I was bummed but, think I figured out the problem.

[Stubbornhillfarm]

We have 5 broody hens right now. This year I am just letting them do their thing. I have interfeared in the past and the results weren't good: abandoning nest, killing chicks, etc.

Over the past few days, we have found 3 fully developed chicks at different times dead on the coop floor. 1 chick that has made it and is down walking around with momma. She had more eggs, but abandoned them and another willing hen hopped right up there to take her place.

Then last night, we got home from work and there was one chick halfway out of the shell. I kept going and checking as we were cleaning the hen house. Finally it got the shell off and as it was trying to dry off and gain strength it kept tipping, falling, rolling over. Very unsteady as chicks are.

And then it hit me!!

What a dummy. The edge of the nesting boxes are only about 1 1/2 inches over the shavings. I think the chicks where hatching, drying and then stumbling out of the nesting boxes. So we made a temporary extension so they can't tumble out. All three nesting boxes that are being used by the broody hens. So hopefully when we get home tonight, we will have some more chicks.

I am really hoping that was the problem. Sad that I wasn't bright enought to see it sooner, but grateful that I had the time to stand in there and watch and look at the big picture to hopefully figure out what the problem was.

 

[desertlady]

I had that problem. I have a hen that keeps eating her own eggs she sat on ,even when chickens are developing, so I dont let that one hatch at all ! Other hens killed babies when they hatch. I had to choose which hen is a serious momma, and seperate them. no more lost chickies. its a real pain to raise chickies when other hens are mean to them ! right now I have two sets of hens in seperated pens with their babies 6 babies in each pens.

 

[digitS']

I have seldom allowed my hens go broody. If you take them off the nest, put them in a cage that is set up off the floor, they will lose the broodiness in a couple of days. Anyway, that is what has worked for me. I have even done the blocking of the nests in the evening and allowing the caged hen out to roost. Then, taking her out of the (empty) nestbox the first thing in the morning and putting her back in the cage for the day. This way I haven't been concerned about her getting some food & water. Works!

Sometimes, I have had to completely separate the hen from her sisters. They may not tolerate her "attitude."

Long ago, I had this idea that I'd just better not bother the broody at anytime if I was interested in a successful hatch. One day a friend came to visit while the chicks were hatching. I showed him that they were having problems getting out of the shells. He knew chickens well and just pushed under the hen and began cleaning the shells off the chicks in a very gentle way. That taught me that we can rely on the hen a little too much, some of the time.

Steve

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

Super cute Dessert Lady! I am glad you found a solution that works for you. To me that is what it is all about. Sadly trial and error usually means something doesn't make it. But it seems like you have your hens all under control now.

That is cool Steve. I am glad that your friend was able to help like that! You really have to know what you are doing, or at least be willing to take the chance when removing the shells. Some times, they are still attached and can bleed to death if you happen to peel the wrong spot. Sounds like he had been schooled in this. I think your idea of not touching the broody makes for a successful hatch came from experiences. That's where most of us get our ideas. Only problem is with nature, things change and each situation is different so we can't get our mind set on what is "the way". Sounds like you have found a great way to make things work for you too! And you're right...all hens aren't created equal. Not all hens make great mothers. You and Dessert Lady both noted that.

I'm glad we let them stay broody as we aren't going to be able to purchase meat birds or egg layers this year, so natural hatching is the way we have to go. Just praying that it all works out now and we get some additions to our flock.

 

[canesisters]

SHF I'm so glad that you figured it out. I was going to suggest that you go for a deeper box. My broodies were in one of those plastic totes, the nest about 8" below the lip. So I didn't have to worry about them getting out and away from Mom. But then again, the problem there was that I had no choice but to move her to a new nest once she quit on sitting - the babies couldn't get out to follow her.
Lucky for me I had 2 broodies at the same time. As the babies hatched and dried off I moved them away from mama #1 to mama #2 who was on a ground level nest (big rubber feed pan filled with hay) and near food & water.
Right now they are happily sharing them. Both seeing that they get feed and water, both nesting together with the babies, both attacking anything that they think might be a threat..

 

[Ridgerunner]

I had that problem with the lip once, not with a broody but the hens were scratching out the bedding, fake eggs, and real eggs until I raised it. Then life was good.

Not all broodies are good, and not all hens are attack the baby hens. I had one that killed three of her eight chicks as they hatched, then raised the other five. Those were from those teeny tiny pullet eggs so I wonder if they were just too weak to start with and she realized it? I dont know.

Ive had a broody that kept getting separated from her chicks, getting stuck on the wrong side of a fence. The rooster would come over and stay with the chicks until she finally figured out to go back through the gate to get to them. Ive had other hens get separated from some of their chicks like that, but rarely. That one broody was doing it every day.

Right now I have a hen with 13 two week old chicks. One of those chicks refused to leave the coop, at least until this morning when it finally did. The broody took the other 12 outside the coop for foraging in dirt and grass. The other chick would hop up on the sill of the pop door but just wouldnt go on out. Its been that way since hatch, always the last one to go to Mama when she called. It stayed inside where it has food and water, constantly peeping.

The other hens were going in the coop to lay eggs and totally ignoring that chick. I really expected one of them to kill it since Mama was not around to protect it, but not this time. I have had hens threaten chicks before but never lost one due to Mama protecting them.

They are living animals. You just cant tell what they will do. I do hope youve solved your problem. Thats rough to see something like that.

 

[bj taylor]

it's been a trial for me too. the lip was not high enough to keep the babies in. I had to get a temp solution up. we're at the stage now where mama wants to go back up on the roost, but there's too much competition up there at night and she doesn't feel they're ready yet.
my coop is too full right now. I've got to wait another month/month and half before the rooster boys will be big enough to process. then, my numbers will be in better proportion to my coop.

this mama has been terrific. she's only had two babies to take care of. I can't imagine 13.

once I got rid of my rooster life got so much easier here for everyone. at night however, as they're settling, I've got this silver laced Wyandotte who raises cane. everyone tries to get as far away from her as possible, so they're crowded while she's got a whole roost to herself.

 

[Stubbornhillfarm]

UGHHHH! I just don't get it. I was so sure that they had been falling out. But when we got home last night, the one that we watched hatch the night before was under the hen dead.

So currently 1 hen with 1 thriving chick walking around and loving life.

We'll see.

 

[canesisters]

Oh no! I'm so sorry.
Is this the first brood for these hens?
The bunch that I just had hatched had a pretty poor (in my opinion) percentage of making it from egg to thiving chick. I had 2 hatch well the first day. Then the next 2 days I had 1 hatch each day that I would find dead under the hen - squished??? The 4th day 1 hatched but there was blood in the nest and even after it fluffed up it was weak and slow, I found that one the next day dead under the hen. Then, finally the last day 2 more hatched well and made it. She left the nest then and I tossed the remaining egg. When folks are using an incubator, it seems that the most critical time is the last few days before hatching. But I think that with a broody hen, it's the day of hatching and the day after while they're still not able to stay out of her way and she is still in 'broody mode' and determined to sit tight no matter what. All she had to do is get a toe over one or shift and pin them in an awkward position.
Better luck with your next attempt!

 

[bj taylor]

sorry about the dead baby. how frustrating! these animals sure put us on a steep learning curve