First time with a broody- hatch day is here-not sure what to do?!!??

[sumi]

If we weren't moving I'd have had 500. Chickens, not bags of potato chips. Though I like those too

Sounds like Ida knows something we don't... or do we?

 

[chickenreferee]

Oh I hope Ida is on to something!

Perhaps 500 chickens and only 5 or so bags of chips would work.

 

[sumi]

As long as it's huge bags... Cheese and onion flavour.

We have enough space for 500 hens in the pasture next to our house and even more in the next one. We were actually planning on getting that many, but life got in the way and then we sold... But one day... you never know!

I just hope Ida's on something. And it's hatching soon.

 

[chickenreferee]

It seems Ida's unusual activity this morning may have been because she had to use the bathroom. Since she dropped her stink bomb there hasn't been much going on. She still moves around a little, but all the hay has been pushed out of the nest box and the eggs are sitting on bare bottom. They keep rolling out and she keeps pulling them in. I dunno what to think at this point. One of the eggs that rolled out looked like it had a bit of dried blood on it.

I hope there isn't a dead chick under her. So far I've resisted the urge to pull some of the eggs out and bring them inside or stick my hand under her to find out if anything is happening. What will be, will be, I suppose.

 

[chickenreferee]

I'm so sad. Checked on Ida a few minutes ago and found the source of the blood. Looks like she stepped on an egg. I am trying so hard not to cry. But it was the little black chick I was hoping for. Looked fully developed. So very bummed.

I wasn't sure what to do, so I took the eggs that had goo stuck to them. One is pretty nasty. I left her with 5 clean eggs in a refurbished nest. I have 5 that I thought I'd wipe off and try and complete the incubation/hatching process with. I don't know. Maybe I just let her have too many eggs.

If it wouldn't gross ya'll out, I'm going to post a picture of the dead chick. I think I may have been off more days than not on the hatching schedule? Maybe the chick will tell the tale there.

Oh I pray the others will be ok.

 

[sumi]

Oh no!

Poor baby! I hope the others will be o.k.

 

[chickenreferee]

Well, Ida has all the eggs. Guess we'll see what happens.

 

[sumi]

x2

 

[Soap Junkie]

I HAVE CHICKS! My broody Isa Brown was sitting on 11 eggs due to hatch on Sunday, but on Saturday as I went out to feed and water her she was acting funny. Kept lifting up and had a wierd expression on her face. I could not stand the suspense so I lifted her up a few inches and there was a empty shell and a little wet baby! The rest hatched all day long and I gave her until yesterday around 2:00 when I checked on her there was 10 little babies all staring at me! They are so darn cute! I rearranged her dog crate, stuck cardboard all around the edges and put brand new bedding in for her and the babies, Also put in food and water so she got up off the last remaning egg that had not hatched and ran over with the chicks and started to eat and drink. All are doing great!

 

[sumi]

Sweet! Congratulations!

10/11 is a very good hatch rate too!