Hatching chicks with a broody hen.

[The cheek coop]

Good day all.
We have decided to hatch our own chicks this year with a broody hen. With all the aviary illness going around I think that is best.

I want suggestions from people who have done this in the past. Tell me all you secrets for success.
Any and all help on the subject is appreciated.

We have a barnyard mixed roo. Our girls are as follow.

- 1 white leghorn
- 3 Americanas
- 2 brahmas 1 black 1 white
- 1 crested cream legbar mix she lays a cream colored egg
-1 heritage barred rock

 

[DobieLover]

First of all, you need a broody hen. Have any of your girls showed symptoms of slipping over to the dark side?
I wrote an article on how I manage my broody hens. So that is what I'd do.

 

[The cheek coop]

@DobieLover
Yes my cream legbar has been broody several times last year in spring summer and in late summer. I’ve read the barred rocks are also prone to brooding too but she has just started laying. I will check out you article.

 

[Perris]

I want suggestions from people who have done this in the past. Tell me all you secrets for success.
Any and all help on the subject is appreciated.

First some general advice: As you and your broody are novices, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster ride. You will be on a learning curve. Mistakes will be made. Do not be hard on yourself or on your broody about it. Try to not repeat mistakes; learn from them instead.

My advice (based on experience with 9 broodies and more clutches over the last 6 years) is to interfere with the process as little as possible. Do not meddle with the eggs; I don't candle and have higher than average hatch rates. Do not force the broody on or off the nest, for whatever well-meaning reason. Do not disturb them during the hatch; just be patient, and wait until she brings the chicks off the nest, which she will do when she judges they are ready for it.

You will find out soon enough how many hatch and what they look like; impatience on your part during incubation or hatch, simply to satisfy your curiosity, will not help them, and could unwittingly harm or even kill them. If you find yourself thinking 'I must do something!', make that something 'stand there and watch!' and keep your hands in your pockets.

If you let the broody sit within the flock and somewhere that other hens can gain access, unless the eggs you set under her look distinctly different from those of the other layers in your flock - a different colour shell for example - you should mark the eggs in a very clear way. Otherwise new eggs may appear in the nest during incubation and you won't know which were set originally and which were added later. A staggered hatch, caused by eggs added at later times, is best avoided for lots of good reasons, not least it causing a lot of stress for your novice broody and yourself, and potential expiration of the first chick(s) to hatch while waiting for the last.

If you have more questions, feel free to ask them. We're here to help.