Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[aoxa]

I mentioned yesterday about my evil call duck problem. I moved their pool, but they persisted with their stalking butt grabbing tendencies. I had to supervise and correct them. Lorraine decided it was enough, and brought them all back in.

Don't let them fool you.. They want to eat those chicken nuggets.

Lorraine tried to be a blow fish. Didn't help much. Ah well.. We'll keep trying.

 

[stonykill]

I remove mycochin when she is hatching eggs for me I found it worked best she seemed less stressed

for me the opposite is true. Having the hatches right in the coop with everyone else is what I find less stressful. They all get along fine and there isn't the re introducing pecking order thing to deal with. Which never goes real well

 

[bobbieschicks]

Love it! The first time I saw my chickens dust bathe I freaked thinking they were having some sort of seizure. It was right up there with the first time I saw my babies sleeping in the brooder and believed them to all be dead. haha! Chickens are so much fun.

Check out my broody dad showing his kids how to dust bathe like a man

He's been in the broody enclosure since day one. You can see one of my current broody's chicks running by midway through. Steve is too bullied by my other roosters, so he helps raise the young ones

 

[bobbieschicks]

for me the opposite is true. Having the hatches right in the coop with everyone else is what I find less stressful. They all get along fine and there isn't the re introducing pecking order thing to deal with. Which never goes real well

I wire mine off inside the coop so that everyone still hears everyone else and less integration issues later. Now that I'm rooster free if they go broody, or rather when they go broody, again I may just let them do whatever they feel like doing and not move or wire off anyone to see how that goes.

Stony's flock manages to have broodies on their nests without wires and I would love to have that too for even less messing around with the situation.

 

[stonykill]

I wire mine off inside the coop so that everyone still hears everyone else and less integration issues later. Now that I'm rooster free if they go broody, or rather when they go broody, again I may just let them do whatever they feel like doing and not move or wire off anyone to see how that goes.

Stony's flock manages to have broodies on their nests without wires and I would love to have that too for even less messing around with the situation.

see I find if any one is going to be an issue it is another hen. Never had a rooster go after a chick. And I have too many roosters. But flock dynamics differ.

 

[aoxa]

   see I find if any one is going to be an issue it is another hen. Never had a rooster go after a chick. And I have too many roosters. But flock dynamics differ. 

Same way here. My roosters are great with the chicks. It's the hens and the older babies you have to worry about. Biggest concern is the teenagers (8-12 weeks) are the worst bullies. Usually my hens ignore them. Even my head hens at the top of the pecking order.

Maybe it's the free ranging that keeps the mood better for you Stony. I free range after 4 weeks, or before if the mother has a reasonable number of chicks and can see properly (ie: no silkies free ranging - they don't protect properly with limited vision, and the standard birds pick on them).

I free ranged from the get-go with my BO and her 5 chicks, but she was very protective, and kept track of them properly.

 

[stonykill]

Same way here. My roosters are great with the chicks. It's the hens and the older babies you have to worry about. Biggest concern is the teenagers (8-12 weeks) are the worst bullies. Usually my hens ignore them. Even my head hens at the top of the pecking order.
Maybe it's the free ranging that keeps the mood better for you Stony. I free range after 4 weeks, or before if the mother has a reasonable number of chicks and can see properly (ie: no silkies free ranging - they don't protect properly with limited vision, and the standard birds pick on them).
I free ranged from the get-go with my BO and her 5 chicks, but she was very protective, and kept track of them properly.

some are free range from day 1. Some NEVER free range. Yet I see the same things. Roosters behave. Occasional broody fights and hens if anyone is going to be an issue being an issue. Nothing to worry about however.
I don't and won't ever have silkies so I can't comment from personal experiences.

 

[3 NH reds]

Know the feeling bobbieschicks we had lost some turkey chicks early this year due to a light going out. Got replacements walked in during week 1 everyone had the neck stuck out head on the pine chips with eyes closed. They were all fine just napping. I have Black Jersey Giant eggs Blue Orpington eggs and one Sliver Silkie egg in the incubator.Day 12 so I will candle today and hope.All my broody girls are being bad. The Orpngtons show no sign of going back to egg sitting and NH Red thinks that eggs get sat on from morning till 2pm and then you leave

 

[Johnn]

Do they give up their chicks early? Mine usually start between 3-6 weeks after they have hatched. My barred rock is bored of motherhood and it will be 4 weeks tomorrow. She started squatting a week ago again. I should be getting eggs any day now.

My Orp will be brooding for 6 weeks on thursday , i don't know when shes going to give up, she refuses to leave them alone and she still gives up her food for them...

 

[aoxa]

My Orp will be brooding for 6 weeks on thursday , i don't know when shes going to give up, she refuses to leave them alone and she still gives up her food for them...

Is she still clucking to them?