Letting Broody Hen Hatch Her First Clutch

[KirkKoop]

I had no intentions on getting chicks this early in the year, but my white leghorn went broody last Friday (2/11/11) so I decided to let mother nature take over and see what happened. I have put a few eggs from three other hens under her as well, (9 standard and 2 banty). She has been a consistent "sitter", but this morning she must have gotten up to eat/drink/poo and another hen got in her box to lay, which caused her to sit in the box next to her. When I went into the coop I found the initial clutch cool to the touch - I am uncertain how long they were left uncovered, possibly 2-3 hours. I moved the eggs back under her hoping their fates weren't already sealed

Since then, I have isolated her and her eggs to a large dog crate with a smaller nest box inside and feed and water as well. I am so uncertain as to whether any eggs will hatch at all, but I suppose I've done all I can for now.

A question I have is: "If any chicks hatch at all, would I be successful at sneaking in a few chicks from the local feed store supply? Will a typical hen mother them or reject them." Anyone had success doing this?

 

[debilorrah]

They actually should be ok. Mishaps early and late in incubation doesn't really cause any harm. And yes she will accept chicks from the feed store. Thank God for that!!!

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

My mom put some hatchery chicks under a broody hen when a chicken snake got in and ate all but two of her eggs. The chicks were the same age as the chicks of the broody, and she put them in at night. The mama accepted them with no problems whatsoever.

She tried the above scenario with a different hen a month or so later, but that broody did not accept the chicks. Mom ended up pulling them out and raising them herself.

So perhaps it depends on how motherly the hen is.

Good luck with your hatch! We had our first hatch earlier this week. I set 4 eggs apiece under 2 broody Silkies, and each broody now has 2 chicks. It's really neat watching the moms peck out a little food to show the babies what they're supposed to eat.

 

[KirkKoop]

This will be our first attempt at hatching chicks from a broody hen. We raised some last summer on our own and had success that route too. This particular hen is the grumpiest and most skittish of our whole flock unfortunately. I'm curious to see how she will do as a mother - probably won't be too eager to let us play with her new babies

 

[debilorrah]

Quote:
If she is nasty now LOOK OUT!!! Get some gloves, snatch the chicks and brood them. That way you will be able to handle them and they will be more people friendly.

 

[andalusn]

When my standard Cochin gets broody she is very accommodating, leaves her nest to eat etc.. other hens use the nest and she just sits on those too. She tended to hatch small clutches of eggs. The Cuckoo Maran on the other hand lays a nest full in a hidden spot and then disappears only coming out maybe once a week to eat and then one day she presents her hatch. Both hens are very gentle and don't care if I pick them up to see what's going on. With the Cochin there came a day when I would simply pick her up and take away the newer eggs leaving her with the older ones getting ready to hatch. It all seemed to work out in the end.

Now that "Goofy" is done with these she appears to be looking for the next hideout since the hay is almost fed up

Hatched Nov/2010

 

[KirkKoop]

Laurie - that is the cutest pic!! All the chicks lined up next to momma!