Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Welp the rooster somehow broke into the coop while I was gone to work! I even had a cinder block to make sure it didnt happen again! But somehow he busted in!

I was expecting to see a dead hen and most likely 7 dead little babies but nope all the chicks were perfectly fine but Moms head was bright red! She had some feathers pulled out but she definetely fought her battle! Ugh! I cant believe it happened again and both times I have been gone!

Poor girl will probably never go broody again with the way this rooster has treated her! He is GONE by the end of the week whether it be to a new home or if worst comes to worst freezer camp. I just hatched out some of his babies so I can keep of one of them to be a good rooster.

I really think the other hens helped her out. They have helped mother the babies too especially my buff orpington. So I cant help but think they helped her make it out alive with all 7 chicks....

Oh no! That rooster has got to go!

I have a 16 week old skinny little WL/EE mix roo who thinks he owns the place. Caught him mating my 41 week old pullet today and she was not happy about that. His days are numbered.

 

[This_chicks_place]

Is it okay to pick the broody hen up to have a look underneath her on hatch day to see what is happening or should she be treated like an incubator in lockdown? I don't want to risk shrink wrapping chicks. But i havn't heard that mentioned about broodies before.

Just curious as i have chicks hatching on the 31st and it might be staggered so it would be good to see whats going on.

I peeked under ours and all was fine. If she will let you lift her a little bit than go ahead and peek. Just don't lift her too far or too long.

 

[kizanne]

Thank you Bobbieschicks for the reply. I'm hoping she'll do the work but got the bator out and ready if she breaks.

 

[perchie.girl]

Awww how Danged cute is that..... I wish I lived where I could have some Runner ducks.

deb

 

[JoshU]

These were from my own flock. Three of the eggs were from the same parents and the other one was possibly the same father. I am also wondering about the genetics, they are just hatchery birds. Arrgh, this was supposed to be fun!

something happened. Its not a trend. We sometimes have a bad hatch or an accident on the farm. Its just another experience in life. I just stay positive and enjoy what God does give us.

 

[JoshU]

Isnt breeding all that roosters know???? Like one of only 2 true reasons to have them. lol

 

[stone_family3]

Well it's official all the chicken eggs are duds, most didn't make it past week two, one pipped but didn't hatch and the rest were eaten or broken .

I have three duck eggs which appear to still be alive and are due in two days. I feel so bad for my girls, one has adopted my banties chicks during the night, but not during the day. She's still sitting on wooden eggs and the other sitting on duck eggs. I've tried to locate some day old chicks, but haven't found any yet and ordering from a hatchery is out of my price range right now

 

[B J Hopkins]

Did my last candling of my 10 EE eggs & 1 duck egg. Don't think the duck egg is still growing and it looks like 3 of the chicken eggs are no longer viable. Think I should get a new incubator but can't afford one.

 

[ORChick]

I have just put 14 eggs under my broody Barnevelder. She has been sitting on her nest since Sunday, and I have been collecting/soliciting eggs for her since then. She hatched out 4 chicks last spring, and I am hoping that she will be as good a Mama this time as she was then. I didn't see this thread last year, so am glad that I have found it now. Good to see the experiences that others have had. I don't have an incubator, so my only experience with hatching chicks is what she and I dealt with last year - first time for both of us. None of my other Girls have shown any inclination to go broody - even the Buff Orpington, and I understand that they are often inclined that way. Still, half of the eggs under her now are either BO or BO/mix, so I may have more broodies next year. But ... don't count your broodies before they are hatched! LOL

 

[perchie.girl]

Isnt breeding all that roosters know???? Like one of only 2 true reasons to have them. lol

Hey Welcome JoshU

I have nine roosters out of a total of 24 chickens. I have many reasons for having them. They are charming and quite the rascals. Three I would consider rescues. Rehomed beloved and not needing to go in the stewpot. The four Wellsummer roos I have are there for back up. for my flock of 14 Wellie pullets. (wellies are all under 3 months old). One is a very well bred Arucana (sp?) the rumpless variety and his very own hen. They are going into their own private pen when I get i built.

Roosters provide flock protection and will sacrifice themselves for a broody or for the whole flock if need be. The area I have my poultry in is very biodiverse; Bobcat mountain lion coyote hawk owl Ravens racoons and on down the food chain. I need roosters to help me replenish my flock when predators take one or two. (one year I lost thirty in thirty days to a bobcat) I have added in early warning detectors (Guinea fowl) into the mix and they help immensely. Believe it or not so do Wild Turkeys.

I think when people have problems with a roo its due to the fact that space is limited and there are no other roos to spar with to let off steam. My plan (because I have a young flock) is to keep the roos that are not actively in a breeding program in a bachelor flock. There they will have a social heiarchy without overusing the hens.

BTW I have no objections to doing freezer camp for any individuals that are stepping outside the bounds of normal chicken behavior.

deb