Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

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Blarneyeggs said:
I've got a broody who does not look so healthy. Her comb and wattle are very pale. When she does come out of the box the roosters try to breed her and the dominant hens pick on her. My last broody was much higher up in the pecking order and didn't get this reaction, is this normal or are they picking on her because she's not healthy? I've offered her scrambled eggs, she's not taking food from my hands and as she's in the main coop it's hard to tell if she's eaten the eggs or some other hen has. We're only on day 10.

She's been broody a much longer time. When this all started over a month ago,I tried moving her several times to large dog crate, thinking..... she'll either break brood, or sit tight. Well, she did neither. She didn't stay on her eggs and when I thought she'd been broken and put her back in with the other girls.... she'd go straight back to brooding in the main coop. So I broke down and gave her some hatching eggs.
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I'd try to break her your going to lose the chicks unless you have a bator or another broody but if she is looking as bad as you describe you may lose her. or if that seems extreme then get some kind of poultry vitamins and add to her water, but if the roos and other hens are going after her they see her as weak. so you need to separate her some how where they can still see her but can't get to her till either eggs have hatched or she is broke. I haven't ever done this but they say keeping one on wire like hardware clothe under neath no bedding to make a nest will break them. Being broody takes alot out of them so being sick and broody is not good.
 
Okay after spending a bit of time down at the coop today observing Mama Popcorn and her chicks.... I walked away with a few questions. As this is my first time ever having a hen raise a brood I want to make sure I think of everything!

1. My coop is a good 3 feet off the ground and I am afraid the chicks will fall out, fall off ramp or get down and not be able to go back up.....
I put a barrier up so they can not get out of the coop right now..... What should I do to resolve this or am I being crazy and overly concerned?

2. My hen keeps knocking over the food as she digs in the shavings to find food for the chicks.... boy is she determined and rough ... Chick beware!!!! She kicks and digs and chicks go flying etc etc... Is there a way to keep food for them without mama spilling it all over??? or filling up feeder with shavings??? I have the waterer up and she still manages to kick shavings in it!!!!
barnie.gif


3. How do I feed this mixed flock?? My other 3 girls have their layer feed .... obviously chicks should not eat that!!! and I'm guessing I should put rocks in their waterer so they don't drown when they make it down to the ground???

4. when will she want to take them out or is she ready and I'm just keeping them in the coop
lau.gif


5. Anything else I am not thinking about that I should???

Thank you all for your help you have been so generous sharing your knowledge and guiding this newbie!
 
aaggjg said:
Okay after spending a bit of time down at the coop today observing Mama Popcorn and her chicks.... I walked away with a few questions. As this is my first time ever having a hen raise a brood I want to make sure I think of everything!

1. My coop is a good 3 feet off the ground and I am afraid the chicks will fall out, fall off ramp or get down and not be able to go back up.....
I put a barrier up so they can not get out of the coop right now..... What should I do to resolve this or am I being crazy and overly concerned?

2. My hen keeps knocking over the food as she digs in the shavings to find food for the chicks.... boy is she determined and rough ... Chick beware!!!! She kicks and digs and chicks go flying etc etc... Is there a way to keep food for them without mama spilling it all over??? or filling up feeder with shavings??? I have the waterer up and she still manages to kick shavings in it!!!!
barnie.gif


3. How do I feed this mixed flock?? My other 3 girls have their layer feed .... obviously chicks should not eat that!!! and I'm guessing I should put rocks in their waterer so they don't drown when they make it down to the ground???

4. when will she want to take them out or is she ready and I'm just keeping them in the coop
lau.gif


5. Anything else I am not thinking about that I should???

Thank you all for your help you have been so generous sharing your knowledge and guiding this newbie!
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If they are 3 days an older she will bring them outside. How wide is your ramp, be sure to be there when she gets ready to bring them in at night for the first 2-3 nights just to make sure they can get in by themselves if not you'll have to help. usually after 2-3 days they know the ropes pretty well. as far as mama and fed everywhere I try to set it up as high as i can and place pieces of boards [scraps] for steps . the water and food still gets some shavings and water in it. Once you let her bring them out it gets better. I always put marbles in waterers for newly hatched chicks. I also feed Purina Flock raiser crumbles to all my flock that way everyone is eating the same feed. They shouldn't have a problem coming down the ramp it's going back up that will take some time. you may even try putting sides on it till they master it . The first couple times she brings them out it's always a good idea to stick around so you can catch something before it gets out of hand. Most flock members respect a mama hen and chicks though.
 
Glasshen said:
Vm, glad your move went well. I too had a move. It was getting confusing with four age groups and not too much mingling. I wanted the 6 week olds out of my basement. Friday night my husband was in charge and he let them all put themselves to bed, and found that two of the 6week olds went into the teenagers mini coop, so he put the third in there too. Last night I was home and watched the process. Finally I decided that the teens should move to the adult coop which has brand new extra roosts and poop boards, so it was all different, a good time for a change. The. Six week olds were all peeping and hanging around me wanting me to pick them up to go back in the basement. Nope, they got to stay in the teens old place. Mama was the star of the evening. She had taken her three chicks in the adult coop early and had a spot on the floor behind the door. I couldn't find her and was worried until finally I looked behind the door. This was the first night she had not needed my help getting the babies up the step.
And this morning everyone was still fine!
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Yay!! It is such a relief when things work out!!!
 

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