April Hatch Along

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Pretty sure my broody Buffy has not been off her nest in two days (zero poop evidence, but I haven't been stalking her either). I'm a little worried about her. I tried to give her some water (even did the new chick dunk the beak trick) and she just growled at me and refused. Seems like she's sleeping a lot, kind of a hibernation? I need some broody advice. Normal? Not normal? Should we call it quits? Keep going?


Hopefully she has gotten up by now, but it's very normal for the first few days for you not to see them get up. She probably has, just maybe hasn't pooped. I think they condition themselves to hold it, and the first 3 days, they barely move. The hibernation type thing is normal too, almost like they are in a trance.

I gave eggs from the incubator to a new broody (actually 2 new broodies) yesterday. One was easy. One didn't want to give up the 2 eggs she was on. I had to take a soft rag and hold over her head for her to bite while my other hand swapped eggs! Lol. The eggs were already on day 10. That's the longest I've ever incubated then given to one, so I hope they do ok. Both are sitting tight still tonight.
 
Hopefully she has gotten up by now, but it's very normal for the first few days for you not to see them get up. She probably has, just maybe hasn't pooped. I think they condition themselves to hold it, and the first 3 days, they barely move. The hibernation type thing is normal too, almost like they are in a trance.

I gave eggs from the incubator to a new broody (actually 2 new broodies) yesterday. One was easy. One didn't want to give up the 2 eggs she was on. I had to take a soft rag and hold over her head for her to bite while my other hand swapped eggs! Lol. The eggs were already on day 10. That's the longest I've ever incubated then given to one, so I hope they do ok. Both are sitting tight still tonight.

The daughter came running in, "Mom, there is the biggest poop you have ever seen in Buffy's coop - almost human sized!" I think my girl finally got off the nest today!! :lau
 
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:lau

I can't believe she didn't mention the smell too!! :lol:

It's been raining and cold, so maybe not as smelly today as it would normally be! We put a few Apple pieces in her nesting area and she ate a little piece of cheese, maybe she'd like a small glass of wine to go with it??
Okay, okay, no wine for the broody.

Do you think they can count the days? You will have to let me know how the incubator eggs work out under your girl. I'm trying to think what to do if the eggs under Buff aren't actually fertile... (new roosters and all).
 
It's been raining and cold, so maybe not as smelly today as it would normally be! We put a few Apple pieces in her nesting area and she ate a little piece of cheese, maybe she'd like a small glass of wine to go with it??
Okay, okay, no wine for the broody.

Do you think they can count the days? You will have to let me know how the incubator eggs work out under your girl. I'm trying to think what to do if the eggs under Buff aren't actually fertile... (new roosters and all).


That's one nice thing about starting them in the incubator :D maybe she will let you candle them in a few days? How many is she on? Hopefully enough to spare a few if they are clear. If too many are clear, and you are able to check them in the first week or so, you can trade them out. They will usually just sit until something hatches. I've only had one broody give up early, but it happens. (I feel sure you will have an incubator you can pop them into! Lol) I had another broody that had all quitters when I checked on day 18, so I gave her 4 more, just in case she wanted to tough it out, and 3 of those hatched! So she sat for 40 days! :th
 
That's one nice thing about starting them in the incubator :D maybe she will let you candle them in a few days? How many is she on? Hopefully enough to spare a few if they are clear. If too many are clear, and you are able to check them in the first week or so, you can trade them out. They will usually just sit until something hatches. I've only had one broody give up early, but it happens. (I feel sure you will have an incubator you can pop them into! Lol) I had another broody that had all quitters when I checked on day 18, so I gave her 4 more, just in case she wanted to tough it out, and 3 of those hatched! So she sat for 40 days! :th

Wow!! Good girl!!
Yeah, Buffy growls, but she hasn't tried to peck me yet, so in a few days I will candle them. She is on 7 eggs. I am thinking if they are clears, I can leave them until I hatch the last of my Bieles and CLs, then slip her the cockerels in exchange for her eggs. It may end up being about 5 days before her eggs would hatch, but...oh seriously, I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get to it (sometimes my planning gets a little carried away!) :)
 
I'm a first timer so bear with me but I have two eggs pipping....a day early. The one doesn't seem to be making alloy of progress. They're peeping. Just no progress. Need to go and find something to do before I go nuts.
 
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