Using Broody Hens to Hatch Eggs?

[pinkyglory123]

I have a standard white cochin brooding a batch of BO eggs due to hatch in nine days fingers crossed. I have a question-I had a banty hen hatch a clutch years ago but we were on a dairy farm and she just disappeared and returned-voila-with chicks in tow! this is the first time it is happening in a coop environment although they free range during the day.

Question-my hen really appears to be almost catatonic-definite "lala land". Since my little hen obviously did fine without my help I intend to leave this one to her own devices. My question is this- do you think the drastic decrease in activity-getting off the nest to drink/eat serves to keep the nest clean? Less in/less out if you get my drift. Just wondering....although I am tempted to bring her food and water I think I am going to let her do her thing without my interfering.

 

[Lollipop]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing pinky. As long as nobody else adds eggs to her nest and she has access to food and water, she`ll do the rest. Good luck with your hatch.........Pop

 

[MomMommyMamma]

I've read the entire thread - it's fabulous!
I'm wondering, if I want to buy hatching eggs and have a silkie hatch them - how do I go about timing it all? It seems like I would wait until the hen goes broody (sitting on a nest and not getting off), order the eggs, and then remove her eggs and put the new under her - yes? Is that extra week or so of getting the eggs & getting them under her going to cause any issues?

 

[Tropical Chook]

MMM - No, it shouldn't be a problem for the hen at all. I just had a small bantam hen brood eggs for just on two months. She finally left her nest last week with the last chick. She now struts about the yard with her one chick, while all apart from one of my other hens have an entire family, all hatched by the one small bantam. Life can be so unfair

 

[pinkyglory123]

OMG MY CHICKS ARE HATCHING! Nine days ago I put buff orpington eggs under my standard white cochin-this was their final nine days after having spent the first 12 days in the incubator. Scarred from a complete failure to hatch anything in the incubator in October,I did not even candle these. I schlumped in to the coop this 21st morning saying to myself I will give these eggs an extra four days before i toss them and what did I hear but a peep!Under mom was a wet chick wearing a shell hat and pants! six hours later I had two fluffy yellow chicks!daughter missed the whole miracle thing and had one word for the half hatched chick-"ew it is all wet!" i told her she did not look so hot half born herself. wow. what a rush. Hope they spend the night hatching!

 

[Tropical Chook]

 

[Lotsapaints]

I set eggs today under a Black Copper pullet she's been very good for about 10 days so I gave her eggs in a dog carrier right next to where she's been setting..she wasn't happy when I traded out her eggs but she's sitting on all 6 eggs I gave her. I'd like a good broody so I'm giving her a chance with some Delaware x New Hampshire eggs I can't wait to see how she does

 

[pinkyglory123]

First time Mom- standard white cochin and I both. Hatched three perfect chicks on day 21. Did not heed the advice of BYchickenites (?) and left mom in her nest in regular coop. On day 23 lost several chicks that had just hatched or tried to hatch by interference with other hens. Should have seperated her-they paid the price,I learned. Transferred two perfect chicks and mom to large dog crate. Placed rest of eggs on bed of hay with her. She ate drank, chicks ate and drank and then she settled herself back on her eggs. Excellent determined momma. Before I moved the eggs I did the "float test"and discarded the sole sinker.All others appeared good. Question-does the hen leave the nest when she somehow knows everyone who will hatch has hatched? I hate to pull mom off these eggs since they tested good and there has been no real interution in her setting. I wonder if the hen can feel the movement and will persist until it is obvious to her that they are not going to hatch? I have already made one mistake I could have avoided-really don't want to make another. All these eggs came by mail-same source. Any advice would be so greatly appreciated.

 

[pattgal]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, I had to skip to the end since I am running out of time
we are on day 21 and still waiting. Momma is in the coop with the others.. what do I do with the feed?? do I switch everyone to chick crumbles?
It's kinda odd hatching eggs in december when it's -10C out. So I am planning on getting the heat lamp out to help. will that be enough
one more thing.. er... make that 2 (newbie, lol)
My EE is not very dominant. she lets me touch her and take the eggs in and out as I please. will she protect the young from the others?
My silkie has been keeping her company and decided to go broody with her in the same nest. is that going to be a problem?

 

[TigerLilly]

Thanks to the OP & everyone else that contributed to this wonderful thread--I learned more in these 7 pages about broody hens & incubation than I have in the last 3 or 4 threads I've read trying to find this info!