Broody Hen Thread!

[SunnysMama]

ya im hoping the one last one hatches out.

and she wont even let us take the broken eggshells out she stuffed them under her

LOL...maybe she thinks they'll hatch again!!

 

[chickenlady099]

LOL...maybe she thinks they'll hatch again!!

ya i think its really funny and she growls at us when we get close to her

 

[Runawaylobster]

Well.... putting my girl back in the coop with her chicks didn't work out very well. She didn't look after the chicks at all and just walked off and left them.. so when the other hens got too interested i removed them. I gave her a second chance later and she did same thing, then one of the other hens picked up a chick and ran off with it. Fortunately I was supervising so the chick came through unscathed.. but they are now in the brooder with the rest of the chicks and mom is back in the coop. I just simply don't have another space that i can dedicate to the mom and chicks only, at this time so practicality had to take over

 

[fisherlady]

Well.... putting my girl back in the coop with her chicks didn't work out very well. She didn't look after the chicks at all and just walked off and left them.. so when the other hens got too interested i removed them. I gave her a second chance later and she did same thing, then one of the other hens picked up a chick and ran off with it. Fortunately I was supervising so the chick came through unscathed.. but they are now in the brooder with the rest of the chicks and mom is back in the coop. I just simply don't have another space that i can dedicate to the mom and chicks only, at this time so practicality had to take over

I would have done the same.... you gave her every chance you could. Sounds like she hasn't quite got it figured out yet, unfortunately.
Glad you were there to intervene!
At least you will be able to spoil them rotten when you have them in the brooder! LOL

 

[chickencowranch]

Quote:
I'm new to the broody hen stuff. The hen eats the shells after the chick hatches. When my first hen was done hatching her eggs, unhatched eggs were the only things in the nest. Didn't find no empty egg shells.

 

[Runawaylobster]

I would have done the same.... you gave her every chance you could. Sounds like she hasn't quite got it figured out yet, unfortunately.
Glad you were there to intervene!
At least you will be able to spoil them rotten when you have them in the brooder! LOL

It freaked me out a bit when one ran off with the chick.. just like she was catching a lizard for her dinner or something..... nature is so harsh sometimes..

 

[fisherlady]

It freaked me out a bit when one ran off with the chick.. just like she was catching a lizard for her dinner or something..... nature is so harsh sometimes..

yes, it can be harsh... but any that survive normal 'flock dynamics' to become mother's themselves, or roos... sure know how to avoid danger! Guess it's mother nature's way of making sure the fittest survive.

 

[el pollo rey]

Just candled my eggs last night and of the 14 we started with, we have 9 going strong. Not sure what I should have done with mama while candling eggs, as this was the first time. She sad on my lap watching what I was doing, and was growling. After about half of them were done, she had enough of that and started squirming. Hubby had to try to hold her as she got more and more restless. We let her get back on the nest box as I was almost done, and put the rest next to her to put back under her when I was done.

Survived that experience! This was day 11. Do I need to candle them again? Or am I good to go?

I only candle two Times 9 and 18 days no more but that's me and I don't like to candle because I want them all to be viable lol

 

[AVintageLife]

I only candle two Times 9 and 18 days no more but that's me and I don't like to candle because I want them all to be viable lol

Wondering if I need to candle at all? My EE is setting on eight olive egger eggs and they are dark green. Not sure what kind of light we would need that could show what's going on inside the egg. Today is Day 11.

 

[SunnysMama]

ya i think its really funny and she growls at us when we get close to her

That's funny!! One of my broody hens, when we get close to her sounds like she is screaming NO NO NO!!!