (hopefully) chicks in there? Should I let them out soon-ish and provide a ramp so they integrate with the rest? If she leaves the coop, will they follow her? Mine have been ramp-less for a while to keep other critters out. I should re-attach it, yes?

Thanks for all of your help!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I am about to go out to the coop right now and put our newest broody into just about the same arrangement as you have-- a double nest. I am putting a solid board between her and the rest of the coop because the coop is only 4x4 and contains a broody and her 8 chicks that she just hatched out today. I don't want the two hens communicating so they can concentrate on themselves. My daughter had problems last year with a hen abandoning a nest because she saw other newborn chicks and thought she should be with them! By the time we are certain the broody is settled on the eggs- a day or two-, the mama and chicks will be moved to the nursery area and we can open things up again.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

lol mine definitely has that "patina" blech!

I had to show them that they could walk up the ramp and then they did. They are pretty smart and mom was spending all that time trying to get them to go up. The moms really do take care of everything. I only have 2 as well. Good for her first hatch I guess. She is handling them well. Its so cute. They are only a week and a half old!!! They forage with her and everything. When ever I toss seeds to them the mama makes this certain sound as if to say EAT THESE THEY ARE YUMMY.

Hehe! You showed them? How awesome... So, you just set them on it and they went? Like little wind-up toys they are! Never figured I'd raise chicks (I was happy with the ten + one roo), but since she was so darned insistent, I just couldn't resist. I just wonder how the others will react to them. Doing a lot of reading, to say the least. Thanks for chiming in! Sounds like you're having fun too.

 

[Frost Homestead]

Alright, time for an update. First 3 of my 12 hens/pullets went broody. 2 of them had their eggs hatch already, 4 chicks total, 2 EE and 2 Ameraucanas. But after losing one Am chick (somehow) overnight I decided to take their chicks and put them in the brooder with the ones I hatched about a week ago. One of the mommas went and sat on her pen-mates eggs...which are due in about a week, so I went ahead and gave the other one *more* eggs. lol Poor thing wanted babies so bad and I took them away after only two days with them, I think she's determined to hatch more.

My silkie also went broody yesterday, so I gave her EE 5 eggs. So I think I have about 18 eggs under 3 broodies. My silkie is so sweet, she doesn't even care that I reach into her cage to pet her, she's in my spare bedroom (she usually sleeps in there anyway). I AM running out of places to separate broodies, thank goodness none of my EE have decided to follow the broody trend!

 

[Atomic Ranch]

That is a very nice set up.... I put my broody hens in a large dog crate in the coop so that they are still with the flock but nobody can bother her and the chicks...... I keep them in there for a couple of weeks. We let them out to free range every day but I stay with them and if I am not out with them then I put them back in the crate with mama..... It seems to work really well..... I hope all goes well with your new babies......

Okay, cool! Never done this sort of thing, so thanks for the reassurance. So, a couple of weeks? Let them out and supervise, then back in? No trouble getting momma back in? Sorry, lol... questions, questions. My Partridge Rock is just so big. I don't want her getting too restless or anything. When can you fully integrate?

And thanks!

You, too!