Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bumpercarr]

New chicken keeper needing advice. I have a Broody hen in a nesting box. The coop is raised above ground and only 4 x 4, I'm hoping not to but it is possible to section her off from the other two hens or move them to The enclosed run. Recommendations?

With that small of a flock I wouldn't worry about separating her. Just make sure that you mark the fertile eggs under her so that if they lay in the nest you can remove the extras every day.

 

[vpatt]

Missed my Phoenix bantam. I found her sitting on 11 eggs that are all hers!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Missed my Phoenix bantam. I found her sitting on 11 eggs that are all hers!!

Those should be the absolute cutest chicks when they hatch. Looking forward to those pics!

LofMc

 

[vpatt]

Those should be the absolute cutest chicks when they hatch. Looking forward to those pics! 

LofMc

The rooster is a large Dom. What does that mean about the chicks? Will they be large, small, mixed? I am guessing mixed. I am still trying to rehome the little roos from the two winter hatches....or try to put them in the freezer. I better get cracking with more babies coming.

 

[Angie16hearts]

My Australorp is being so mean! She's in and out of laying box 2-3 times a day. Sits for 1-2 hrs some times longer. This has been going in for about a week. Today is by far the worst she has ever been!!!!

shes plucked a few feathers . In nesting box. We can't get near her.
I have a broody who just left her babies yesterday she did well. Almost 7 weeks.
Is my Australorp going broody? Or just turned mean ? I know it would be the beginning stages with her sitting in box off and on.
Best hen turned to a mean mean girls!

She looks like this all day!

 

[Angie16hearts]

Update she's back on eggs laid today I had 8 barred rock eggs out but my husband threw them away today.

I will wait the three days but would live input ! It's one or he other but she's in early and for her 4 th time today.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Update she's back on eggs laid today I had 8 barred rock eggs out but my husband threw them away today.

I will wait the three days but would live input ! It's one or he other but she's in early and for her 4 th time today.

Sounds like she is attempting to be broody but her hormones are making her especially irritable and restless. Hopefully they'll settle and so will she.
LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

The rooster is a large Dom. What does that mean about the chicks? Will they be large, small, mixed? I am guessing mixed. I am still trying to rehome the little roos from the two winter hatches....or try to put them in the freezer. I better get cracking with more babies coming.

They will typically be 3/4 size.

And since dad is barred, they will all be barred too. Comb will vary...don't have my comb genetics down yet...but rose comb with straight...I *think* rose is dominant???

LofMc

 

[Angie16hearts]

 Sounds like she is attempting to be broody but her hormones are making her especially irritable and restless. Hopefully they'll settle and so will she.
LofMc

I just moved pepper back to the coop yesterday . She terrorized everyone ! Back to the top already. Almost 7 weeks with her chicks. Not bad!
I was not expecting first to go broody and now another. Crossing fingers and so excited !!!

I hope she follows through!

 

[Angie16hearts]

How many bantam eggs could you out under a Austrlorp?or is she to big ?
How many standard?
Can I mix them?