Broody Hen Thread!

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All 6 babies have hatched! Though.... I almost dropped two. I'm still panicked. They fell out the back hatch when I opened the door (I had a feeling that might happen, so that's why I opened the door slowly). Gah. Luckily they just fell onto the door. Our nesting box door opens at the back of the boxes and folds down.

Newbie question: should I put a board back there to prevent this? I think they had climbed up in her fuzzy tail feathers and were up against the wall behind tail when I opened. I know these chickens know what they're doing... But I'm just afraid she's squish those little babies. Seriously... The worry is like having real babies (except I get to sleep at night).
 
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Portland Hen: I'm loving your Newbie experience...and pretty much sure I'm going to be the same way here in 21+ days.

Just got word from the Breeder that my eggs will be shipped shortly! I'm so excited ...I feel like a kid at Christmas! We won't be getting the BLRW's --her girls aren't ready yet. But we both agreed we should get the Silkie going with something... Chances are she'll be broody again we feel.
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Or maybe my BA will get a chance at being a mother....and maybe the BLRW eggs will be ready then...

Oh it's all so much fun. The unpredictability sometimes drives you nutty...but it all is good chickening...that's for sure.
 
Oh...and just on a cuteness note. I watched Dixie come out of the coop this morning. She looked like she was jacked on Red Bull. She ran a hundred miles an hour, i swear, hopping branches and puddles in the woods, steering clear of the NH rooster, too. Drank and drank water, scratched, scratched, scratched for bugs and worms, grazed grazed grazed on grass... probably dropped a nasty poo and ran lickety split as fast as she could back to the coop and her "golf balls" it was like watching Looney Toons! Oh...her little space alien abducted brain & self is so cute!
 
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Just went to check on my broody on day 20, and we have a chick! There may be more than one, I heard what sounded like about three peeping, but I only saw the one. It looked like either one of the EE or OE chicks, so excited! So, even though this is a day early, should I still expect all to hatch within 24 hours? They were all set at the same time. I hope more hatch!
 
abserbean said:
Just went to check on my broody on day 20, and we have a chick! There may be more than one, I heard what sounded like about three peeping, but I only saw the one. It looked like either one of the EE or OE chicks, so excited! So, even though this is a day early, should I still expect all to hatch within 24 hours? They were all set at the same time. I hope more hatch!
Click to expand...

Historically I have had all eggs hatch within 12 or 16 hours when they are all set the same time from the same source, those time frames may vary a bit though with different hens or weather conditions. 24 hours is probably what I would expect to be the outside limit with all set the same time unless the breeds vary greatly (some small breeds historically hatch early, while other large breeds may be slow hatchers) so take that into consideration.
 
Bogtown Chick said:
Oh...and just on a cuteness note. I watched Dixie come out of the coop this morning. She looked like she was jacked on Red Bull. She ran a hundred miles an hour, i swear, hopping branches and puddles in the woods, steering clear of the NH rooster, too. Drank and drank water, scratched, scratched, scratched for bugs and worms, grazed grazed grazed on grass... probably dropped a nasty poo and ran lickety split as fast as she could back to the coop and her "golf balls" it was like watching Looney Toons! Oh...her little space alien abducted brain & self is so cute!
Click to expand...

Love the 'Looney Toons' comparison! It is so true! They are so entertaining to watch.
 
fisherlady said:
Historically I have had all eggs hatch within 12 or 16 hours when they are all set the same time from the same source, those time frames may vary a bit though with different hens or weather conditions. 24 hours is probably what I would expect to be the outside limit with all set the same time unless the breeds vary greatly (some small breeds historically hatch early, while other large breeds may be slow hatchers) so take that into consideration.
Click to expand...
Well, we have three different breeds all set at the same time. I now have either four or five chicks out of nine eggs. (I can't tell if there are two black chicks, or if it just moves a lot!) I hope we get a few more! I guess the high humidity and temps here have made them hatch a little earlier. They are so adorable! I'll post some pics soon.
 

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