Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[uncredibless33]

All 9/9 eggs that our broody was sitting on hatched and are doing well! Unfortunately, the pure Ameraucanas we were hoping for are looking more like Easter Eggers at this point. Oh well, they're still adorable! There's one chick that's worrying me a little bit, but that's a matter for another thread. It was a fun experience to have eggs hatch at home for the first time- we're going to try and do it again if we get another broody eventually.

 

[2 Russo Chicks]

I love hearing all the excitement !! Yay to everyone who's hatching and good luck to those waiting!!

 

[Curnow]

These are 5 week old mix from a Sultan hen and Silver Spangled Spitzhauben rooster. Hoping they are girls. Two of them have more narrow head feathering. One has a more poofy do. I can see NO sign of combs on any. Time will tell. I hope the keep their patterning. I will be cool to have spangled Sultans with 5 toes and blue legs!

 

[Duke12]

These are 5 week old mix from a Sultan hen and Silver Spangled Spitzhauben rooster. Hoping they are girls. Two of them have more narrow head feathering. One has a more poofy do. I can see NO sign of combs on any. Time will tell. I hope the keep their patterning. I will be cool to have spangled Sultans with 5 toes and blue legs!

Oh my goodness

such pretty babies!!! What an interesting cross!

 

[audioguy]

I don't have any Roos, but by cuckoo Maran just starting sitting in the coop in the place when all the hens tend to lay. She stays there all day and if the other girls attempt to enter the coop they get hissed at. I decided to take her out of the coop and isolate her from the other girls. The other are not laying at all.
I'm wondering how long should she be isolated, and even if she should be isolated.
My thinking was to take her out so the other can lay, but they are not. Now they are molting so I guess it's stress now.

 

[sjturner79]

I don't have any Roos, but by cuckoo Maran just starting sitting in the coop in the place when all the hens tend to lay. She stays there all day and if the other girls attempt to enter the coop they get hissed at. I decided to take her out of the coop and isolate her from the other girls. The other are not laying at all.
I'm wondering how long should she be isolated, and even if she should be isolated.
My thinking was to take her out so the other can lay, but they are not. Now they are molting so I guess it's stress now.

No need to isolate her, but you need a crate or bird cage with airflow through the bottom to keep her cool so she goes out of hatch mode

 

[curious chickee]

New brahma mama, just pulled chicks out of incubator and slipped them underneath.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

New brahma mama, just pulled chicks out of incubator and slipped them underneath.

What a cute picture! I bet she's happy

 

[curious chickee]

What a cute picture! I bet she's happy

She lives being a mommy, I weaned her 3 month old chicks, and the next day she was sitting in the empty nesting box. Good thing I had these guys in the incubator. She only had to wait 1 week on an empty nest.

 

[h2oratt]

New brahma mama, just pulled chicks out of incubator and slipped them underneath.

hey that rhymes