Broody Hen Thread!

[jctid]

I decided to let my broody girl have some eggs. I gave her 6- they are Marans eggs- will hatch out blue, black and splash. I gave them to her last night, so they are due on Febrary 9....thats the same day as The Walking Dead returns to TV. I'm just sayin'. So far she is sitting like a champ and seems very happy to be alone, separated from the other crazy hens.

 

[kmollyhughes]

Bantam salmon Faverolles have started to pip! Come on babies!!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thing 1 has turned out to be a first rate mama hen. Her 3 chicks (I only let her have 5 eggs - I wasn't so sure about this winter broody thing) are 10 weeks old now. They have survived subzero temps in their nest with no heat except mama. Now they are roosting with the flock and scratching in all weather.

Well done momma...isn't it just amazing how the mother hen can do that? In COLD weather??? The chicks never know they should have had warm heat lamps, carefully controlled environments, sawdust filled kennels....and pasty butt, and failure to thrive, and failure to integrate, and....

Lady of McCamley

 

[fisherlady]

Well done momma...isn't it just amazing how the mother hen can do that? In COLD weather??? The chicks never know they should have had warm heat lamps, carefully controlled environments, sawdust filled kennels....and pasty butt, and failure to thrive, and failure to integrate, and....

Lady of McCamley

Good thing those mamma hens don't read the chicken 'how to' books!

 

[kmollyhughes]

Well done momma...isn't it just amazing how the mother hen can do that? In COLD weather??? The chicks never know they should have had warm heat lamps, carefully controlled environments, sawdust filled kennels....and pasty butt, and failure to thrive, and failure to integrate, and.... 
Lady of McCamley

This made me smile. And...and...and....so true!!

 

[glebreton]

Well, my lone chick is 2 1/2 weeks old. Momma bantam is now flying up and hitting the top of the cage. Guess she is letting me know she is getting stir crazy in the dog cage and ready to get out.

I put the hen/chick out each day for the last 2 days. Kept them penned in the dog cage but move it outside so chick could scratch the grass and older hens could get a look-see and get their curiosity out, They were very interested at first, but it seemed that they remembered the lil bantam was part of their flock after a few minutes.

Well now I decided I don't wanna keep them penned inside, it is time for chick to learn how to be a chicken outside. I put the cage in my run and opened the door. Immediately, bantam hopped out and chick followed. I watched closely as the flock checked out the new additions. No conflict occurred, and lil bantam was appropriately attentive without challenging the superior hens too much. They checked her out and moved on to their normal routine.

So far, so good. Just gotta see where momma goes tonight when the sun goes down. Hope she is welcomed back into the community coop. I know the chick starter will get gobbled up by the flock, so lil chick will have to eat quick or adjust to the laying pellets. But we'll see how it goes.

Here is a pick of lil surrogate mom bantam with lil chick outside in the run and the proud papa checking them out.

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

great news now! 2 nights ago I was concerned that all of the three eggs little Bo had we're dead. positive about one of them.

well tonight I went to take the eggs out and thought I'll just candle them first. One egg started to peep at me furiously! I quickly returned it to momma. Within an hour it hatched! We have a new flock member! I'm so happy that Bo after 5 weeks has her own chick!

Josephina, Harmony's 4 week old chick is in the next crate alone. Often she will do a happy trill and Bo would purr. Back and forth for awhile. Towel and a board between them. When the chickie was born they started it again. Waiting now for the chick to dry out and make an appearance! I have seen it wet.

 

[chicksurreal]

great news now! 2 nights ago I was concerned that all of the three eggs little Bo had we're dead. positive about one of them.

well tonight I went to take the eggs out and thought I'll just candle them first. One egg started to peep at me furiously! I quickly returned it to momma. Within an hour it hatched! We have a new flock member! I'm so happy that Bo after 5 weeks has her own chick!

Josephina, Harmony's 4 week old chick is in the next crate alone. Often she will do a happy trill and Bo would purr. Back and forth for awhile. Towel and a board between them. When the chickie was born they started it again. Waiting now for the chick to dry out and make an appearance! I have seen it wet.

Congratulations!!! It must be so exciting to have them hatch, and momma must be so happy too!

 

[chicken farmer]

Anyone ever had a egyptian fayoumis go broody?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

great news now! 2 nights ago I was concerned that all of the three eggs little Bo had we're dead. positive about one of them.

well tonight I went to take the eggs out and thought I'll just candle them first. One egg started to peep at me furiously! I quickly returned it to momma. Within an hour it hatched! We have a new flock member! I'm so happy that Bo after 5 weeks has her own chick!

Josephina, Harmony's 4 week old chick is in the next crate alone. Often she will do a happy trill and Bo would purr. Back and forth for awhile. Towel and a board between them. When the chickie was born they started it again. Waiting now for the chick to dry out and make an appearance! I have seen it wet.

Congratulations on your hatch. It amazes me how adaptable the chicks in the egg are...some are just plain resilient even when they get cold.

Looking forward to some photos.
Lady of McCamley (whose 3 new BCM chicks are thriving under momma's care)