How to Hatch Chicks With A Broody Hen + Brooder Box Build Plans

[@cheryldahl9192]

It depends on the broody hen. Mary, my broody hen sits on her eggs, on the best nest (according to all the other hens) and hatches the chicks out fine. If she is forced to leave her nest, she sits on another one to wait for her nest to be open again. I marked the eggs I wanted to allow to hatch, so removing the unmarked (new) ones is easy. She likes to move after the chicks hatch out though. She likes to raise her kids alone. lol Mary is one of the best broody hens I've had in decades though. :) She always remembers her nest.

[@megs7378]

your mama chickens are just beautiful!

[@greenwillowhomestead]

Thank you so much! We love our mama hens!

[@sterlingburke4668]

Super helpful! Thank you so much

[@michaelpaulmcdaniel8870]

Great Job! Thank you.

[@justinsane7128]

Loveland Acres... Is it in Loveland co?

[@lancepymble6280]

I would like this to be a self standing unit. How can I waterproof it?

[@greenwillowhomestead]

I recommend putting it under a porch or lean-to. It's hard to expose a broody hen to the elements when she is sitting on eggs.

[@Fattiapples]

So after the eggs hatch how long do the baby chicks and mama stay in the box before returning to the main flock?

[@greenwillowhomestead]

I'd say about 1-2 weeks. By then, the peeps have established a good routine with mama hen!

[@DaughterofYahVA]

@@greenwillowhomestead do you have issues with flock messing with the chicks when the mama and chicks are reintroduced?

[@all4freedom100]

You absolutely have to isolate the hen? Hmmm…I must have very rare chickens.

[@gratefulgal6416]

So, if the eggs get cold, their no good? Fertilized eggs ?

[@myronryan2816]

Excellent information! Thank you!

[@sajjad8932]

Does anyone know what breed is the hen in the thumbnail??

[@ArbonneAndWellnessWithClarissa]

Hello! Quick question… How long do they stay in the brooder box after the hatch? Thank you!

[@greenwillowhomestead]

We do about a week and then we let them start to explore with mama!

[@rajinderrajuraju4283]

Mam which thing we gave this new born baby chicks

[@Sugarsail1]

my broody hen would destroy the whole box with the dust bath...I'll have to put that further away.

[@greenwillowhomestead]

You know your hens best! Our broody hens typically dust bath once every 2-3 days and while there is a bit of a mess, the brooder box overall has been the best thing to keep our mamas focused on their own clutch of eggs since it's right there in the box.