Broody Hen Thread!

[BullChick]

A most disappointing day. I was awakened in the middle of the night by cheeping chicks from the coop. I rushed out, but too late. One of my best broody hens and seven of nine new chicks had been slaughtered by a predator.

NO!! Oh my goodness! How awful!!

 

[yochickiemomma]

So sorry to hear about your loss Nchls.

A most disappointing day. I was awakened in the middle of the night by cheeping chicks from the coop. I rushed out, but too late. One of my best broody hens and seven of nine new chicks had been slaughtered by a predator.

 

[yochickiemomma]

Happy friday everyone!

My broody hen Boots successfully hatched 3 out of the 5 eggs a week ago. I moved her and the babies into a dog kennel inside the coop. Hubby wants to know how long I need to keep them in there separated from the hen and rooster she shares the coop with. Please keep in mind the rooster is aggressive toward humans but seems to treat the hens ok. Also two of the chicks are not his offspring. This is my first run with a broody hen and chicks so I'm very green about all of this.

 

[nchls school]

I usually return hens and chicks to the flock a couple days after hatching. Watch the behavior of the rooster and other hen towards the chicks. If they're too aggressive with the chicks you'll know and need to keep the chicks separate. All of my roosters are good with young chicks; at most there's a peck to make the chicks get out of the way.

 

[Crazy For Color]

A most disappointing day. I was awakened in the middle of the night by cheeping chicks from the coop. I rushed out, but too late. One of my best broody hens and seven of nine new chicks had been slaughtered by a predator.

I'm so sorry to hear this! Very heartbreaking

 

[Crazy For Color]

At day 13, depending on how bright your flash light is and how you are candling, all you will see is dark blob and air cell at one end. Seeing that is a sign that you've got developing chicks, which you probably won't see move unless you stand very, very still and hold the egg for awhile.

Take a regular egg out of the fridge and candle that. You will see the difference. If not...if you are seeing transparent type egg with light shadow yolk moving, then no, you've got nothing.

And yes, blue shells, olive shells, and dark brown shells are very hard to see anything. All you will see is dark blob and air cell with no distinction....if that. Sometimes the shells are do dark to see anything. I usually can see veins on lighter eggs, but not always.

LofMc

I hadn't thought of comparing it to an egg from the fridge, great idea! They are very light eggs and the flashlight is 240 lumen, I read that it had to be at least 100 so I think it's bright enough to do the job. When she went broody there were 3 of her eggs in the fridge and I cracked them to check for fertility. Only one was fertilized. I will leave the eggs with her just in case but I have a sad feeling that not of them are going to hatch =(

 

[fisherlady]

Now that I've responded...
My first broody is due tomorrow! I can have chicks today!! I'm finally excited about it!

hoping she hatches for you!

A most disappointing day. I was awakened in the middle of the night by cheeping chicks from the coop. I rushed out, but too late. One of my best broody hens and seven of nine new chicks had been slaughtered by a predator.

I am so sorry, that must have been horrible for you to go through...
I hope you can find and fix whatever predator was responsible, did you have another hen to graft the survivors to?

 

[PD-Riverman]

A most disappointing day. I was awakened in the middle of the night by cheeping chicks from the coop. I rushed out, but too late. One of my best broody hens and seven of nine new chicks had been slaughtered by a predator.

Mercy, not a nice way to get awaken!! Sorry!! Did you see what it was? Was your broody/chicks in a unprotected area or did it tear in?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

A most disappointing day. I was awakened in the middle of the night by cheeping chicks from the coop. I rushed out, but too late. One of my best broody hens and seven of nine new chicks had been slaughtered by a predator.

I'm so sorry. It is SO painful to lose a good broody, and one with chicks.

I had a raccoon relieve me of 1 of my best layers and 2 of my breeders this winter, then a hawk got one of my broodies. If it is a coon, they will be back. I now lock up all my birds tight in their wooden coops. Means I get to get up earlier to let them out into the runs, but it was the only way I could keep them from being coon bait!

Good luck finding the varmint that did this. I wish him a quick relocation or demise, depending on what is legal in your area.

LofMc

 

[BullChick]

Still no chicks from the first broody. I will have to candle tonight. I'm hoping she doesn't kill me (Or the eight roosters standing guard!!), and none explode!!