New Chicks on the Homestead!

There’s something magical about hearing the soft peeping of new life from beneath a mama hen. No heat lamps. No brooder boxes. Just instinct, feathers, and a whole lot of care from one of nature’s best mothers.

This spring, we are wecoming a clutch of chicks the old-fashioned way, hatched out right under their broody mama. And let me tell you, it’s a beautiful thing to watch.

Why Let a Hen Hatch Her Own?

There are so many benefits to letting your hen do the hard work:

• She regulates their temperature better than any bulb.
• She teaches them to scratch, peck, and dust bathe naturally.
• Chicks raised by a hen often grow up hardier and more self-sufficient.
• And let’s be honest...it’s a lot less work for us!

Once we noticed one of our hens going broody (sitting on the nest day and night, puffing up at us if we got too close), we gave her a quiet, safe spot and let her sit. About 21 days later, we heard the first tiny chirps.

A Peek into the Process

Watching this process is always a mix of wonder and patience:

• Day 1: Fluffy little heads peek out from under wings.
• Day 2–3: Chicks start to explore—but not too far from mama.
• First week: They mimic her every move—pecking at feed, drinking water, hopping over straw.
• By week two: They’ve already got attitudes and preferences (some of them more dramatic than others).

We still check in to make sure everyone is eating, drinking, and safe. But mostly, we let mama do her job. And she does it well.

What About Cold or Rainy Days?

A good mama will hunker down and keep those babies warm and dry. On extra chilly days, we toss extra straw into her corner and make sure they have fresh water close by. They’ll dart out to eat, then tuck right back under her winged shelter.

The Joy of It All

There’s something so peaceful about seeing a mother hen settle herself down with a chorus of peeps beneath her. It’s a reminder that not everything needs a high-tech solution—sometimes, nature knows exactly what she’s doing.

If you’ve never let a hen hatch her own brood, I highly recommend giving it a try. It’s less fuss, more natural, and one of the sweetest sights on the homestead each spring.