Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[texcalkas]

This question may have been asked before but I don't really want to have to weed through nearly 1,000 posts, as interesting as they are. Should I worry about our cats getting the newly hatched chicks? These chicks have two moms so SHOULD have lots of protection but will they? Right now, when we go look at the chicks, the moms fluff up and growl but what can they do to protect the chicks against cats? As long as they are in the hen house it's not much of a concern but when the moms start taking them out, should I put them in a pen?

The two moms thing...there were two hens broody on the same pile of eggs so I do not know if they hatched their own eggs. At one point I put a big, black X on ten eggs then pulled all unmarked eggs out since the other hens continued to lay in on top of the two broodies. These are true "mutt chickens". The dad is a Polish and the moms are either Austra-Whites or either of our red hens (not sure of breed). We are very excited to have eggs hatch finally. Some years we will have one hen go broody but the eggs just turn out to be stinkers (Cochins), the hen crushes them with her weight (Delaware) or a night creature eats the whole clutch. This time there are two broodies...hopefully they will be successful in raising these chicks.

 

[hokankai]

Alright broody (maybe) issue!!

Ok well Miss Henrietta (Barred Rock) has taken her time going broody and Im still not 100% sure shes 100% commited. She was on the nest this morning at 7:30 AM came home around 1 still on the nest. Came back out at 2:30 and she was off. She came running inside when I opened the coop door. I felt her eggs as she was getting water and they were VERY warm. I picked her up and she did the broody cluck cluck.

I then set her back in the nest she moved all 15 of the eggs (Golf balls) under her and set down and started screeching.

She has been on the nest ever since and the little piggy wont even eat grass when I offered it to her! She stuck it around the nest!

Ok well if she stays on the nest tonight, do you guys think she is serious? Or should I wait one more day and see if she stays on the nest for two nights?

I am worried that if I hadnt put her back she may not have gotten back on.

What do you guys think?

I wasn't sure my broody was committed until I gave her eggs, but she displayed the same behavior yours is. Now I have to force her off the nest to eat!

She sounds pretty dang broody to me, I'd go ahead and go for it!

 

[This_chicks_place]

Day 21 for us here, no action from the eggs so far.............

Call me Miss impatient! Please let something hatch. Lily started with a dozen and after a tussle with another hen for the nest and candeling she is down to 5. I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow to some little chirps.

 

[hokankai]

This question may have been asked before but I don't really want to have to weed through nearly 1,000 posts, as interesting as they are. Should I worry about our cats getting the newly hatched chicks? These chicks have two moms so SHOULD have lots of protection but will they? Right now, when we go look at the chicks, the moms fluff up and growl but what can they do to protect the chicks against cats? As long as they are in the hen house it's not much of a concern but when the moms start taking them out, should I put them in a pen?

The two moms thing...there were two hens broody on the same pile of eggs so I do not know if they hatched their own eggs. At one point I put a big, black X on ten eggs then pulled all unmarked eggs out since the other hens continued to lay in on top of the two broodies. These are true "mutt chickens". The dad is a Polish and the moms are either Austra-Whites or either of our red hens (not sure of breed). We are very excited to have eggs hatch finally. Some years we will have one hen go broody but the eggs just turn out to be stinkers (Cochins), the hen crushes them with her weight (Delaware) or a night creature eats the whole clutch. This time there are two broodies...hopefully they will be successful in raising these chicks.

Definitely stick them in a pen. Broody hens can be extremely protective, but predators are built to hunt and will if the opportunity arises. Chicks are just too small and make too many sudden movements to trust them around predators. Keep mama and babies penned up to prevent any disasters.

 

[karlamaria]

Quote:
The other girls push her out of the nest, Sunshine is a big girl too so I'm surprised she stands for it. I really hate to just let her do whatever since i actually had to pay for fertile eggs.

this is why I removed my girl. It goe to the point she could not be in the box, everyone wants the same box lol. I had to move my girl, the nest boxes were to high any ways. I took my nesting material. And my girl and put her in a hutch on my porch. There she was alone and able to do her parenting with out problems.

 

[featherz]

Depends on the cats. I was *very* concerned about this and was positive my cats would eat baby chicks. But they have never bothered them, even with two broodies running around with lots of chicks. Both my barn cats are super fat creampuffs so that might be why. One growl from a broody and they go running.

This question may have been asked before but I don't really want to have to weed through nearly 1,000 posts, as interesting as they are. Should I worry about our cats getting the newly hatched chicks? These chicks have two moms so SHOULD have lots of protection but will they? Right now, when we go look at the chicks, the moms fluff up and growl but what can they do to protect the chicks against cats? As long as they are in the hen house it's not much of a concern but when the moms start taking them out, should I put them in a pen?

The two moms thing...there were two hens broody on the same pile of eggs so I do not know if they hatched their own eggs. At one point I put a big, black X on ten eggs then pulled all unmarked eggs out since the other hens continued to lay in on top of the two broodies. These are true "mutt chickens". The dad is a Polish and the moms are either Austra-Whites or either of our red hens (not sure of breed). We are very excited to have eggs hatch finally. Some years we will have one hen go broody but the eggs just turn out to be stinkers (Cochins), the hen crushes them with her weight (Delaware) or a night creature eats the whole clutch. This time there are two broodies...hopefully they will be successful in raising these chicks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Looks like Violet is in it for the long haul! I have to drag her off the nest to get her to eat.



Her foster eggs


Taking a break


And her supportive husband in his little man nest, haha!

I had to laugh at his little man nest. that is so cute

and she is beautiful

 

[Miss Lydia]

Day 21 for us here, no action from the eggs so far.............

Call me Miss impatient! Please let something hatch. Lily started with a dozen and after a tussle with another hen for the nest and candeling she is down to 5. I'm hoping to wake up tomorrow to some little chirps.

Okay Miss impatient.

. hope you have chicks waiting for your inspection in the morning.

 

[This_chicks_place]

Okay Miss impatient.

. hope you have chicks waiting for your inspection in the morning.

Thanks for making me smile! It's going to be a long night!

 

[kraftyladies]

That happens sometimes. They will probably be fine. Congrats on the broody!

Well.... I got home today and she was in a different nest again with three eggs under her.

The other eggs were cold.