Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

I'd gladly have that many and more if I could. My coop was built for 14 so I am trying my best to keep the numbers around that many. I've had 31 chickens since we started hatching them last July. Four of those died at various points. The remaining 13 were rehomed because they were roosters.

my field could have 100+ in but im only aloud 6 and a cockerel, i have now 14 and will have 16 soon the farmer will be mad but out friend so he can go away!, when i was in hospital last year he let his dog kill my black orpington banty, the poor girl had put up such a fight but the farmer just let the dog get on with it and the thing that made it worse was the dog took one chunk out its back and left the rest.

this is her:

 

[bobbieschicks]

my field could have 100+ in but im only aloud 6 and a cockerel, i have now 14 and will have 16 soon the farmer will be mad but out friend so he can go away!, when i was in hospital last year he let his dog kill my black orpington banty, the poor girl had put up such a fight but the farmer just let the dog get on with it and the thing that made it worse was the dog took one chunk out its back and left the rest.  this is her:

Oh no, that's too bad she was such a pretty girl. I hate it when people are irresponsible with their animals.

 

[Johnn]

Oh no, that's too bad she was such a pretty girl. I hate it when people are irresponsible with their animals.

I know, but if any hen gets killed this year that isn't off a obvious stoat i will get a game cam and catch it on tape for proof so he gets kicked off, i shold kill his sheep but im not cruel enough to do that.

 

[Johnn]

Guys.... im getting a hen with her fifteen chicks!!! how did she manage to hatch all of them!

 

[Brethren49619]

I have a broody silkie who just went broody yesterday, and I (hopefully) have an order of shipped day old chicks coming this week.

Will I be able to place the chicks under her the evening that they arrive and take the eggs from her?

I'm hoping that she will be able to better keep them warm and harden them better than I could for the upcoming falling temperatures (already have had some nights in the mid 40's). I have a brooder standing by as well, in case this is not a good idea or she does not accept them.

Any thoughts? Please share your experience...

 

[Johnn]

will chicks deffo leave their mothers by 10 weeks old? because when i get these chicks i want to take them to their new owner at 10 weeks but i will feel bad taking them away from their mother if she hasnt already pecked them away...

 

[bobbieschicks]

I have a broody silkie who just went broody yesterday, and I (hopefully) have an order of shipped day old chicks coming this week.  

Will I be able to place the chicks under her the evening that they arrive and take the eggs from her?  

I'm hoping that she will be able to better keep them warm and harden them better than I could for the upcoming falling temperatures (already have had some nights in the mid 40's).  I have a brooder standing by as well, in case this is not a good idea or she does not accept them.

Any thoughts?  Please share your experience...

Her ability to keep the warm depends on her size and the size/ number of chicks she will be covering.

 

[3 NH reds]

This was a BAD weekend. none of the 6 eggs under broody hatched. They were in an incubator at 101* and around 5 days to hatch we gave them to a broody and left4 partly developed eggs in the incubator. her eggs had no light when candled. I am so down from this I don't know what to do. Giving up is a good option, wait until the Giants are old enough to breed. Obviously if the eggs developed I can't blame it on mail order eggs. If I opened the developed eggs could I learn anything? And what the heck do I do with Broody? She sits there like a good trooper despite the time being up. MY only fear is that she was off of them day 19 for one hour due to a Ranger rooster not letting her back in and I was too tied up at 1st to get her in. My rangers are only 16 weeks so I have some time to wait before I can try to breed them, The Jersey were June 1st and are a long ways off. Glad the 1st batch of Giants had some luck or I would give it all up. When do I pull Broody or do I leave her and see if she figures it out.

 

[bobbieschicks]

will chicks deffo leave their mothers by 10 weeks old? because when i get these chicks i want to take them to their new owner at 10 weeks but i will feel bad taking them away from their mother if she hasnt already pecked them away...

My broodies have left their chicks by the 4th or 5th week. You can take a chick from its mother any time, but it will need a heat source until its fully feathered around week six.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

Broody got attacked by a hawk 2 days ago!!!
She sacrificed herself for her chicks. But, good thing is, she's okay! I managed to scare the hawk away! She just has two cuts on her shoulders, but they're healing...and all the chicks are fine . My broody austrolorp looks sick of her eggs. Hehe, she's only on day 10. .