Too cute!,

[swestover]

My boody hen has hatched four baby chicks, I have hatched in the incubator but never let a hen sit on a clutch of eggs until now. I am hooked I love to see all those babies up under momma at night and following her around during the day. Too cute!

My nesting boxes are up off the ground so once one egg hatched I moved her to a nice big nesting box of her own on the ground and she loved it. Gave her lots of room for her babies and her. I have another hen who is sitting on eggs and I will do the same for her.

Letting a momma hen hatch the eggs is so different then incubating them. Less work for me too but just watching the momma hen take care of them and seeing them zoom around the yard after her is priceless.

 

[sumi]

I much prefer hatching babies under a hen. We've done the incubator hatches, but I'm thinking hens are better. they are less hassle, they teach the babies things, they are so much fun to watch! I just wish mom wouldn't make them so wild! Only one in my current batch of 11 chicks will let me near her.

 

[cindy99]

We bought 6 day old chicks (girls - barred rock) and we put them under a broody Buff Orpington (Bertha). Bertha just loves them! It almost brings tears to my eyes watching them follow her and sleep on her back. So sweet and natural.

 

[swestover]

I agree letting a hen raise them is the way to go! I am hooked I love to check on them at night and see them all curled up on momma!