Broody Hen Thread!

[16 paws]

sorry, I double posted

 

[16 paws]

Congrats microchick.

The chicks sound so cute sunbathing already with momma. How sweet.

Let us know what happens with the other eggs will you?
Marie

 

[microchick]

Sure will and thanks. I'll have to get pictures tomorrow. Poor Aggie is worn out but a good momma for it being her first babies. I cut down a margarine tub so it has a low side and a higher side. I about busted a gut laughing when one of the chicks saw two of it's siblings in the dish with Mom offering them tidbits. It stood on the high side (2 inches tall) and was trying to jump over the top. Of course it could only hop about a half an inch. I finally lifted him/her up and set it in the dish. When I told my husband he said that considering it was in an egg 24 hours ago he thought it pretty remarkable that it even knew what a food dish was. He probably has a point.

So far no signs of movement in the two eggs. She has been hatching eggs and dealing with chicks since Friday afternoon. From what I have read here on BYC probably a change in humidity or temp with her rising up and down situating herself over chicks and eggs.

Still keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[fisherlady]

Well at the moment we have 6 healthy little chicks. One more hatched over night but we were forced to move mom and chicks down to the 'nursery' coop. I was setting more food out for the oldest chicks when mom gave me a loud warning cluck and well, her bowels cut loose in the nest. No wonder, poor thing has been holding herself for almost 4 days. She still had three eggs she was sitting on with no signs of pips in them. They were being jostled around by her and the chicks so I figured we had nothing to loose by moving them also. The chicks are adorable. Three have Welsummer blood in them, three look pure Buff O. I feather sexed two as possible pullets. The youngest was too young and the other two didn't have enough pin feathers to tell anything by their wings. I moved the eggs with her, set one down at her breast and she tucked it under her. At this point I'm concerned about her still being glued to the nest. One of the eggs is probably infertile, the other two, who knows.

Should I leave them till tomorrow and if they haven't hatched, pull them and put them in my 'bator until we are sure they are not going to hatch? The chicks are ready to be out and about with her. They are so cute. I put chick feed in the palm of my hand and immediately three climbed on to eat. Mom needs to be eating also. Her stool is loose at this point, I'm sure from stress. There is no sign of coccidia or blood. Just stinky loose broody poo.

But given the time of year, this being her first brood, 50% fertility the Welsummer eggs and on again, off again cold weather, I'm happy with 60-70% hatch rate.

Footnote. I just went out with chopped cooked egg to add to their chick feed and momma was off the nest with chicks in attendance. I gathered up the abandoned eggs and brought them in. Two were infertile. One was dark with a clearly defined air chamber and in the other I could see a little beak in the air chamber but no real movement in the embryo. They were cool to the touch but I still brought them in and placed them in the incubator. Not holding out much hope but 24 hours is all we have to invest to see if anything happens. On the bright side, Momma and babes are doing well. Momma has them sitting in sunlight that is coming in through the nursery window. The chicks are sitting in the sun dozing. When I just peeked in on them 4 of them had taken up residency in the low food bowl I put out for them along with their chick feeder. At one point the Buff O rooster came up and looked in the door. I told him he was a new father and that I'd bet real money that most of them were his. He actually looked at me, back at the window and then went about his business. Sometimes I wonder just how much they really do understand.

Glad to hear the hatch went well for her, will certainly look forward to some pics!

 

[microchick]

I'm really trying not to be too overly optimistic but I just checked on my two 'bator eggs' and darn if I'm not seeing a tiny pip on the Welsummer egg! I'm hoping 7 is going to be a lucky number! C'mon lucky 7!

 

[fisherlady]

 

[microchick]

Y'know, I've been a nurse for over 40 years and seen all sorts of new life and death so you think this would be just another medical thing for me but I am just so jazzed right now that I can't stand it.

Egg #1, Wellie egg that was showing a small pip has now enlarged the pip into the start of a zip.

Egg#2, Buff Orpington egg showing internal pip but no sign of movement or life....now has a small pip started.

I had almost given up on both of these eggs and now it looks like they both may hatch for me after being moved, jostled, almost pooped on by mom and then abandoned by her.

To make it even more amazing, I just got down close to the incubator and softly tuuk tuuk tuuked at the eggs and one responded to me!

Good to know that at the age of 62 I can still be brought to tears. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight!

 

[sharol]

Y'know, I've been a nurse for over 40 years and seen all sorts of new life and death so you think this would be just another medical thing for me but I am just so jazzed right now that I can't stand it.

Egg #1, Wellie egg that was showing a small pip has now enlarged the pip into the start of a zip.

Egg#2, Buff Orpington egg showing internal pip but no sign of movement or life....now has a small pip started.

I had almost given up on both of these eggs and now it looks like they both may hatch for me after being moved, jostled, almost pooped on by mom and then abandoned by her.

To make it even more amazing, I just got down close to the incubator and softly tuuk tuuk tuuked at the eggs and one responded to me!

Good to know that at the age of 62 I can still be brought to tears. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight!

 

[microchick]

Thanks Sharol. That's what we plan to do with them. Keeping them safe in a household with 5 cats will be the challenge. I'm getting a little brooder and a kennel set up just in case we need it.

 

[fisherlady]

Y'know, I've been a nurse for over 40 years and seen all sorts of new life and death so you think this would be just another medical thing for me but I am just so jazzed right now that I can't stand it.

Egg #1, Wellie egg that was showing a small pip has now enlarged the pip into the start of a zip.

Egg#2, Buff Orpington egg showing internal pip but no sign of movement or life....now has a small pip started.

I had almost given up on both of these eggs and now it looks like they both may hatch for me after being moved, jostled, almost pooped on by mom and then abandoned by her.

To make it even more amazing, I just got down close to the incubator and softly tuuk tuuk tuuked at the eggs and one responded to me!

Good to know that at the age of 62 I can still be brought to tears. I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for them, they are in good hands, so I have a good feeling about your chances.
The miracle of life never fails, we think of them as so fragile but they overcome such staggering odds just to break out of their shell and join the world...
I can understand your feelings about 'medical things'.... I have been a paramedic since 1987, but seeing those little ones come out of the shell still gets me!