Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

"Mama" and her 15 lil ones. At least in the 1st pic you can count them all

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't remember what breed of chicken she is but that factors into it. Most broodies will not accept chicks after the initial hatching time so the first batch of chicks she may take, but the second probably not. However, every broody is different, if she's silky or an older experienced broody she might take the extras too. But I seem to recall this was her 1st time, so I would be leery of trying to give her both groups.
And chicks is always more of a risk then eggs.

Yes, first time broody, and an EE. With the initial chicks I give her (if I do) would it be a matter of her not accepting them or doing them actual harm??? Anyway I can know w/o risk to the chicks?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ok, so Snowi decided to lay a egg under the coop. No big deal, we keep a rake handy because that is her usual spot. Summer came out for her daily walk and ended up under the coop sitting on that one egg! I had to go under the coop, pull her protesting feathered butt out, and put her back in the coop where she 'found' her clutch again. Is that normal for a broody oris she just extra egg obsessed?

I don't think a broody particularly cares what eggs she hatches, hence the ease with which we can slip fertilize eggs under them and remove the golf balls. Haha. They do care about them when they can hear the chicks chirping at hatch and after.

 

[perchie.girl]

"Mama" and her 15 lil ones. At least in the 1st pic you can count them all

Awww what a good job Mama....

deb

 

[bobbieschicks]

"Mama" and her 15 lil ones. At least in the 1st pic you can count them all 

Awh, so cute!

 

[Johnn]

I was just wondering, does any one no when chicks in england leave their mothers?, i think it's 8 weeks and i was planning on letting the orp and melow out with their chicks at 5 weeks so they have 3 weeks to teach them to find food out side.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok ... updated shots of Broody Naima's Blue Copper Marans ....

Blue Copper ....


Dust bathing in the coop


Black Copper




Blue Copper, Black Copper, and Splash


Freddie Frizzle - raised by last year's broody, Red Sex Link, Miss Lizzie




Broody Naima doesn't seem to mind having the kids climb all over her (unlike Miss Lizzie last year - and also starring Freddie Frizzle)


She's trying to get them outside ....


Beautiful little Blue Copper - again ....

Oh BG they are adorable, but i have to say I love freddie the frizzle, (I have an Ebbie the frizzle she is blk. too bad we can't get them together.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, so Snowi decided to lay a egg under the coop. No big deal, we keep a rake handy because that is her usual spot. Summer came out for her daily walk and ended up under the coop sitting on that one egg! I had to go under the coop, pull her protesting feathered butt out, and put her back in the coop where she 'found' her clutch again. Is that normal for a broody oris she just extra egg obsessed?

Yes i have many a broody get on eggs that had been laid in another box, crazy things see eggs go sit on them .

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yes, first time broody, and an EE.  With the initial chicks I give her (if I do) would it be a matter of her not accepting them or doing them actual harm???  Anyway I can know w/o risk to the chicks?

Only way to know is to try and watch how she handles them. Sometimes the broody will just ignore the chick, other times she will peck it to death. But many times she will contentedly take any chick under a day old as her own because she has a natural mother instinct.

EE are very broody bunch usually so it just depends on her temperament how she will handle the situation. My EE Smokey readily took in eggs, and she tried to take in Topsy's baby who managed to slip around the landscape fabric wall on her 5th day. But the baby knew she belonged to Topsy at that point and kept chirping for help.

Personally I would try to get the eggs from your friend on day 16 or at lockdown and move them along with the other two under her to finish hatching. Then when she's done hatching those chicks pull all remaining eggs on day 25 and candle to determine viability.

If you have a yogurt maker, some have used those to do the actual hatching phase. Others have used other makeshift ways to help keep eggs warm and hatch them without a bator.

Hope it works out, using a broody to raise and integrate the chicks is so much easier.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I was just wondering, does any one no when chicks in england leave their mothers?, i think it's 8 weeks and i was planning on letting the orp and melow out with their chicks at 5 weeks so they have 3 weeks to teach them to find food out side.

No idea when England raised chicks leave, but here in my flock they've been known to be kicked out by momma at the age of four weeks and by five weeks momma is laying again.