Broody Hen Thread!

[16 paws]

Anyone ever have a chick with a broody hen that cried all the time? I have 4 chicks with a broody and 1 of them is a screamer! I just went out there now and it's crying its head off. All the chicks are with the mom and the others are fine. I checked it's butt for pasty butt and it was clear. Any ideas?

I have never had that happen with a broody. Is it cold there? Is she keeping them warm? How old are the chicks?

 

[katatonic123]

Anyone ever have a chick with a broody hen that cried all the time? I have 4 chicks with a broody and 1 of them is a screamer! I just went out there now and it's crying its head off. All the chicks are with the mom and the others are fine. I checked it's butt for pasty butt and it was clear. Any ideas?

I had a similar situation when I grafted 4 feed store chicks to a broody. The little EE chick was always squeaking, even when she was tucked so far under momma I couldn't see her. She's still the noisiest of that group and they are almost 11 weeks old now.

 

[microchick]

Today is day 19 for Aggie and her clutch of 12 eggs. I didn't see any sign of her being off her nest early this morning as has been her habit of late so I guess that means lock down has begun for her.

Keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well for her.

 

[nchls school]

The hen is a mutt Easter Egger/SilKie cross, she is probably about 2 pounds? She hatched out three of the eggs...one black with white and tan markings on its face and two yellow with gray wings and tail feathers. The seem to have short legs. They are now about a week and a half old and as the feathers emerge they are taking on the Serama stance! Today they were taking dust baths with mom towering over them keeping watch! Cute as cute can be! These may end up as house chickens....winter is quite brutal up here...Plan on house chickens for sure. They will not be able to handle upper Michigan winters. My coop is heated-Northern WI.although I had some Japanese bantam that used to tuck themselves into the feathers of the other chickens and stay warm and toasty....nah! I'm planning on house chickens.

 

[bahamabanty]

I just had an egg explode under my broody... I should have known, the eggs I got from a friend were kinda nasty. Eventhough I had read numerous times all over the place: dont set dirty eggs, I was so excited to have a broody I still set the dirty eggs thinking it will all come out in the wash... well ... now I have one stinky broody. I let her out the broody pen to run around and dust bathe for a while. I took out all the eggs. One was about to pop soon. Super nasty. I cleaned the bedding and put some plastic easter eggs in the nest. I will have to look for some clean fertile eggs somewhere!

 

[wannahomestead]

I'm trying to resist the urge to candle eggs tonight (day 5). I want to soooo bad, but I'm not sure if I should even bother yet

 

[JayJo]

Good luck with your hatch @microchick! Sorry about the rotten eggs @bahamabanty. @wannahomestead I candled around day five. You can't see much, just dark blobs, but it was still interesting. I also candled on day 11ish and saw a lot more, including movement.

My Broody's eggs should hatch this weekend. Exciting! It will be interesting to see how many hatch.

 

[16 paws]

Good luck with your hatch @microchick! Sorry about the rotten eggs @bahamabanty. @wannahomestead I candled around day five. You can't see much, just dark blobs, but it was still interesting. I also candled on day 11ish and saw a lot more, including movement.

My Broody's eggs should hatch this weekend. Exciting! It will be interesting to see how many hatch.

Hi Jay Jo,

Thats three of us hatching this weekend! Bring on the chicks!!!!
Trying not to get too excited but its not working

 

[wannahomestead]

Well I broke down and had to go candle eggs tonight. They all seem to show some form of "change". I saw quite a few veins. Some were very dark on the inside.

Leaving them alone for another 5 days or so. I don't want to mess w/ the poor girl too much

 

[microchick]

JayJo and 16 paws, looks like we have a hatch-along going full speed. YIPPEEEE!

Aggie hasn't changed positions all day. Definitely in lock down. PD-Riverman, I moved the water and food to the center of the coop and switched the water container over to a chick water. Tomorrow I mix finch food and game bird food and my husband and I are going to the creek with the bucket tractor and bring up a scoop of sand.

I think we have a final count on the last hatching of 8. Looks like 5 cockerels and 3 pullets. When I locked up her coop tonight I told Aggie good night, she was close to the end now and please, please, please! Do better on the pullet numbers this time.

Good luck hatching everyone.