Broody Hen Thread!

[Shellz]

That's wonderful ronikins! Great pic of the happy family!
Great slideshow! My eggs go away, lol!

 

[chicken farmer]

she seems happy with her newly adopted babies

Wonderful Im glad it worked out

 

[Amandalea]

My red star's babies are hatching!!!

 

[Shellz]

OMG! That's awesome Amandalea!!!

 

[chickenoverlord]

My first time broody's chicksre hatching! So far four ave hatched, but one got squished. The remaining three are one black, one blue and one lavender. And another one is pipping!

 

[Laci7210]

I have 2 old english game bantams.. Hen and roo. The hen layed 2 eggs and I left them just incase.. She isn't sitting but it has been warm lately and they are in a enclosed little box that is used for shelter and a nesting box. There is straw in there too.. Will they hatch??? Or am I wasting my time?

Should I do anything different? I have 2 silkies that aren't laying yet but I heard that they are great mothers. Will they take the eggs? Thanks!!

Hey guys! I did take the eggs out of her box just now and there was 5 eggs! I have 2 broody hens that got broody like 5 days ago but they are both sitting on unfertile eggs sooo I gave one of them the 5 eggs.. The hen that has the eggs has had chicks before and is an experienced mother and she is a hen that is half the size of an average hen, and the other one has never had chicks before and is a BO. She has went broody like 3 times! I wanted to give her some fertile eggs but would it be hard to have 2 mommys to take care of? Would they be able to go together in the same pen with all of the chicks and share the kiddos? And some of the eggs have been in the box for up to a week.. Are they still ok? And should I give the next egg to my BO?

This was hilarious! So, I put the 5 eggs next to my small hen and she stood and moved so that she had them under her+all of her unfertile eggs, so then she was sooo stretched out and she looked back and saw that there was still 2 eggs that she hadn't got under her! She made this loud squawk and sounded frustrated then pushed them under her and now she is sooo fanned out!

 

[Shellz]

Yay chickenoverlord! Exciting!

Thanks for sharing that Laci! That's so darn cute!

 

[chickenoverlord]

Ok, this one chick has a hole in its shell, with it's beak sticking out. It's widened the hole a bit, but it's been like this for an hour and a half. It peeps and everything. Should I help it out or leave it?

 

[lmharris]

We have 2 hens that have hatched 1 chick. And yes they both mother this one little chick. It is hillarious!

 

[sharol]

Sit on your hands and wait. It takes a while to zip. It is hard work, and others have said that the challenge of getting out of the shell gives the chick time to absorb the rest of the yolk and gain strength.

Ok, this one chick has a hole in its shell, with it's beak sticking out. It's widened the hole a bit, but it's been like this for an hour and a half. It peeps and everything. Should I help it out or leave it?