Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Silkie Chicken]

She will be happy to sit on them. I usually switch my eggs by taking the momma off the nest to eat and do her business. Then I take the fake eggs and put in the real ones. Making sure she returns to the nest and settles back down.
The first hatch I kept removing the girls, but the second and third I let them regulate their own eating habits. I found I had to clean up poop no matter if I took them off daily or not. Be on the lookout for broody poo, it's NASTY smelling!
Yes the eggs should develop, but you can check them on the 7th day and see if there is anything growing. Use a bright flashlight or candler, if you've never done this do a search on how to properly candle eggs before.
So exciting! Keep us posted!

yes I am so exited she is setting on the eggs now and it seems like every day she is getting more fluffed out then ever. I do know how to candle eggs and I have never hatched by a broody I have only used a incubator I am so happy I will post pics tomorrow.

 

[bobbieschicks]

yes I am so exited she is setting on the eggs now and it seems like every day she is getting more fluffed out then ever. I do know how to candle eggs and I have never hatched by a broody I have only used a incubator I am so happy I will post pics tomorrow.

Oh you will love this experience - I don't think I will ever go back to hatching in an incubator again. It's so much easier after they hatch to let the momma do the brooding and integrating into the flock. She takes care of everything. They learn how to manuever ramps and ladders by the end of the first week. They learn how to find food and avoid mean hens quickly. And it's so cute to watch them walking around together and rushing under momma for warmth/protection. I love watching them peek their heads out from under her wings. I'm trying to get to a more "natural" method of letting the broody handle everything and not interfering in the process - but it's hard for me to not be involved when I've had to spend money on shipped eggs.

 

[Johnn]

 

[karlamaria]

chicks are 12 weeks now, still haven't left their mother -__-

wow what a good mama !! Im hoping my girl will hold on to her chicks to, winter is coming and they will need help from other girls not pecking them. last time she gave them up at 3 weeks and began to lay again. there so pretty John!!

 

[karlamaria]

a few photos of my chicks they are now 5 days old.

Adorable!! you got six like I did

 

[Johnn]

wow what a good mama !! Im hoping my girl will hold on to her chicks to, winter is coming and they will need help from other girls not pecking them. last time she gave them up at 3 weeks and began to lay again. there so pretty John!!

thankyou!

 

[lrgarden]

Regarding an older hen going broody...YES! I have a mixed flock for eggs and ONE barred rock that at age 3 1/2 went broody in July/August.
She is a moderate layer, with sometimes thinner shells. I was so surprised! I just let her be and enjoy it!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Regarding an older hen going broody...YES! I have a mixed flock for eggs and ONE barred rock that at age 3 1/2 went broody in July/August.
She is a moderate layer, with sometimes thinner shells. I was so surprised! I just let her be and enjoy it!

2 of my best my best brooders are older hens, one is a bantam cochin frizzle who is going on 5 yrs, she is awesome. and the other is a game hen who is 4 yrs. both still lay although like this op she lays thin shelled eggs but she loves to brood and raise young. both of these girls will keep their chicks with them from 6 to 10 weeks too. gotta love a mature hen

 

[Johnn]

i have just nearly killed my cuckoo maran chick :/, i was in the food shed getting the food ready and i sprinkled some food on the floor to calm the hens down and i had to step over them and i put my foot over and the chick ran next to me and had its head under my welly and i had to skip forward abit and land on my tip toes and the chick squaked and had its head lieng on the floor!!

 

[Glasshen]

Hope she will be ok. It feels awful when we injure our pets through accidental movements.