Broody Hen Thread!

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, Little Saran made it through the night, probably better than I did...I kept checking every couple of hours with the brooder warm in case it pulled away and got really cold.

It still looks a bit confused, and a little rough, but it is trying to imitate the others...it looks like a confused guest on a sleep over...all rumpled and unsure of what it should be doing but trying to follow along anyway

In my personal experience, 48 hours will tell now. If I can get a heat lamped foster past 48 hours without succumbing to transition stress (or from Sydney Acres tip likely latent infection)...I may begin to breathe easier.

Here are photos of the fab 4 (Buckeyes).

The Rescues: Little Runt on left and Saran on right





The Fab Four...Oh dear, way too early to tell, but is that a little roo in the middle left? Seriously this photo makes it look like I've got 1 roo and 3 girls...but I know waaaayyyy to early to tell...however it would mean I saved 2 females...ha ha....I like that idea better than having saved 2 males to go to freezer camp

Lady of McCamley

 

[emmimini1212]

Sometimes momma knows the late hatching are not strong enough to hatch, but with that many I suspect it is more of delayed set times...some eggs were set later than others (ie she stole more after you first set eggs).

This is a tricky situation...watch and see if she is going back to the nest. Your time frame is crucial at this moment as those pipping eggs can dry out without mom and shrink wrap or expire from cold This is the troubles with staggered hatches, momma will either stay with the nest and ignore the older siblings, or get up with the older siblings and ignore the hatching one (to their detriment).

If you haven't done so already, place food and water in close proximity to the nest, so momma doesn't have to go far to get it and can watch the babies eat and drink while she sits.

If mom hasn't returned within half an hour, you will need to take those eggs and put them in an incubator, if you have one.

Lady of McCamley

Ok thank you! Very good advice... I went back down and my broody hadn't gotten back up to her seven others so I picked them up and took them to the house. I set up a heat lamp and put them in a basket, spraying water in the sides of the basket lined with fabric advert once in a while to keep humidity up and it seems like the chicks are doing Better than ever!! Thank you sooo much u think that they will actually make it!

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Sorry if this has been covered previously......

I have my first broody hen and she ventured off the nest today. I noticed she cooed/clucked the whole time she was off the nest. Is this normal behavior?? I also have some orphan chicks that are running wild could she have been calling to the rebels??

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ok thank you! Very good advice... I went back down and my broody hadn't gotten back up to her seven others so I picked them up and took them to the house. I set up a heat lamp and put them in a basket, spraying water in the sides of the basket lined with fabric advert once in a while to keep humidity up and it seems like the chicks are doing Better than ever!! Thank you sooo much u think that they will actually make it!

When recently dealing with my first assisted hatch, I learned that I could have also laid moist paper towels over it to help it not dry out. You might consider that too. (Although I've never tried it.)

Just watch to make sure the membranes are not drying out, and the temp stays at the appropriate 100 degrees or so (I think 102 is ideal???)...I don't incubator hatch much as I prefer broodies so my skills are rusty...but my incubator instructions said 102 was ideal.

Good luck!

Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Sorry if this has been covered previously......

I have my first broody hen and she ventured off the nest today. I noticed she cooed/clucked the whole time she was off the nest. Is this normal behavior?? I also have some orphan chicks that are running wild could she have been calling to the rebels??

They will cluck and coo and puff while off the nest. If she stays off long, or goes on and off, it can also mean she is not in a deep brood yet. They will go into a trance like state for hours when they are in a deep brood...the kind that actually hatches eggs. Some however are what I call sulking...on/off, up/down, puffy and clucking, switching nests, but never staying put long enough for me to trust them. Sometimes I can get a sulky to settle by placing her into a dark confined nest, but other times they freak out and I have to let them back into the main flock...upon which they return to their sulky ways.

She MIGHT be calling to the chicks if she hears them...you might see if she'll foster them if that is possible situation for you.

Lady of McCamley

 

[mrchicks]

My broody has failed. Poor gal had 10 stinkers under her. I just pulled them all out, (very carefully) and put her out in the yard to run around.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My broody has failed. Poor gal had 10 stinkers under her. I just pulled them all out, (very carefully) and put her out in the yard to run around.

Oh bummer...that is frustrating....maybe next time...or :Enabler Alert: get her some chicks to foster.
Lady of McCamley

 

[SD Bird Lady]

They will cluck and coo and puff while off the nest. If she stays off long, or goes on and off, it can also mean she is not in a deep brood yet. They will go into a trance like state for hours when they are in a deep brood...the kind that actually hatches eggs. Some however are what I call sulking...on/off, up/down, puffy and clucking, switching nests, but never staying put long enough for me to trust them. Sometimes I can get a sulky to settle by placing her into a dark confined nest, but other times they freak out and I have to let them back into the main flock...upon which they return to their sulky ways.

She MIGHT be calling to the chicks if she hears them...you might see if she'll foster them if that is possible situation for you.

Lady of McCamley

Thanks for the advice. This is the first time she has left the nest for more than a drink in the past week. She took a dust bath and then right back

I was hoping for a foster mom and got a broody instead. The chicks are about 5 weeks old so they are basically on their own living on the "out skirts" of the flock

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thanks for the advice. This is the first time she has left the nest for more than a drink in the past week. She took a dust bath and then right back

I was hoping for a foster mom and got a broody instead. The chicks are about 5 weeks old so they are basically on their own living on the "out skirts" of the flock

Yeah...they are beyond needing a broody now...they've formed their own subflock.

Hopefully your broody will hatch some eggs for you then...sounds like she is committed.

Lady of McCamley

 

[mrchicks]

Oh bummer...that is frustrating....maybe next time...or :Enabler Alert: get her some chicks to foster.
Lady of McCamley

I considered giving her a few from the brooder from last night/this mornings hatch. But she is happy running around the yard with her sisters, so I am going to leave well enough alone.