Broody Hen Thread!

[beachervins]

All very great information, thanks, LofMc. Appreciate it.

I hadn't even considered needing to switch to chick starter. Yikes! Will get right on that. Will also double check the waterers.

This is my plan B. (The grow out coop, not the hubby in the chair.)

 

[StarMeKritten]

My broody is almost a mom. 1 week till hatch day!! Every egg I have set have been fertile except for 1 in the bator!!

Hooray! I have 2 broodies with eggs due to hatch a week from today.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

All very great information, thanks, LofMc. Appreciate it.

I hadn't even considered needing to switch to chick starter. Yikes! Will get right on that. Will also double check the waterers.

This is my plan B. (The grow out coop, not the hubby in the chair.)

Plan B is excellent, and if they are valuable breeds, since you purchased, I tend to error on caution and move momma and chicks...but then I have a larger flock in free range conditions while your girls, if small and harmonious, may do very well with new chicks.

Just watch. Make sure momma is not disturbed during lock down those last 2 days of hatching.

LofMc

 

[chickbrad24]

Hooray! I have 2 broodies with eggs due to hatch a week from today.

You must post pictures ! What breeds are you hatching out ?

 

[beachervins]

Plan B is excellent, and if they are valuable breeds, since you purchased, I tend to error on caution and move momma and chicks...but then I have a larger flock in free range conditions while your girls, if small and harmonious, may do very well with new chicks.

Just watch. Make sure momma is not disturbed during lock down those last 2 days of hatching.

LofMc

I think I'll set up the plan B now in case. They aren't particularly valuable, just had my first broody hen and decided to throw some silkie eggs and a frizzle OE under her. She was sitting on golf balls and a quail egg we had.

So today is day 18. How do I make sure she is not disturbed? Block the boxes off from the other girls? Whew...I may be in over my head. Good thing she knows what she is doing!
Monica

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I think I'll set up the plan B now in case. They aren't particularly valuable, just had my first broody hen and decided to throw some silkie eggs and a frizzle OE under her. She was sitting on golf balls and a quail egg we had.

So today is day 18. How do I make sure she is not disturbed? Block the boxes off from the other girls? Whew...I may be in over my head. Good thing she knows what she is doing!
Monica

Yes, it would be wisest to block the nest box for the next 2 days until hatching is done and babies dried out. If she is disturbed at the wrong time, it can cause a "shrink wrap" situation with a chick...where the membrane dries out and become rubbery such that the chick can't get out of the membrane...caused by interruption of humidity if you open the incubator or the hen moves at the wrong time.

Momma will be in lock down, so won't be moving. Just have some food and water close by but not so it can tip into the nest, or you can offer her some a couple times a day. She likely won't be eating or drinking much as she is in lock down mode.

LofMc

 

[Jaybeetee]

Can anyone tell me what breed of chicks these are? (Daughter took the photos)

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Can anyone tell me what breed of chicks these are? (Daughter took the photos)

Top one is likely a Gold Laced Wyandotte...hard to see coloring with photo quality and red side light. The others I can't see well enough to give a good guess.

It is best to take pictures of the chicks in side profile, then head shot, in natural lighting, not being held.

Also, you will probably get better response on "What Breed or Gender" thread rather than buried in the Broody thread.

LofMc

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Well after setting 40 eggs in the incubator I think I have one going broody. She seems serious and so I just keep putting eggs under her. Lol she is small but I think about 25 will do the trick. Lol

Oh no! Hens are not machines. They're flesh and blood birds who are hard wired for and who operate on instinct. The first few eggs will likely pip, one or two will probably hatch. The survival rate will be disappointing.

After about 3 days when your hen has several chicks beneath he she will leave or attempt to leave the nest to "mother" her brood, leaving the piped, the still wet, and un-piped eggs to the cruel fate of mother nature and the elements.

If you attempt to close her up in on the nest with her un hatched chicks after about the same 3 days she will likely get antsy and trample every chick beneath and crush every remaining eggs insuring that none of them hatch.

After checking on the date of your post I am afraid that it is now for evermore too late to correct this.

Good luck but don't count your chicks before they hatch.

At the risk of being accused of being callus I think that bad news should be shared early. If you have better luck than what I just posted you can feel up, but you won't be crushed if the worst comes to past.

 

[Jaybeetee]

Top one is likely a Gold Laced Wyandotte...hard to see coloring with photo quality and red side light. The others I can't see well enough to give a good guess.

It is best to take pictures of the chicks in side profile, then head shot, in natural lighting, not being held.

Also, you will probably get better response on "What Breed or Gender" thread rather than buried in the Broody thread.

LofMc

Ok thank you so much. Could you perhaps copy the link to the thread?