Have Just Put Eggs In Tonight 9th August 2011, Anyone Want To Join?

[deborah]

Are any of you in Southern Michigan and willing to part with 2 of your hatches?

I have a broody hen who has been sitting on eggs for 23 days now. I think the eggs are NOT fertile. Evidently our rooster is not getting to everyone. We put 3 eggs under her to start with. During the 1st week, one somehow got kicked out of the nest. It had a small crack and I saw blood when I cracked it open. It looks like that was the only fertile egg, because nothing is happening with the other 2. It's going to be hard to break her broodiness, so if I can find some chicks fresh out of the incubator, I will put them under her at night so they can bond to each other. To improve the likelihood of bonding, I would want to pick them up the evening they are hatched so I can put them under her as soon as I get them home.

I don't want many; our flock is already too big. Two would probably be good. I'm not picky about breed; but our flock is all full size, so no bantums please. I'm located near Chelsea, MI, about midway between Ann Arbor and Jackson. I'm willing to drive, but I probably want to keep it down to 1/2 hour or 45 minutes so there is no difficulty keeping them warm during transport.

I'm willing to pay for the chicks. They will get a good home. We have 18 acres and our flock free-ranges on about 2 acres that we have fenced for them. Lots of opportunity for greens and bugs. We feed them organic feed and they get lots of organic kitchen scraps.

Can anyone help my broody hen?

 

[Sphinx]

I'm so sorry, Deborah, but I am in Utah, which is way too far to drive. I think Bantam is even farther- I believe she's in the UK. Not sure about the other people in this group.

Have you checked your local farm supply store? I'm giving my chicks to my sister in law. They were at CAL Ranch a couple days ago to buy supplies and mentioned that they had several day old chicks for under $2.50. You could also check your local Craigslist.

 

[deborah]

Hi Princess Chicken,

Thank you for replying. No local farm supply stores have any. I'm been checking Craig's list, without success, since yesterday. I called a gentlemen I knew who raised black copper marans and had some big incubators, but he told me he's in the process of getting out of chickens and selling everything.

My husband is in favor of taking her out of the brood box and trying to break her broodiness. When it's over that might be the best thing, but I hate to do that to her.

I'm wondering if there is a way to search threads like this for Michigan residents? If there is, I haven't figured it out.

I hope your sister-in-law enjoys the chicks.

 

[Sphinx]

There is a section here for local people to chat. Here's a link to the Michigan thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=233&p=2443



I know it's also possible for hatcheries to ship day old chicks. I know it's mainly done in the spring, but I bet some do fall as well.

I wish I lived closer; if nothing else, I'd give you some fertile eggs for your broody to hatch.

 

[patman75]

Quote:
X2 on checking with anyone on the Michigan thread. Or you can order chicks from mypetchicken.com, you can put in orders of 4. If I had extra chicks you could have them but I'm thinking I have the worst broody hen ever. I'm now down to 5 eggs.

I'm hoping that the early broken eggs did not ruin the rest of them but I should of found one developed chick in the broken egg shells. All I smell is rotten eggs.

I might be ordering some chicks myself or I might just break her. The next day or two will tell.

 

[Sphinx]

So nothing yet for you, Patman and Bantam?


I have a total of three hatched. A fourth has a hole. I figure it'll hatch in an hour or so. That leaves 2 eggs with nothing yet. I'm pretty sure one is bad, and I *think* the other is good. We'll see.

Not a great picture, but here they are. All three of them look all BCM, and I don't see any of their EE mothers at all. They even look like they'll have the feathery legs their daddy has.

 

[Bantam Username]

Nothing yet for me, hatch isn't actually due til this evening anyway, since my eggs went in the incubator at 9pm on the 9th. Still hoping, still fingers crossed.

 

[patman75]

Nothing yet but I did not set until the evening on the 10th.

 

[Sphinx]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you guys.

I had a total of 4/7 hatch. I tossed one a couple weeks ago and there's one still in the bator, but I think that it has died. The final egg is under the broody, but I never felt like it developed. I'm giving those two another day, but I'm not hopeful.

Here's two of them this morning, now that they've had a chance to dry out and fluff up.

 

[Bantam Username]

I'm NOT going mad, YAY!!!!

My OH said an hour ago that he thought he could hear a faint clicking sound when he listened at the incubator! That means its near right????