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  1. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    ... leaving ping pong balls under her will only encourage her to sit longer, and each day she sits, she is losing condition. It isn't good for her health.
  2. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    That's great news! Congrats!
  3. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    How many days is the egg/hatch overdue? There are a few things that should be factored in to counting due date, such as temperature, age of egg when it was set, breed of chicken, etc. The average is 21 days, but I've heard and read that some can take quite a few days longer. If you have counted...
  4. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Quote: Well, in that case, you're good to go! :-) You've got some wiggle room, I think. If it were me, I'd graft in the evening after the chicks hatch, and get up extra early next a.m. just to make sure that mama has accepted them all. Assuming that the chicks hatch today or tomorrow at the...
  5. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    I'm afraid 5 day-old chicks you won't have a good chance of successful grafting. I personally think it's too late: either mam will reject them outright, or if she does take them under her wing, they are now too old to really bond with her and won't listen to her either. If you put older chicks...
  6. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Quote: I see that you are located in Australia, and you are heading into summer soon, which means the weather is probably quite warm already? The reason why broody hens sometimes pluck chest feathers is to direct more from her body to maintain optimum incubation temperature of the eggs. My...
  7. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Quote: Ohhh, now I get it ... I didn't realize you were talking about bantams and large breed integration. I think your plan for their own little flock sounds like the best idea for you/them. I enjoyed looking at the pics. You have an interesting mix of birds - all very handsome, pretty or cute!
  8. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Thanks, "Mommy 2 Wee Ones". I think they are fine. It's my long young Speckled Susex pullet that I feel bad for. I had to re-home her buddy because she turned out to be a he (they were sold to me as 7 week-old pullets), and now the chicklets and mama have squeezed her off the main roost and she...
  9. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    I agree, it is cute. I can try for a photo, but it's getting dark earlier and earlier here and the girls like to leave it until the last possible moment to retire for the night, so the there's not a lot of light left in the coop. I hate to disturb them with a flash when they're settling in, but...
  10. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Awww, so sweet! I wouldn't worry about her sitting. The babies still need lots of warmth and sleep time. She'll get them up and about when they are ready.
  11. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Thanks, Marie. It did work. They all wound up on the main roost, top rung, sandwiched between mama and my head hen.
  12. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Hi all, I have a question about how to re-integrate chicks that have been raised by my broody hen into the main coop where the rest of the flock roosts. A bit of background: My broody incubated hatching eggs in the nest box of a small temporary coop where my flock had started out, but they...
  13. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Quote: How about putting her and her eggs into a portable nest such as a cat crate, right on the table where she is laying now, and then move her in her portable nest back into the hen house at night?
  14. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Yes. It indicates that she is still building on her clutch.
  15. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Quote: You'll probably get some varied advice from others, because not all broody hens are exactly alike, and not everyone's setup is the same, but here's my two cents, based on what I decided for my own broody hen's personality and housing situation: 1. I didn't check the eggs under my...
  16. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Oh of course - I forgot that you have an incubator... happy hatching!
  17. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Yep, broody hens are brave and fearsome creatures!
  18. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Quote: That's a shame. But on the bright side, she's no longer broody, so you'll be getting eggs from her again. :-) If your hatching eggs are from a hatchery and aren't coming until next week, is there any chance you can cancel your order?
  19. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    x 2. Also, get some water and feed in with her ASAP, until such time that you can move her into a broody coop. It sounds like she's dehydrated, and hens will die if they don't at least get enough water. Feed is also important. When my broody was sitting on her clutch, I did much the same thing...
  20. Back2Roots

    Broody Hen Thread!

    Awesome! Don't you just love Silkies?!
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