broody not leaving nest

[Rick589]

Took our broody off the nest this morning, she had it a bit dirty so we cleaned it for her. Poor thing stumbled a little when she first started walking, got her legs back, took a short dust bath, relieved herself, ate a bit of watermelon, walked around a little, then went back to the nest. Took the opportunity to candle the eggs and found all four full with very well defined air sacs at day 16. I feel much better having seen her out and about, if only for a short time.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Took our broody off the nest this morning, she had it a bit dirty so we cleaned it for her. Poor thing stumbled a little when she first started walking, got her legs back, took a short dust bath, relieved herself, ate a bit of watermelon, walked around a little, then went back to the nest. Took the opportunity to candle the eggs and found all four full with very well defined air sacs at day 16. I feel much better having seen her out and about, if only for a short time.

Nice to hear her and the eggs are doing good... a treat of some canned tuna (in water) is a great source of protein I give to my broodys and during hard molts.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I just pick my broodies up and toss them over a 3' fence to where the other birds are eating and drinking. They do all their chickeny business and hang out with the other hens for 10 to 20 minutes, catching up on all the latest gossip, then come back and get back to work tending the eggs. I had only given them two each as they were new at the game. They did fine.

 

[Rick589]

Nice to hear her and the eggs are doing good... a treat of some canned tuna (in water) is a great source of protein I give to my broodys and during hard molts.

Good idea, I would not thought of the tuna. We are actually expecting our molt this fall as I understand the first molt would be about fall after their first full year.

 

[Rick589]

Our first broody…ever….gave us two new peeps at the end of June bumping us to 7 chickens. If all four our new eggs hatch out we will have doubled our flock in the space of roughly two months with no effort or real expense on our part. Unfortunately, the first egg to hatch under our first broody died at hatch, not sure why but it saddened me.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Our first broody…ever….gave us two new peeps at the end of June bumping us to 7 chickens. If all four our new eggs hatch out we will have doubled our flock in the space of roughly two months with no effort or real expense on our part. Unfortunately, the first egg to hatch under our first broody died at hatch, not sure why but it saddened me.

The expense comes soon, as it's addictive and if you keep letting them broodys hatch, your going to need a bigger coop.
I went somewhere in the area code of 40-50 last year to close to 140 now with 11 eggs due to hatch the end of the month.

#chickenmath

 

[Rick589]

The expense comes soon, as it's addictive and if you keep letting them broodys hatch, your going to need a bigger coop.
I went somewhere in the area code of 40-50 last year to close to 140 now with 11 eggs due to hatch the end of the month.

#chickenmath

Actually looking to get a bigger flock, I’m retired and like being with them. I’ve been planning a larger coop build since early summer and plan on using the new additions as motivation. Sort of looking for the new peeps to make that proverbial ‘clean spot’ for me.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Actually looking to get a bigger flock, I’m retired and like being with them. I’ve been planning a larger coop build since early summer and plan on using the new additions as motivation. Sort of looking for the new peeps to make that proverbial ‘clean spot’ for me.

My coop is too big said no one...ever!!

 

[Mrs. K]

Unfortunately, the first egg to hatch under our first broody died at hatch, not sure why but it saddened me.

Hence the old quote, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch." Generally speaking, say over 1000 eggs being attempted to hatch, it generally works out to a 50% hatch rate of live chicks 3 days after hatching. Not everything makes it.