I'm getting the itch. Anyone want to hatch some eggs?

[ShinShien]

Sometimes mine would skip a day... Trust me, I have yet to hear of a broody dying because she was so determined she wouldn't leave the nest at all... My BA did lose alittle weight but once the chicks hatched she was up and fine.. The Java did great the first time around but has lost alittle the second time, I expect a little, its hard work and no they aren't up and eating as much as they normally would but what they do eat sustains them, Nature is a wonderful thing when we as humans allow it.. we do more damage when we think we know better and intervene.

This broody is pretty hefty, so a little weight loss hopefully won't hurt her.

 

[AmericanMom]

This broody is pretty hefty, so a little weight loss hopefully won't hurt her.

Yes, the larger breeds I don't worry so much over, my last hen to hatch chicks was an Ancona hen, very small compact bird, raised for tropical climates I got her last year and sold her sister this past spring and was going to sell her but we couldn't catch her Lo and behold a type of bird not known for broodiness went broody, I questioned whether to allow her or not and finally just marked some eggs and let her go, she was in the coop with the other 40+ chickens , chicks and roosters I have.. The first two weeks she would bolt out of the coop every morning when I went in to clean , feed and water the flock but that last week I never once saw her off the nest and mind you I am home most days and out there several times a day collecting eggs. Even tho I didn't see her off the nest didn't mean she wasn't off the nest, I couldn't get within a foot of her before she would fluff up, growl and pitch a fit so I didn't dare even try to take her off... On day 20 all 5 of her chicks hatched and she didn't seem to suffer any worse for the wear..
Like I said, we worry and fret over these girls but in all honesty they are doing what nature has allowed them to do for thousands of years. I try to be completely hands off with my hens because of the fact they know what they are doing, they have those eggs positioned where they need to be, lifting a hen off and putting her back may cause her to crush some of the eggs, I know. With my first broody I darn near killed one of the chicks that was zipping and I couldn't stand not being able to see it, when I put the momma hen back I heard a crunch and knew she had sat down wrong.. Thankfully the chick survived but my Sister in law wasn't as lucky, when she placed her hen back down the hen did crush the chick, so when I say to leave them be I am not talking from anything but experience, one that could have been bad. I make sure they have a dry area, quiet and clean. Secured from predators with food and water within site but not next to them, I want them to get up and walk and trust me, they will.

 

[calichicken]

Yes, the larger breeds I don't worry so much over, my last hen to hatch chicks was an Ancona hen, very small compact bird, raised for tropical climates I got her last year and sold her sister this past spring and was going to sell her but we couldn't catch her Lo and behold a type of bird not known for broodiness went broody, I questioned whether to allow her or not and finally just marked some eggs and let her go, she was in the coop with the other 40+ chickens , chicks and roosters I have.. The first two weeks she would bolt out of the coop every morning when I went in to clean , feed and water the flock but that last week I never once saw her off the nest and mind you I am home most days and out there several times a day collecting eggs. Even tho I didn't see her off the nest didn't mean she wasn't off the nest, I couldn't get within a foot of her before she would fluff up, growl and pitch a fit so I didn't dare even try to take her off... On day 20 all 5 of her chicks hatched and she didn't seem to suffer any worse for the wear..
Like I said, we worry and fret over these girls but in all honesty they are doing what nature has allowed them to do for thousands of years. I try to be completely hands off with my hens because of the fact they know what they are doing, they have those eggs positioned where they need to be, lifting a hen off and putting her back may cause her to crush some of the eggs, I know. With my first broody I darn near killed one of the chicks that was zipping and I couldn't stand not being able to see it, when I put the momma hen back I heard a crunch and knew she had sat down wrong.. Thankfully the chick survived but my Sister in law wasn't as lucky, when she placed her hen back down the hen did crush the chick, so when I say to leave them be I am not talking from anything but experience, one that could have been bad. I make sure they have a dry area, quiet and clean. Secured from predators with food and water within site but not next to them, I want them to get up and walk and trust me, they will.

Agreed and thanks for the reassurance and sharing! I think for people like me who have a broody for the first time, we are seeing out girls acting so different that we worry everything is ok...forgetting that the broody is doing what nature intended! I have to say this is an amazing process to watch!

 

[AmericanMom]

Agreed and thanks for the reassurance and sharing! I think for people like me who have a broody for the first time, we are seeing out girls acting so different that we worry everything is ok...forgetting that the broody is doing what nature intended! I have to say this is an amazing process to watch!

lol, whether its the first or the fiftieth time, its a nerve wracking experience... the longest 21 days ever lol

 

[calichicken]

lol, whether its the first or the fiftieth time, its a nerve wracking experience... the longest 21 days ever lol

I read on a post using broodys is supposed to be EASIER and LESS STRESSFUL!! What???? I haven't found that to be the case yet...LOL! But she is doing a great job with her eggs

21 days feels like FOREVER

 

[AmericanMom]

 I read on a post using broodys is supposed to be EASIER and LESS STRESSFUL!! What???? I haven't found that to be the case yet...LOL! But she is doing a great job with her eggs  21 days feels like FOREVER

lol, I have incubated and given a choice I would rather the hen do the work, im not stressing over temps and humidity, not messing with the eggs, candling and such, ( I am a candling junkie) for me, it is way less stressful lol

 

[calichicken]

lol, I have incubated and given a choice I would rather the hen do the work, im not stressing over temps and humidity, not messing with the eggs, candling and such, ( I am a candling junkie) for me, it is way less stressful lol

I am doing both right now..broody and bator

Maybe that's my problem...LOL! Only started out planning to hatch6 eggs with my broody. BUT, then I had eggs shipped(couldn't find the ones I wanted locally) and was worried about a successful hatch. After ordering shipped, then I found eggs locally too and thought "why not?"

Of course too many eggs for my broody so add the bator to the hatch

My how these things snowball so quickly!!!

 

[ranpmiller]

I started lockdown today a little early. 10 have made it this far. I can't wait til Thursday!

 

[AmericanMom]

Just kicked another hen off the nest...61/2 month old orpington...we shall see how determined she is, was trying to brood in a brush pile, not a good location... We shall see if she decides to head to the coop and sit on the fake eggs in there.

 

[calichicken]

Just kicked another hen off the nest...61/2 month old orpington...we shall see how determined she is, was trying to brood in a brush pile, not a good location... We shall see if she decides to head to the coop and sit on the fake eggs in there.

Is that 2 broodies now??? Its catchy