Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

Yes, sounds like you had a rough go!
I wouldn't put valuable eggs under a broody. I've had a lot of broken eggs.

30 broody's in less than 16 month. 1 count it, 1 broken egg

 

[CarolJ]

Quick question for you more experienced broody owners. I have a blue rock hen that has chosen gone broody in a nest box that's about 3 feet off the ground. I had planned on moving her to a small pen inside the coop once the chicks started hatching. Unfortunately I've got to be out of town over the three days that eggs are likely to hatch (days 19, 20, 21). I have three choices: (1) leave her where she is. However, each day at least one or two other hens crowd into the nest with her to lay eggs - even though there are 9 other nest boxes available to them - each evening I have to lift up the broody to remove any un-marked eggs - plus I worry about chicks falling out of the nest box with no way to get back up to it.; (2) Move her to a broody pen where I have another broody that has eggs hatching at the same time. My concern is how the two hens will behave towards each other's chicks - and towards each other; and (3) Move her now to the wire dog cage inside the coop. What should I do? Or should I just chill out, not do anything and let the broody handle everything.

 

[Johnn]

Quick question for you more experienced broody owners. I have a blue rock hen that has chosen gone broody in a nest box that's about 3 feet off the ground. I had planned on moving her to a small pen inside the coop once the chicks started hatching. Unfortunately I've got to be out of town over the three days that eggs are likely to hatch (days 19, 20, 21). I have three choices: (1) leave her where she is. However, each day at least one or two other hens crowd into the nest with her to lay eggs - even though there are 9 other nest boxes available to them - each evening I have to lift up the broody to remove any un-marked eggs - plus I worry about chicks falling out of the nest box with no way to get back up to it.; (2) Move her to a broody pen where I have another broody that has eggs hatching at the same time. My concern is how the two hens will behave towards each other's chicks - and towards each other; and (3) Move her now to the wire dog cage inside the coop. What should I do? Or should I just chill out, not do anything and let the broody handle everything.

I would probs choose option 3, because if you leave her the other hens might step on the chicks and kill them, and if you put her with another broody, them two might fight or kill each others chicks...

 

[CarolJ]

Thanks, Johnn, that's what I will do. I have the wire dog crate ready - and that will provie her and the chicks the most protection. I'll move her tonight after dark - that way I can be here for a day to make sure she settles in okay.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

Can you put up temporary wire to keep the chicks from falling out? We did that and it also deferred the other chickens from trying to get in the box but still allowed the hen to get out as needed.

 

[featherz]

Mama and one baby, giving me her best 'go away lady' pose.

 

[stonykill]

Quick question for you more experienced broody owners. I have a blue rock hen that has chosen gone broody in a nest box that's about 3 feet off the ground. I had planned on moving her to a small pen inside the coop once the chicks started hatching. Unfortunately I've got to be out of town over the three days that eggs are likely to hatch (days 19, 20, 21). I have three choices: (1) leave her where she is. However, each day at least one or two other hens crowd into the nest with her to lay eggs - even though there are 9 other nest boxes available to them - each evening I have to lift up the broody to remove any un-marked eggs - plus I worry about chicks falling out of the nest box with no way to get back up to it.; (2) Move her to a broody pen where I have another broody that has eggs hatching at the same time. My concern is how the two hens will behave towards each other's chicks - and towards each other; and (3) Move her now to the wire dog cage inside the coop. What should I do? Or should I just chill out, not do anything and let the broody handle everything.

chill out and let the broody handle it. Moving her now is the WORST possible idea. So options 2 and 3 are out. Your chances of her breaking her brood are great.

I have right now 6 broody's raising chicks. other than an occational scuffle there aren't any problems and all the chicks and broody's get along fine

Now you either left out important information or I missed it. How far along is she?
if she is nearing her hatch, leave her alone. The chicks will get down just fine. Seen it many times. And the 1st night she will find a new nest in the coop that the babies can get to.

but honestly the BEST thing to do is leave her be.

 

[fshinggrl]

Ok, so I have three chicks who hatched probably Early Monday morning, so they are 3 days old. Today is the first day that ONE of the broodies have gone out of the nest while the other one sat in there. There are still 1 duck egg I hope will hatch but also 4 chicken eggs that probably are not going to hatch (one for sure). Duck egg is due to hatch by next Monday. I have a dog kennel all set up for one of the broodies. I wonder who I should move in there, if any. I worry about the other chickens getting at the chicks and killing them as the nest is in the coop. Unfortunately I will be gone this weekend so I gotta see if someone will come and check on them. I do not know what my question was...

 

[bobbieschicks]

Looks like the Orpington egg wasn't good. Smokey crushed it and moved it away from her. She's still sitting on one more egg, the EE/silkie mix one I thought would hatch, but maybe it stopped growing.

Nothing yet from Topsy.

 

[bobbieschicks]

  chill out and let the broody handle it. Moving her now is the WORST possible idea. So options 2 and 3 are out. Your chances of her breaking her brood are great. 

      I have right now 6 broody's raising chicks. other than an occational scuffle there aren't any problems and all the chicks and broody's get along fine

    Now you either left out important information or I missed it. How far along is she? 

if she is nearing her hatch, leave her alone. The chicks will get down just fine. Seen it many times. And the 1st night she will find a new nest in the coop that the babies can get to. 

    but honestly the BEST thing to do is leave her be.

Stony is right, if you can leave her alone she will take care of everything. The babies will get down from the nest about the second day with her and she will make a new nest area n the floor for them all. I like to leave crates and obstacles for them to hide behind. She will protect them too.

If you must move her do it at night under cover of darkness and make sure to cover her head with a towel so she can't see what's happening. I've moved my broodies successfully when I followed that advice. But that's because I only have three nest boxes and they were taking up two of them.