Broody Australorp Now Mother Hen!!!!!! Lots and Lots of Pics!

[Kittymomma]

Try some canned cat food if you have any. I have a hen in chicken ICU (large dog crate in son's bedroom) right now. I thought she might have cocci, but she's been on corid for 3 1/2 days and isn't any better..not worse though. Anyhow, she's not eating well. Won't take pellets at all and only picks at the scrambled eggs, but she'll scarf up canned cat food so I think that would be worth a try.

Edited because I can't seem to type properly tonight.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Great idea. I'll pick up a can tomorrow. What flavor does you hen like?

 

[Kittymomma]

I'm using Iams kitten food that I had leftover from the last batch of bottle kittens I raised. It's premium pate gourmet chicken flavor.....

I don't think it matters though, she ate some of the Kirkland canned dog food too, that was liver flavored I think. Just make sure to get the blended stuff and not the chunky style.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Day 16...and all's well!

I candled an egg tonight, and I could see definite features. The air cell has grown, and there's lots of movement inside the egg. The amount of "free space" inside the egg is disappearing fast.

On what day do the eggs start to "wiggle?"

 

[Preservation Acres]

Day 17...

 

[Preservation Acres]

Day 18...

Should I start seeing some movement or wiggling of the eggs? They've all been candled, and everyone is alive and well.

 

[cwhit590]

I don't know about movement/wiggling...I've never incubated before...

Good to hear they're all developing! Hopefully they all hatch fine...

Except for her potty break, I would probably leave momma and her eggs alone now....and wait!

You never know...they might hatch a few days earlier than you think! When I set eggs under my broody I expected them to hatch on a Wednesday...but a few started hatching that Monday! Must have been because it took several days to gather all the eggs I wanted to set before putting them under the hen...maybe they had a little time to develop beforehand and it messed up my calculations?

It was a great surprise though!

 

[chicks4kids]

I'm so excited!!

This thread is making me hope my Austrolorp/Brahma mix goes broody this spring!!!

 

[WitksChicks]

We're all waiting with the anticipation of seeing pics soon of the new chicks!!!

 

[Preservation Acres]

Thanks folks!

It's been awesome having all of you share my excitement!