Broody Hen Thread!

[BLT79]

Long story short to get faster answer. Have a chick inside house under heat lamp. Partial emergency situation taken in from under broody mom. Still hasn't opened eyes. Chirping. Still has yolk sack attached. What do I do? Put her back with broody moms? Rest are due to hatch tomorrow.

 

[NotSoSimple]

Give her time...when the time comes she will bring out her brood to show the world best of luck to you.

Well, this is her first clutch. So i am just hopeing she has something to show for all of this fussing!

 

[LisaLouHoo]

This will make you feel better!

Yep, makes me feel better!!

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Sorry, BLT, don't know that I can be much help. I don't think it is a good thing to have a yolk sac showing. Not sure that it would absorb. Sorry

 

[BLT79]

Thanks anyways! She/he is chirping a lot right now and squirming around.

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks anyways! She/he is chirping a lot right now and squirming around.

check out the Sally Sunshine article... Hatching 101. (I think that is the name)

it is awesome and covers some emergencies like you describe. I think they put those chicks into a cup or dish to keep them more still...

 

[fisherlady]

BLT.... I just found the article... she addresses the yolk sac thing directly in this link....


https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mushy-chick-disease-yolk-sack-infection-omphalitis

 

[Junibutt]

Today was Day 12 for 11 of my eggs and Day 11 for 2 of the eggs. Since my broody had gone off the nest on Day 5 for 3 hrs, I decided to candle the eggs tonight. All 13 have developed but I could not find a well defined air sac in one (well its a chocolate colored egg so no wonder I can't see well) and another one seems a little behind for Day 12.

Is it safe to candle one more time on Day 18? Also right now she is in a dog cage in the coop. I was planning to move her to another coop close to hatch. Is that a bad idea? Shall I wait till the chicks hatch and just some cardboard all around the cage so chicks don't wander out?

 

[BLT79]

Thank you so much!!!!!!

 

[pegm]

I need some advice. My BO has gone broody for the 4th time this spring.

I am an urban chicken keeper, and don't have room for more, nor do I have a place for her to brood where the chicks would be safe from the other 3 hens. I was thinking of getting some fertile eggs and letting her brood them, and give them away, but the logistics of doing this because of limited space and differing feed requirements I don't think would allow it. I'd hate to let her brood and hatch and have the others kill the chicks at the first opportunity. She is a sweet hen, I plucked her off the nest this evening and she sat in my arms and clucked and purred. I even wondered if I could get chicks at the feed store and put them under her, but the situation remains the same. I do have a small green house, but it's heating up and would be pretty hot in there, plus not very secure.


Another option is to give her to someone that has a rooster, and find another EE to replace the BO but then you have the integration problems with a fixed flock. I really don't know what to do. My other hens are 2 EE's and a RIR. Any suggestions?