Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

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.

I honestly don't know, for all I know they could be outside, in the house anywere, I'm so suprised that hen hatched 15! She's got 12 at the minute let's hope she will have 15 tomorrow, they will be put under her at night to make sure she accepts them back...

 

[Brethren49619]

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!

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.

Thank you each for your responses. I will provide an update once I get the chicks and try this. Appreciate the experience of all of you!

 

[Johnn]

don't know the mothers breed:

 

[Moochie]

Mama and baby looking at something. This is an old photo but I've posted here before and I didn't give y'all pics.

 

[bobbieschicks]

don't know the mothers breed:

Awh they're so cute! They look like about a week or two old?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Mama and baby looking at something. This is an old photo but I've posted here before and I didn't give y'all pics.

Adorable! Probably planning their escape

 

[Johnn]

Awh they're so cute! They look like about a week or two old?

no only 3 or 4 days old today, the others survived the night! they are with me know and ive made them calm down by tricking them into thinking they are under a hen. Ive got a basket with a coat on top (with a breathing hole) and i am playing them videos of melow clucking and it has settled them. When they seen my dog coming their natural instincts were great, lying flat and silent! they will go back with the mother at night time, or mebys try sneak them back in through the day if shes warming them, or could i just drop them back in the pen and she will remember them??

 

[Johnn]

heres mama and the chicks in the quarantine pen (theres only 12 chicks, the other 3 aren't back with ehr yet)

 

[Moochie]

heres mama and the chicks in the quarantine pen (theres only 12 chicks, the other 3 aren't back with ehr yet)

So many chicks.. Full-time mom

 

[Johnn]

So many chicks.. Full-time mom

well the other 3 will be put back soon , the way the person found them was by looking in the rabbitt hutch were she hatched them out at night and the 3 chicks were back there asleep...