Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

Do they ever! And sometimes they act broody but don't go through with it. Those are the sneaky ones. I have two girls who keep going broody on about the same schedule. They are the two who are hatching now. Smokey and Topsy. An Arucana and a Silky.

or are like my White Leghorn who sorta acted like she wanted to go broody for 2 months before committing to it.

 

[SmittenChicken]

yes they do. We joke broodiness is contagious but trust me it is. I stopped counting this year at 15 broody's and that was a lot of broody's ago. It can and does happen. I right now have 7 raising lil ones and 5 sitting on eggs.

Oh no, I may be in trouble... if my Black Star was the first to go broody, the other two can't be far behind. Anyone care to make a wager?

Who will be the next to go broody, and how long until she spends the night on the nest?
A: Cutlet, Easter Egger (2.5 years old)
B: Salty, Light Brahma (2.5 years old)

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Well, that went well.

I have now officially begun introducing my new pullet to the bantam/broody coop. I got Pidge about three weeks ago, basically four days after I gave broody Summer her eggs. Well, Pidge was only about ten weeks old to begin with so I wanted her to be a bit older for introductions as well as get the eggs hatched and make sure the chicks were healthy before letting everyone see each other. Well, the babies are now two and three days old and Summer is a seriously mellow broody. And poor Pidge was lonely. She actually tried to get into the coop when I had let her have the run for the day. Guess she could hear Summer and the babies.

Pidge is now in a cat crate in the coop. Everyone can see and hear everyone else but no one can reach anyone else. Summer doesn't seem to care, at least not after Pidge was in the crate. Boy did she and I get the Broody Death Glare when I was holding Pidge though! If looks could kill...

I figure I will keep them like this for a while before full introductions begin. Anyone have a recommendation for a good age for the chicks to be at before I remove the crate from the equation?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well, that went well.
I have now officially begun introducing my new pullet to the bantam/broody coop. I got Pidge about three weeks ago, basically four days after I gave broody Summer her eggs. Well, Pidge was only about ten weeks old to begin with so I wanted her to be a bit older for introductions as well as get the eggs hatched and make sure the chicks were healthy before letting everyone see each other. Well, the babies are now two and three days old and Summer is a seriously mellow broody. And poor Pidge was lonely. She actually tried to get into the coop when I had let her have the run for the day. Guess she could hear Summer and the babies.
Pidge is now in a cat crate in the coop. Everyone can see and hear everyone else but no one can reach anyone else. Summer doesn't seem to care, at least not after Pidge was in the crate. Boy did she and I get the Broody Death Glare when I was holding Pidge though! If looks could kill...
I figure I will keep them like this for a while before full introductions begin. Anyone have a recommendation for a good age for the chicks to be at before I remove the crate from the equation?

I think now would be fine unless you have some other reason not to. That wag Pidge won't get beat up on by the babies who will get bigger and Summer is still focused on protecting the babies. I wouldn't wait. If they've had time nearby I'd go ahead and see how things go with freeranging everyone together.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I think now would be fine unless you have some other reason not to. That wag Pidge won't get beat up on by the babies who will get bigger and Summer is still focused on protecting the babies. I wouldn't wait. If they've had time nearby I'd go ahead and see how things go with freeranging everyone together.

They haven't been able to see each other before now. Hear, yes. And I would be keeping the coop closed so the babies don't tumble; it's a two foot drop. So they would be sharing 16 sq ft of space plus nest boxes. Bright side is I think Pidge could get to the roosts whereas Summer can't.

I also don't know how likely Pidge would be to hurt the babies. Summer is extremely mellow on that count. I don't know if Pidge would try but I have been allowed to handle and hold the chicks and Summer has done nothing but cluck louder if the baby got upset.

Maybe give them two or three more days to get to know each other and then let them mix and see how it goes...

 

[bobbieschicks]

They haven't been able to see each other before now. Hear, yes. And I would be keeping the coop closed so the babies don't tumble; it's a two foot drop. So they would be sharing 16 sq ft of space plus nest boxes. Bright side is I think Pidge could get to the roosts whereas Summer can't.
I also don't know how likely Pidge would be to hurt the babies. Summer is extremely mellow on that count. I don't know if Pidge would try but I have been allowed to handle and hold the chicks and Summer has done nothing but cluck louder if the baby got upset.
Maybe give them two or three more days to get to know each other and then let them mix and see how it goes...

That sounds like a good plan.

Your broody will surprise you. She seems mellow but when she sees a real threat she will attack. My Smokey was all lovey dovey with her 1st brood until the rooster flung one of the babies. Suddenly she went berserk and attacked him. She then attacked everyone of the chickens who even looked her direction or at the babies.

 

[hokankai]

Oook, I need help you guys ASAP. My hen is hatching chicks today and already has 2 who are 3 days old. I went to check on her since I haven't looked under her for awhile and I found one headless chick(...) and one that had pipped but the shell got crushed who is still alive. It still needs to absorb its yolk sac so I didn't take it out of the shell, but half of its body is exposed and the membranes are still on it. What do I do?!? I put it under mama under her breast, but should I put it in a brooder and hatch it now? There was a dead chick and poo in the nest so I'm worried about the chick being exposed to the bacteria.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Oook, I need help you guys ASAP. My hen is hatching chicks today and already has 2 who are 3 days old. I went to check on her since I haven't looked under her for awhile and I found one headless chick(...) and one that had pipped but the shell got crushed who is still alive. It still needs to absorb its yolk sac so I didn't take it out of the shell, but half of its body is exposed and the membranes are still on it. What do I do?!? I put it under mama under her breast, but should I put it in a brooder and hatch it now? There was a dead chick and poo in the nest so I'm worried about the chick being exposed to the bacteria.

I would leave it under the momma. If its going to be okay she will take care of the hatching and cleaning part. If its not going to make it you will know soon enough. Give it to later today and check again. Hope it goes well.

 

[stonykill]

I would leave it under the momma. If its going to be okay she will take care of the hatching and cleaning part. If its not going to make it you will know soon enough. Give it to later today and check again. Hope it goes well.

x2.

 

[Johnn]

Im not sure if my BO chick will make it to the end...