Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Mmmatt13]

Hi all,
It's my first time letting a broody sit (Lavender Americauana) and I only have one small issue so far - the nest box is elevated about a foot-a foot and a half off the ground, which may prove problematic when babies hatch. I was thinking I'd build a ramp, but since it's so high up, the ramp would either have to be really long - so as not to be too steep - or multiple levels. I'm not really sure what to do exactly,so any advice would be wonderful.
Thanks in advance!
Maddie

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Update on broody adoption. There is food (hardboiled egg) right in front of her, chick starter and clean water she can get to. I hear her clucking to eat when I'm gone, it's me who is the enemy right now I think...haha. so leaving the towel up for now so i can peek at the sides of the nest to make sure no one hopped out. She is dug in tight on the nest so more must be hatching...just gotta wait and see I suppose. It's a 3 inch hop to get out of the nest so once she decides to leave the chicks can follow, no problem...I think the orphans were just lost and disoriented, went through a Slasher attack, a cold night in a box,then a 30 mile ride in a four wheeler, a night in my shower stall in the pet case now they have a nice mama and think they are dreaming...did it all really happen? I am interested to see how many of the overflowing nest actually hatch, and keeping an eye out for the vacancy sign so i can get rid of the litter.
I am going to slip a little tin of water in there as well, yes, I put the towel up to keep it darker, this morning was very foggy but it's up to 70 and sunny already. This little hen is very flighty so i don't expect to be her friend anytime soon, I did feed her by hand as a chick and never bothered her much later on as she didn't want that. It's better to have more than one brain on this cause when you interfere too much something gets overlooked.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hi all,
It's my first time letting a broody sit (Lavender Americauana) and I only have one small issue so far - the nest box is elevated about a foot-a foot and a half off the ground, which may prove problematic when babies hatch. I was thinking I'd build a ramp, but since it's so high up, the ramp would either have to be really long - so as not to be too steep - or multiple levels. I'm not really sure what to do exactly,so any advice would be wonderful.
Thanks in advance!
Maddie

Once she takes the chicks out of the nest box she will probably start a new nest on the floor of the coop.

You can move her at night to a ground level area for her to sit and brood her chicks in after hatching. Or leave her where she is and right before hatching you can block the lower part of the nest so the babies can't fall out before she's ready to get down with them. She will be ready to take them out by the third day after the last one hatches.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Update on broody adoption. There is food (hardboiled egg) right in front of her, chick starter and clean water she can get to. I hear her clucking to eat when I'm gone, it's me who is the enemy right now I think...haha. so leaving the towel up for now so i can peek at the sides of the nest to make sure no one hopped out. She is dug in tight on the nest so more must be hatching...just gotta wait and see I suppose. It's a 3 inch hop to get out of the nest so once she decides to leave the chicks can follow, no problem...I think the orphans were just lost and disoriented, went through a Slasher attack, a cold night in a box,then a 30 mile ride in a four wheeler, a night in my shower stall in the pet case now they have a nice mama and think they are dreaming...did it all really happen? I am interested to see how many of the overflowing nest actually hatch, and keeping an eye out for the vacancy sign so i can get rid of the litter. I am going to slip a little tin of water in there as well, yes, I put the towel up to keep it darker, this morning was very foggy but it's up to 70 and sunny already. This little hen is very flighty so i don't expect to be her friend anytime soon, I did feed her by hand as a chick and never bothered her much later on as she didn't want that. It's better to have more than one brain on this cause when you interfere too much something gets overlooked.

Sounds like things are going fine.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can't remember if I posted the results of my Australorp on Hamburg eggs hatch, so here you go:

Looks like a full house!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sounds like things are going fine.

X2!!!

 

[Glasshen]

X3

 

[CamiLynn]

Had one of my two laying hens go broody 2 weeks ago. After taking eggs from under her to try and get her to stop (as I don't have a roo old enough to fertilize) she still wouldn't leave the nest. So, I got some hopefully fertile eggs from a friend and she watched my put them in the box and as soon as I walked away she sat and has been there ever since. So fingers crossed in 19 days I will have a few babies!

One question though...When it comes to candling, can I remove the eggs from under her by covering her head (which was how I removed the previous eggs) and then place them back one I see? Or, would it be better to just wait it out?

Thanks in advance and for this thread...some great info and I hope to be sharing pics soon (fingers crossed)

 

[stone_family3]

I know you all say to put the chicks under a broody at night.... My girl is really gentle doesn't peck me when I reach under or pet her.... Etc etc... Would it be ok to give her chicks during the day?? Or is that just crazy?

I gave my Dutch bantam six chicks (2 week and half olds and 4 dayish olds) mid day with no problems from her. Even after a few days when one of my big girls killed all the chicks and took over the nest (

) I just scooped up the dead chicks in a dish, removed them and put new chicks in their place in the same dish and she then told her they were all okay and she took straight to them with no problems. All mid day.

You can always give it a try and keep an eye on them while you do some coop chores.

 

[hokankai]

I am a bit torn and need some advice. My hen is hatching chicks any day now, and the rooster she's living with is showing possible signs of Marek's disease (he's one year old and hasn't been able to stand for a couple of days). I'm worried the chicks will get it, either from the coop, or from mom since they've lived together for a year now. It's just the two of them, and I REALLY don't want to take Violet's babies from her

What should I do? If I separate the rooster is there still going to be live virus in the coop or does it not live that long outside of the host? If mom's a carrier won't the babies get it from her?

What do I do?