Broody Hen Thread!

[microchick]

Microchick and who ever else is following along concerning the blind chick.
I have an up-date.
It was a little bit of a rough night for Chicken Little,9 that is what I decided to name her,) she kept coming out of her mama heat pad cave and getting cold.Fortunately I could hear her from my deck when she would start chirping the distress call. I had to go down to the coop 4 times and put her back under the heat. I guess she didnt know it was night time.
Well today she is doing great. First thing this morning I raced down to the coop to see how she was doing, ( almost expecting to find her dead), and there she was just eating, pecking and making a huge mess of her food. She was really enjoying herself. The sun came up and she was relaxing and basking in the sun. I even moved her water and she found it right away. I am so proud of her for being a fighter. So for right now she does have quality of life and as long as she seems content and she is not in pain I will just take this thing one day at a time.
Thanks to those that offered advice or support, I really appreciate it.
Marie

Marie I am so thrilled to hear that the baby is doing better. Did it ever open that remaining eye for you?

Aggie has settled in on the 12 eggs that we gave her. So funny to put an egg at her breast and watch her carefully shuffle it under her. She is in her own nesting box, with her own caged area to get out out and stretch her legs in. Food and water on the far side of the cage.

This little girl gives her all when she broods. Besides giving her game bird finisher feed, sunflower seed and scrambled eggs, oh, and rooster booster in her water, what can I do to help her through this without loosing as much weight as she did with her first brood?

 

[dishpanhanzs]

Yes! I’m glad to hear that I am not alone in using my chicken poop to fertilize my fruit trees & garden. My Son thought I was crazy for using it until he heard my neighbor yell over the fence one day, “Thanks for the chicken poop”.

 

[RachaelR32]

Mamma is up and off the nest with her littles. The last egg didn't make it, but opening it this morning I think it must have died a couple of days ago. The yolk sac was nearly as big as the chick. I must have been hearing one of the other chicks when I though the egg was cheeping as it didn't look like it had pipped at all.

So 8 chicks is what she's got.

 

[RachaelR32]

 

[Chicken-Eye]

Are chicks raised under a hen less tame than those who grew up in a brooder? Just want to know. This question will be the one that makes my decision between hen or brooder.

 

[16 paws]

Guess what Microchick?

We are having a hatchalong!

I just gave Taffy my frizzle bantam Cochin 5 of my new Serama's eggs. I just got this Serama pair 2 weeks ago and I suspect her eggs are fertile but dont know for sure so please dont let me get disapointed if they dont hatch. LOL I heard Serama eggs are hard to hatch so I will get to find out for myself now.
I got a kick out of her gently tucking the eggs under her just like Aggie did. I am excited to share with someone else, makes it even more fun. Anyone else want to join us???????

Today is quite a monumental day as I just quit my job after being there for 10 and a half years.

I figured sometimes you just need to step out in faith and see what happens right?

Marie

 

[PD-Riverman]

Are chicks raised under a hen less tame than those who grew up in a brooder? Just want to know. This question will be the one that makes my decision between hen or brooder.

Yes, most of the time. Some hens will allow people around their chicks, Most hens not-------its about messing/handling the chicks that makes them more tame.

 

[16 paws]

I brood both ways and I think it all depends on you. If you handle the chicks a lot they will get used to you and be tame. I can handle all of my mama brooded chicks as much as my brooder chicks because my broodys are mellow enough. I have mostly bantams brood for me and they are very good about letting me handle the chicks. Hope that helps.....
Marie

 

[16 paws]

Microchick,
forgot to say that for Aggie the only other thing you might add is yogurt. Do you ferment your feed? I also give them fermented feed for the extra probiotics.
Marie

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Oh good...at least one of them was the Brahma....how many of the expensive eggs hatched?

Cute chicks
LofMc