Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Brethren49619]

Quote: My question is whether she would accept the chicks, not if she would keep them warm.

Any thoughts....? I have not done this before.

 

[ll]

I've read many times ~ that is exactly the way to do it. Eggs out, chicks under.
My advice when switching them is cover the entire egg with your hand like a baseball when taking out,
then have the chick covered with your hand when you put it under the hen. The reason for this is from my own personal experience - the hen can give good hard pecks when you're taking each egg, don't let the babies get pecked when going in either.
As far as whether or not she'll love them ~ well, all have their own personalities, you never know.
Good luck!

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: My question is whether she would accept the chicks, not if she would keep them warm.

Any thoughts....? I have not done this before.

Yes Good chances she will accept the chicks but you are wise to have a brooder on hand just in case. Do it at night if you can. But I wouldnt give her more than she can cover and keep warm. Like you said temps are getting in the 40's....

Let us know how it goes...

deb

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yes Good chances she will accept the chicks but you are wise to have a brooder on hand just in case.  Do it at night if you can.  But I wouldnt give her more than she can cover and keep warm.   Like you said temps are getting in the 40's....

Let us know how it goes...   

deb

Yes. Xs2

There's no way to know for sure how a broody will react in advance, but if you follow Debs advice they stand a good chance of her accepting them.

 

[Johnn]

well i went to get the chicks ive just sent the mother and chicks to were teh chicks will be going when they are bigger and when they have left their mam i will go collect her, it all went terribly wrong, 3 chicks ran away and have now been left alone at two days old, poor things i feel so bad

 

[Johnn]

it kind of annoyed me alot how they got rid of them at that age they were far to young...

 

[Nychickenfam]

Hello Everyone!
I have a broody girl whos sitting on 9 eggs. I've read the advice about moving them to their own quarters. I'm wondering if its also ok to wait until the eggs have hatched and then move mamma and babies to a different area?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hello Everyone!
I have a broody girl whos sitting on 9 eggs.  I've read the advice about moving them to their own quarters.  I'm wondering if its also ok to wait until the eggs have hatched and then move mamma and babies to a different area?

Yes you can wait.

 

[Johnn]

She has found the missing chicks and is bringing them to me tomorrow for mama hope she takes them back if they survive the night...

 

[ll]

good luck John ~ how are they being kept warm until tomorrow?

I'm going to be moving my broody's egg nest today into a new area of the coop that we built yesterday.
Just feet away from where she's been sitting.