Hatching with 2 broodies

[Sonya9]

Heya
TG no that's fine don't worry yes I am only having the heat lamp on as not all the chicks go under her at night so I just leave it on just in case they can't all fit under her but once they get to 3-4 weeks old they will not need the lamp anymore and especially the firsts couple of days for the incubator chicks just in they don't get that they can go under sunshine for warmth
Ella

Just an idea, I also keep reptiles and instead of a red heat bulb I went with a ceramic heat emitter (more expensive bulb, but it emits NO light and fits in the same lamps). I liked it because it did not keep them awake all night.

So another question for the knowledgable peeps here (there will be more as the big hatch day approaches). I want the babies raised in the coop after the hatch, if one of my broody's should stop being broody (one is having an issue with sour crop, she is very active lately and hopefully that means she feels better, she is sitting on infertile eggs so that isn't a big deal).

Anyway should I get one of those radiant heat panel things for chicks so they can go under? Does anyone else use those in their coop in case the babies need more heat than one hen can provide? They are about $85 so I don't want to buy one if I am never likely to use it.

 

[16 paws]

I just hatched my first broody chick. Yes only one hatched. I left my hen with the flock, once the chick hatched she got off the rest of the eggs and began to teach that baby how to scratch, and drink, etc. If any other chicken comes near her chick, or me... She puffs up like to turkey size and growls. The chick is doing great. Day 4, and no integration back into the flock required.

I have another broody sitting on seven, can't wait to see how this batch will go.

Congratulations on your new chick and welcome to this thread.
Marie

 

[16 paws]

On the heat thing, I guess it depends on how many chicks she has. I havent had the need for one as my broody provided all the heat herself. Unless it is a huge amount of chicks I would just let her do the warming. Is it pretty warm where you live? I am in Calif. so it is pretty mild here.
Good luck
Marie

 

[Farmer Viola]

Just an idea, I also keep reptiles and instead of a red heat bulb I went with a ceramic heat emitter (more expensive bulb, but it emits NO light and fits in the same lamps). I liked it because it did not keep them awake all night.

So another question for the knowledgable peeps here (there will be more as the big hatch day approaches). I want the babies raised in the coop after the hatch, if one of my broody's should stop being broody (one is having an issue with sour crop, she is very active lately and hopefully that means she feels better, she is sitting on infertile eggs so that isn't a big deal).

Anyway should I get one of those radiant heat panel things for chicks so they can go under? Does anyone else use those in their coop in case the babies need more heat than one hen can provide? They are about $85 so I don't want to buy one if I am never likely to use it.

I have a Brinsea ecoglow but I only use it for chicks hatched indoors, not by a broody. I really like mine, but I don't have use for it in addition to a hen.. I guess if you are concerned about her stopping being broody for some reason, it would be a nice backup. They are rated for use down to 50F but I have used it to 40F in the coop.

Last night Bertha and Beetlejuice decided it was time to move their night nest from the dog krate which is inside the run, back to the coop with the ramp. About half of the chicks were able to get inside, and the other half were outside the coop cheeping loudly when I went to close them at bedtime. I helped scoop them up into the door of the coop where I made sure they went under their moms for the night.

Well, about half were outside at 6am this morning too! I hope they had just went out at first light. Their moms were inside and it's kinda chilly here at night and in the mornings, maybe 50F. I called to the hens and the moms and everyone else came out, so they weren't separated for long. Bertha is also VERY tired today, falling asleep over and over, she's never like that. I think maybe she didn't sleep last night because a chick was outside the coop crying?? Idk! everyone lived. You would think with two moms one could stay out and one could stay in.. I am going to be sure to check more than twice tonight.

 

[16 paws]

Alright heya team broody so I need your advice what do you think I should do okay so at the moment with the silkies I have three white hens one white cockerel and two blue hens that I am going to collect in the next couple of weeks and I am thinking of purchasing two other hens and I am not sure what colour to chose I don't want anymore white or blue any suggestions
Ella

Hi Ella,
I vote for Buff, I have a buff silkie and her name is Junebug. She is about 2 months old.
Marie

 

[16 paws]

I have a Brinsea ecoglow but I only use it for chicks hatched indoors, not by a broody. I really like mine, but I don't have use for it in addition to a hen.. I guess if you are concerned about her stopping being broody for some reason, it would be a nice backup. They are rated for use down to 50F but I have used it to 40F in the coop.

Last night Bertha and Beetlejuice decided it was time to move their night nest from the dog krate which is inside the run, back to the coop with the ramp. About half of the chicks were able to get inside, and the other half were outside the coop cheeping loudly when I went to close them at bedtime. I helped scoop them up into the door of the coop where I made sure they went under their moms for the night.

Well, about half were outside at 6am this morning too! I hope they had just went out at first light. Their moms were inside and it's kinda chilly here at night and in the mornings, maybe 50F. I called to the hens and the moms and everyone else came out, so they weren't separated for long. Bertha is also VERY tired today, falling asleep over and over, she's never like that. I think maybe she didn't sleep last night because a chick was outside the coop crying?? Idk! everyone lived. You would think with two moms one could stay out and one could stay in.. I am going to be sure to check more than twice tonight.

Good thing you went out there to check on them. I remember my broody being very very tired after she hatched her eggs also. She lost a lot of her feathers and looked real ratty for awhile. It has been about 6 weeks and she looks good now.
Hope all of them stay together tonight and hope you get a little sleep.

Marie

 

[Teila]

Howdy Team Broody

Wow, 3 pages and 32 posts to catch up on!

S9 I agree with LM and TG, broody hen knows best with regards raising chicks; having said that, I am not keen to sway you either way with regards broody v incubator. If it was me, I would give the broodies the eggs; you are never going to know otherwise. If you have read much or all of the thread, you will also know that I follow the non-intervention method; I give the broody the eggs and that is it, do not touch them, do not candle them, leave it totally up to nature and the broody. But, that is just me, the beauty of raising chickens and even just within this thread, we all have our way of doing things … you are the best judge of your girls chickenalities and what will work for them and you

FV definitely has a good point about moving them too much; it certainly sounds like it does more harm than good.

Congratulations on the bubbies FV and the successful match with their new mumma

Lolz FV at ‘I literally cannot stop going down there every 30 minutes! help meeee” yeah, right, like we can help you! About the only thing we could help with is going down there more often; taking it in turns on a rotation basis!

IC don’t you just love it when we think we have everything all sussed out and these gals of ours throw a curved one! I totally sympathise on the emergency remodelling and planned remodelling, been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!

Beautiful pictures and adorable bubbies IC .. what would we do without our little garden-helpers?

Sorry to read about your Americana eggs also.

G’Day and Welcome KendyF. Congratulations on your first broody chicks .. as you are a newcomer you may not have heard one of the team rules which I believe TG instigated … We do not believe you until we have seen the pictures!

CC999 wow, that is a bubby overload. That is more than the combined total of my first two hatches

Put me down as a vote for Partridge, Splash and Black as colour additions to your Silkie family.

In general news:

Please do not think I am ignoring you if I do not weigh in on some topics .. I know zilch about incubators, heat pads, heating lights etc. But, I am learning

I am still not convinced about the whole stigma of the challenge attached to shipped eggs. I picked up a batch of fertile eggs 1 hour round trip in the car, got home, gave them to Cilla straight away; 5 from 5. Second hatch, eggs got shipped overnight in the post, sat on the kitchen bench for 24 hours to settle, gave them to Cilla, 7 from 9 hatched.

It has been a busy few days, work-wise, not home-wise; everything cruising along pretty nicely.

The remodel has been filed away as a success and after nearly a week, more good points than bad points.

LuLu is having a great time … she alternates who she sleeps with, one night = Dusty; next night = Tina, then back to Dusty the following night .. Dusty? not so thrilled about sharing her bed!! Even though Tina is sort of sleeping on her own some nights she does not seem to mind and the new Ranchateau means she is not really alone because she can hear Dusty whinging about sharing with LuLu

I have never bathed any of my chickens; no reason to; until I had a Silkie that is! Those of you with Silkie’s can relate to this story ….

Speaking from experience Pekins, Langshans, Frizzles, Leghorns; poop gets stuck in their vent feathers, couple of days; drops off .. all good.

Silkies, not so much!! Wind blows those silkie soft feathers at just the wrong moment and poop gets stuck, couple of days; backlog! No chance of anything dropping off! These things are banking up and sticking firm to the point that no poops are hitting dirt! So, Tina had her first warm bath today and not only is she much more comfortable, I think she thoroughly enjoyed it .. also a nice little trim of the bustle to reduce the chance of a recurrence.

See, I was that desperate for news, it had to be about Tina’s poopy bottom .. lol

Dinner is ready, gotta scoot .. take care, be safe and happy chickens

 

[Sonya9]

I am still not convinced about the whole stigma of the challenge attached to shipped eggs. I picked up a batch of fertile eggs 1 hour round trip in the car, got home, gave them to Cilla straight away; 5 from 5. Second hatch, eggs got shipped overnight in the post, sat on the kitchen bench for 24 hours to settle, gave them to Cilla, 7 from 9 hatched.

I think the big concern with shipped eggs is often detached air cells. I bought my bb red oegm eggs off ebay, the shipper sent me 5 extra (total of 11) in case of problems and he packed them very well. Only one had a detached air cell and that one was a dud, but I have heard of folks ordering eggs and discovering ALL had detached air cells, which could be a complete loss. Also the eggs may be a bit too old, or may have gotten hot during shipment. or even maybe some aren't all really fertilized to begin with.

Just candled the 3 eggs under the broody and all are doing great, just like the 5 in the incubator (2 under the broody died).

I think you are probably right, I can trust the hens to hatch them (this will probably be their only brood to raise, so i am not trying to test their mothering skills for the future, I just want a few more bantams particularly roosters). I do want to mark the little cockerels though to keep track of the genders which is one reason i was tempted to incubator hatch 5 of them. Maybe since they will be confined for a couple of days after hatch I will still be able too (but the mama's probably won't like it!!). Thinking maybe tiny zip tie leg bands for the boys would be a good idea, it should be fairly obviously to tell the gender the first day or two (different markings at birth), but after that I am not sure so i would need to do it early.

 

[tommysgirl]

Heya
TG no that's fine don't worry yes I am only having the heat lamp on as not all the chicks go under her at night so I just leave it on just in case they can't all fit under her but once they get to 3-4 weeks old they will not need the lamp anymore and especially the firsts couple of days for the incubator chicks just in they don't get that they can go under sunshine for warmth
Ella

With 16 of them that does sound like a good plan! We are so warm that I put 3 week olds outside earlier this week sans any heat source and they are doing just dandy. I think we baby brooder chicks far more than is neccessary...myself included...I was really nervous about putting the 3 week olds out but they are fine. Looking at their wings and combs and things I know I have 2 cockerels and 1 pullet but the other two have me flummoxed. I think they are pullets but this cockerel maker has no faith in her pullet producing potential!

Alright heya team broody so I need your advice what do you think I should do okay so at the moment with the silkies I have three white hens one white cockerel and two blue hens that I am going to collect in the next couple of weeks and I am thinking of purchasing two other hens and I am not sure what colour to chose I don't want anymore white or blue any suggestions
Ella

SPLASH and BLACK and PAINT look lovely against the green grass with white and blue...oh and toss a Sizzle or two in for fun

.

Anyway should I get one of those radiant heat panel things for chicks so they can go under? Does anyone else use those in their coop in case the babies need more heat than one hen can provide? They are about $85 so I don't want to buy one if I am never likely to use it.

I would wait and see how many eggs hatch and if the one mama indeed does give up. I am glad she seems to be feeling better and maybe you will find that all is well. You can always use a heat lamp until the radient heater arrives if things go south and you need to have a brooder in side .

I have a Brinsea ecoglow but I only use it for chicks hatched indoors, not by a broody. I really like mine, but I don't have use for it in addition to a hen.. I guess if you are concerned about her stopping being broody for some reason, it would be a nice backup. They are rated for use down to 50F but I have used it to 40F in the coop.

Last night Bertha and Beetlejuice decided it was time to move their night nest from the dog krate which is inside the run, back to the coop with the ramp. About half of the chicks were able to get inside, and the other half were outside the coop cheeping loudly when I went to close them at bedtime. I helped scoop them up into the door of the coop where I made sure they went under their moms for the night.

Well, about half were outside at 6am this morning too! I hope they had just went out at first light. Their moms were inside and it's kinda chilly here at night and in the mornings, maybe 50F. I called to the hens and the moms and everyone else came out, so they weren't separated for long. Bertha is also VERY tired today, falling asleep over and over, she's never like that. I think maybe she didn't sleep last night because a chick was outside the coop crying?? Idk! everyone lived. You would think with two moms one could stay out and one could stay in.. I am going to be sure to check more than twice tonight.

Ohhh I can just picture this. Gracie Belle and Julie are raising these babies together. They are together during the day and at night both mamas go in. Julie sleeps on the the poop tray

and GB takes all 9 babies with her in the nest box..

The first few nights they needed help getting in but now they are troopers and they fly up on to the ladder and put themselves inside.

The fact that you maybe had a baby survive the night alone outside is evidence that they are tougher than we think!

Howdy Team Broody

Wow, 3 pages and 32 posts to catch up on!

you may not have heard one of the team rules which I believe TG instigated … We do not believe you until we have seen the pictures!

I am still not convinced about the whole stigma of the challenge attached to shipped eggs. I picked up a batch of fertile eggs 1 hour round trip in the car, got home, gave them to Cilla straight away; 5 from 5. Second hatch, eggs got shipped overnight in the post, sat on the kitchen bench for 24 hours to settle, gave them to Cilla, 7 from 9 hatched.

It has been a busy few days, work-wise, not home-wise; everything cruising along pretty nicely.

The remodel has been filed away as a success and after nearly a week, more good points than bad points.

I have never bathed any of my chickens; no reason to; until I had a Silkie that is! Those of you with Silkie’s can relate to this story ….

Speaking from experience Pekins, Langshans, Frizzles, Leghorns; poop gets stuck in their vent feathers, couple of days; drops off .. all good.

Silkies, not so much!! Wind blows those silkie soft feathers at just the wrong moment and poop gets stuck, couple of days; backlog! No chance of anything dropping off! These things are banking up and sticking firm to the point that no poops are hitting dirt! So, Tina had her first warm bath today and not only is she much more comfortable, I think she thoroughly enjoyed it .. also a nice little trim of the bustle to reduce the chance of a recurrence.

See, I was that desperate for news, it had to be about Tina’s poopy bottom .. lol

Hi there Teila! I never responded to your comment about that little white chick. It is so bright white. I love its coloring. It will become mottled white on black but for now it black on white. Precious!

My 2 cents re shipped eggs is they just bring more variables into the mix and more variables often mean worse results. My shipped egg results are 1/12, 3/11, 2/9, 2/18 or a total of 8/50...pretty terrible. On the other hand if the egg seller wraps each egg in bubble wrap, nestles them in a bed of peanuts surrounded by more bubble wrap then puts that box into a slightly larger box super padded with bubble wrap and peanuts people tend to have way more success...obviously non of my egg sellers shipped that way

It is discouraging but others have had way better luck than I have so I have hope that eventually I will get a better hatch rate. I would drop 45.00 on dinner out and and a movie easy and I get way more enjoyment from dreaming about and watching eggs develop into chicks so even if I get zippo I still would have had the fun of anticipation.

I bathed a Delaware last year for the same reasons...she was revolting and this time of year you can get fly strike in poopy bums. This year no such problems though my white girls are all grubby looking. They look so much better after they molt...then the rains come

My girl seemed to enjoy her bath too. She relaxed and just stood there even when I took my hands off of her.

I candled Norma's eggs on day 6 all 6 or the olive egger eggs are viable. She is currently the only broody w/o babies and I am hoping broody season is winding down around here. I imagine I will get a couple more repeaters but I have 15 hens and at one point 7 of them were either mothering or setting. We are down to one setter and 4 mothers so

I am trying an experiment. I have the Marans hatched 6/16 in with Godiva and her 4 1 week olds. Godiva is in a broody box on the run floor and the Marans are sleeping in the coop I built but during the day they all shar a space. I sort of have it 3/4 divided with barriers but G and her brood can go on the Marans side and vice versa. So far they are giving on another a wide berth. I am hoping they can all stay in there together. So far Godiva has not been a broodzilla but that may change as the littles get more adventurous.

Have great days everyone!. Enjoy your birds!

 

[KendyF]

Howdy Team Broody

Wow, 3 pages and 32 posts to catch up on!

S9 I agree with LM and TG, broody hen knows best with regards raising chicks; having said that, I am not keen to sway you either way with regards broody v incubator. If it was me, I would give the broodies the eggs; you are never going to know otherwise. If you have read much or all of the thread, you will also know that I follow the non-intervention method; I give the broody the eggs and that is it, do not touch them, do not candle them, leave it totally up to nature and the broody. But, that is just me, the beauty of raising chickens and even just within this thread, we all have our way of doing things … you are the best judge of your girls chickenalities and what will work for them and you

FV definitely has a good point about moving them too much; it certainly sounds like it does more harm than good.

Congratulations on the bubbies FV and the successful match with their new mumma

Lolz FV at ‘I literally cannot stop going down there every 30 minutes! help meeee” yeah, right, like we can help you! About the only thing we could help with is going down there more often; taking it in turns on a rotation basis!

IC don’t you just love it when we think we have everything all sussed out and these gals of ours throw a curved one! I totally sympathise on the emergency remodelling and planned remodelling, been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!

Beautiful pictures and adorable bubbies IC .. what would we do without our little garden-helpers?

Sorry to read about your Americana eggs also.

G’Day and Welcome KendyF. Congratulations on your first broody chicks .. as you are a newcomer you may not have heard one of the team rules which I believe TG instigated … We do not believe you until we have seen the pictures!

CC999 wow, that is a bubby overload. That is more than the combined total of my first two hatches

Put me down as a vote for Partridge, Splash and Black as colour additions to your Silkie family.

In general news:

Please do not think I am ignoring you if I do not weigh in on some topics .. I know zilch about incubators, heat pads, heating lights etc. But, I am learning

I am still not convinced about the whole stigma of the challenge attached to shipped eggs. I picked up a batch of fertile eggs 1 hour round trip in the car, got home, gave them to Cilla straight away; 5 from 5. Second hatch, eggs got shipped overnight in the post, sat on the kitchen bench for 24 hours to settle, gave them to Cilla, 7 from 9 hatched.

It has been a busy few days, work-wise, not home-wise; everything cruising along pretty nicely.

The remodel has been filed away as a success and after nearly a week, more good points than bad points.

LuLu is having a great time … she alternates who she sleeps with, one night = Dusty; next night = Tina, then back to Dusty the following night .. Dusty? not so thrilled about sharing her bed!! Even though Tina is sort of sleeping on her own some nights she does not seem to mind and the new Ranchateau means she is not really alone because she can hear Dusty whinging about sharing with LuLu

I have never bathed any of my chickens; no reason to; until I had a Silkie that is! Those of you with Silkie’s can relate to this story ….

Speaking from experience Pekins, Langshans, Frizzles, Leghorns; poop gets stuck in their vent feathers, couple of days; drops off .. all good.

Silkies, not so much!! Wind blows those silkie soft feathers at just the wrong moment and poop gets stuck, couple of days; backlog! No chance of anything dropping off! These things are banking up and sticking firm to the point that no poops are hitting dirt! So, Tina had her first warm bath today and not only is she much more comfortable, I think she thoroughly enjoyed it .. also a nice little trim of the bustle to reduce the chance of a recurrence.

See, I was that desperate for news, it had to be about Tina’s poopy bottom .. lol

Dinner is ready, gotta scoot .. take care, be safe and happy chickens

Wow. You don't waste words! Here is my pic it is a few days old.