Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Anyone have a problem 'grafting' *shipped* chicks under a broody? I hatch in my bator all the time and throw those chicks under my broodies with no problems, but just got six shipped chicks yesterday for my two broodies and had no luck with either chicken, even one who is normally one of my 'go to' broodies. I think the chicks had something to do with it - they had a long trip and didn't seem to want to stay under mama - found all of them out and wandering around the coop this morning and of course the broodies were now ignoring them. I gave up and stuck them in a brooder. The chicks did spend yesterday under an ecoglow so I could put them under mama(s) at night - maybe they imprinted on that? =)  

They just hatched monday and had no feathers yet, so it's not an age thing. Both mamas have been broody on fake eggs > 1 month, so it's not that. Hopefully they'll snap out of it eventually as I don't have space to do 'broody busting'. LOL. 

I haven't tried it yet but I have heard that putting chicks under a broody is a gamble.

Maybe try again tonight but just put a couple to see how they do. Day three chicks usually are out and about from the mom so I wouldn't be surprisedby that.

 

[featherz]

I haven't tried it yet but I have heard that putting chicks under a broody is a gamble.
Maybe try again tonight but just put a couple to see how they do. Day three chicks usually are out and about from the mom so I wouldn't be surprisedby that.

I've done it both this year and last year - never had a problem, but that was with hatched chicks, placed under the hen the same day they hatched. The shipped ones, even in the dark, didn't want to stay under a mama. And this morning when they were standing and peeping in the middle of the coop, mama just ignored them. So it's not the usual thing for sure. I had one mama in a floor nest box on her fake eggs, which I replaced with chicks - she accepted and clucked to them but next thing I knew she was running around outside alone, then jumped into an upper level nest box, leaving the babies alone. Ah well, there's only 6 of them, I'll just move their cage into the coop, plug in the ecoglow and let them integrate that way. Mama(s) will have to get over being broody on their own.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

There is peeping going on under my broody hen!
She has obviously decided to accept them,
Pics and story as it develops!!!!

 

[Johnn]

the chicks are 8 weeks old tomorrow!!, i hope the Orp leave them soon, they are still geting heat off her,shes still clucking to them and when she find a some bugs and seeds she wont eat them her self she calls the chicks over for them :/

 

[ll]

Congratulations Rachel!
I'm so eager to candle my broody's 3 eggs tonight!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Congratulations Rachel!
I'm so eager to candle my broody's 3 eggs tonight!

Thanks!
sooooo excited to see those little peeps!

 

[Pecked2Death]

Just for interest sake - My broody sat on the nest with her eggs being removed every day (no rooster) and after about three weeks I bought eggs for her! She is super broody and I love her. She is a huge RIR and will sort of roar at you - all feathers come up, but foe me I only get a little roar and then I massage her head, neck ad back and she goes to sleep. Yes, - I only have 20 hens - not like a lot of you - but I must admit = they are addictive!

 

[Johnn]

Just for interest sake - My broody sat on the nest with her eggs being removed every day (no rooster) and after about three weeks I bought eggs for her! She is super broody and I love her. She is a huge RIR and will sort of roar at you - all feathers come up, but foe me I only get a little roar and then I massage her head, neck ad back and she goes to sleep. Yes, - I only have 20 hens - not like a lot of you - but I must admit = they are addictive!

"only 20 hens" i only have 14!!

 

[Tikkajazz94]

I have a question, Is Danish Brown leghorns a good Broody breed? I have Some DBL, that are um.... 16-17 weeks. They haven't started laying, but I wanted to know if they are good Broodys. Or should I invest in a silkie or a really good broody hen?

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

I want my egg to hatch!!! Haha