First broody (and incubator) - wow... had no IDEA!

[jophoto]

This is all a first for me, thank the Lord for the internet because you guys have such great info!

I have a bunch of eggs in an incubator but now have to figure out what to do about a hatcher because I'm going to end up with a staggered hatch (two shipments of eggs haven't arrived - the ones currently in the bator are from my hens).

So I have a silkie that went broody and boy did she go broody. She'll sit on anything. I have 13 hens, and she is the only nutcase right now. She growls at everyone. I did shoo her off her nest at one point to put a few more silkie eggs under her and to check what was going on (prior to me deciding to just let her hatch them), and she had six silkie eggs under her and a bunch of polish. Apparently when she gets up to eat, the polish run in and lay eggs on her pile. I quickly took the polish out (I don't want any more polish chickens, they don't do well when we free range as they are the trouble makers that get lost - very spastic breed - not to mention the polish aren't careful when they lay eggs on other eggs and will crush them - not peck them, just step on them... what a weirdo breed they are!), and she returned to her nest (I love it, she walks in, sees her eggs and talks to them... while she arranges herself on top, then goes into a trance-like state).

I honestly had no idea what broody hens were like... I am just saying WOW... they are so funny to watch!!!

Here are the eggs in the bator....

and the broody silkie

 

[crazyhen]

Yes! they are funny. I had one I could pick up and set down anywhere and she would not even move. Just sit there. Their hormones really do them in don't they. I have a hen now that might be heading that way. She is clucking like a setting hen does to her brood. I wonder how long between clucking that way and broody full force. Gloria Jean

 

[jophoto]

had to add pics! LOL!

Yeah, this is definitely an experience all right!

 

[Crazy4cochins]

Aww I love the picture of her!! I finally got some silkies after 3 years and people not keeping their word about getting me fertile silkie eggs!
I have a tiny japanese bantam named Milly, she tries every year to sit on eggs and towards the end another hen will but her out and she walks around sooo sad, I feel so bad for her so this year she has a huge nest to sit on. I have teriable luck with them hatching them out the most I ever got was 4 at once and 1 died becasue it was mauled.yikes.
Just be prepared for her to be like a mini pit bull silkie momma.lol. They can get really fiesty with the other ladies about defending thier babies.
I also have another EE-cochin mix that I finally gave in and letting her sit on eggs too.
I love all their silly noises and clucks they make and I have my broody pen set up and ready becasue I didn't really mark them to date them very well so I am not quite sure when they will hatch BUT hoepfully I can catch them in time.
ARE you serious about polish??? Thats sucks I just got like 3-4 of them, I was hoping they would be a neat breed to try. I am trying several different breeds this year compared to last and I GOT DUCKS too. Sorry for the blabbering I just love chicken talk.
GOOD LUCK and post Pic's of those babies !!

 

[acid_chipmunk]

Your pictures are beautiful! I got two Silkies this year and am hoping that they make good Mommas. I also have 4 Cochins coming and am hoping that they are good Mommas too!

 

[Koolduck]

Just a hypotunus mind you but do you think the Polish are paronoid/flighty because they cant see? I dont own any myself because they are just not my cup of tea but you should see the ones at the poultry shows....mighty fancy!

 

[Crazy4cochins]

hey acid chipmunk, I hope your cochins are good momas too
My little Gerti bantam is a horriable little girl she has never sat and hates babies .lol and she's 3.
She gets the vote for most not like cochin award.

 

[KellyHM]

Broodies are tons of fun! I'm overrun with them right now. 5 broody turkey hens (3 that already have chicks/poults), 2 broody Cochins, and 2 broody Silkies. I'm going to be completely overrun with chicks soon!

 

[goldnchocolate]

jophoto: those are beautiful photos!!! I love the way a broody gets all flattened out and looks so mad at the world

. I have a broody that pecked my hand bloody, last night, while I was taking her eggs out from under her to candle them...

She only has a week and a half left and I hope she is that fierce while protecting her babies.

ETA: Make sure your egg turner is working

. I put some eggs in the incubator on Saturday and everytime I checked on them they seemed to be in the same position. I remember reading in the instructions that the egg turner moved very slowly so I didn't give it much thought until Monday when I made it a point to see if they ever changed position. They didn't....so they went for a couple of days without being turned at all. I don't know if they are ruined or not. I am now turning them by hand.