[PaulineM]

I'm sooo excited.
I never intended to hatch any chicks but a determined broody convinced me to give it a go, anyway out of 6 eggs 1 started to click yesterday (day20) and this morning it was chirping, this afternoon it is starting to break through although just a small crack.
I bought feeders and chick crumb today but what else should I do or don't do.
There is lots of info on incubated chicks but I can't find much about when a broody is in charge, when can I lift the chick if it hatches? How long do you think it will take now for it to emerge? Anything else I need to do???
Thanks everyone  

[joyfull]

get a chick drinker ready as well (if you don't have one of those then a shallow dish with pebbles or marbles in will be ok - they will drink the water from the gaps in between) and just leave them. They can survive for a couple of days without food or water and mum will want to stay put to hatch any more. She will then bring them out to teach them to feed and drink and will be very protective of them calling them back to her if she thinks they are in any danger. Hatching with broodies is so simple and wonderful to see - she will teach them how to do everything they need to know  .
When she does bring them out then you can clean the nest box area so they have a nice clean area to go back to sleep - and don't forget we must have photos of her with her chicks 

[PaulineM]

I got a new small feeder and  water feeder as well as chick crumb this afternoon, I really can't believe this is happening. 
They are in a mesh cage in a stable so I have blocked any small gaps that a chick could escape from. My other hens are in the same stable but have their own coop in there as well.

[wildwitchy]

ooh, I havent hatched any chicks out for ages. I love broodies with their little ones, its beautiful.

[PaulineM]

It hatched out really quickly 
I have posted some photo's in the Chicken Chat section under 'egg pipping (I think)
Have a look the pictures aren't the clearest but you could play 'guess the sex'

[redspookycooky]

OHH well done, i`ve got one chick hatched out of 18 eggs and another 12 in the incubator, it was all so much eassier when i had a broody to do it! Fingers crossed you get some more hatch

[PaulineM]

Going to try to upload the pictures here as well, I dont expect any more to hatch as I did try candling them and seen nothing 

[GrannieAnnie]

That is one beautiful mother hen!!!

[evie2]

Aww, that picture of chick and broody says it all really

[wildwitchy]

lovely pretty hen pauline - what is she? and the little chicky. Got me looking for a inky now...perhaps.

[PaulineM]

Hi Wildwitchy
The hen is a wyandotte banty and the chick is a Welsummer. 
I got my first hens last Aug and had no intentions of breeding but last year Betsy stayed broody for 9 weeks and then went broody again this spring, I couldn't break the broodiness so after about 10 days decided to let her sit on some eggs 

[wildwitchy]

she is a lovely looking girl! Beautiful feathers. Welsummers are pretty birds too, one of my hens is a welsummer & she lays lovely dark brown eggs. The boy welsummers are very handsome too.

[jinty1911]

Beautiful hen and chick    Updated piccy please.

[PaulineM]

Here you go Jinty as requested more photo's.
Betsy showing chick how to eat 

[helens-hens]

I love your latest pictures & am so envious! Betsy seems to be doing a great job, it always amazes me the way they know by instinct how to teach their young to do the essentials in life like eating.

Keep the pictures coming.