Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Tripp16]

Ugh if its not one thing its another!

Well some of you may know that I had sick chickens last month. Well I finally got them all well and then yesterday someone sneezed, I quarantined her and gave her medicine these past 2 days. Well I was out with Henrietta and her chicks and she sneezed! Then I noticed mucus coming out of her nose!

I tried giving her medicine but her broodiness is kicked in and she will NOT let me hold her! She freaked out and her chicks were freaking out! Any tips on how to give a oral injection to a hormonal hen?

 

[lilstar]

Yay! I got rid of the poopy straw! I picked her up off the nest for a break this morning, put on gloves (EWWW!!!) and got most the straw out and any bits of poop that were in there. I left the straw the eggs were sitting on. Put in lots of fluffy pine, piled it higher in the back corners so she could arrange it as she sees fit. I peeked in and she's sitting, couldn't tell if she rolled them over onto the pine.

 

[bobbieschicks]

So I went to check on my hen and lifted her wing up.  No chicks.  When she settled back down I heard a *POP* and when I lifted her up saw and egg had exploded!  I threw it in the field and she immediately started eating the left over goo.     Just hoping for one chick!!!!  This stinks!

Oh I'm so sorry. An exploding egg is no fun to clean up. Good thing she was helping clean up. Although if it exploded due to bacteria build up you may want to stock up on some antibiotics for her. Was that the only egg? If not I would candle the rest tonight and see if they are still viable or not.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yay! I got rid of the poopy straw! I picked her up off the nest for a break this morning, put on gloves (EWWW!!!) and got most the straw out and any bits of poop that were in there. I left the straw the eggs were sitting on. Put in lots of fluffy pine, piled it higher in the back corners so she could arrange it as she sees fit. I peeked in and she's sitting, couldn't tell if she rolled them over onto the pine. 

Good job! Just what I would have tried too. Keep us posted on what happens.

 

[bobbieschicks]

And I am back!!!

We cam back from vacation to find my 8 month old Speckled Sussex had gone broody. A few days later, my silkie that has a month old baby and just got done being broody decided to sit again!!!!!!

Since our rooster is still a bit of a "dandy" we had to go get eggs from our farmer friend again. Our frizzle baby rooster is doing well.. we are still saddened by the loss of the other baby a few weeks after it hatched. Hopefully this hatch will go better. I am leaving them outside in the coop this time as my Speckled is a bit higher on the chain o command and doesnt get pushed around like my silkie did. This will hopefully make the brooder a happier and easier place, and my husband doesnt want them in the house again!

Here are some updated pictures.

 
Frizzle rooster 3 weeks ago. I will try to get a more updated picture, but he is a bit hard to catch!



Sitting on some eggs!



Reorganized brooder

Welcome back! I've got a repeater too. Smokey just hatched out, almost 2 weeks ago, her 2nd clutch this year. Keep us posted!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks bobbieschicks! I am so confused as to whom belongs to whom, alI three have been on the one nest crammed together with that being said I think the one pecking is the Last Orpington to sit on the nest. 

Should I separate the mommas and babies from the rooster and other hens?

P.S. PIease excuse aII the capital "i's", my El key is broke.

It's up to you. If they are just pecks of "listen to me" then I'd leave them alone. But if they are pecks of "get away from me or I'll rip your lungs out" then I would separate them for certain. Or at least separate the pecking one from the others.

My flock is completely integrated and they have occasional pecking of the baby chicks, the "move it or lose it" kind but not the "I'm going to murder you" kind. It could be a one time thing, but if you are concerned, do what you feel is best for your flock.

I had a rooster pick up a Wellie chick that was 2 days old and fling it. Scared me to death. But the previously docile broody, Smokey, stood right up and attacked the rooster. He was the alpha roo so that was no small act. Baby lived, and I trusted the momma to do her job from then on. She got into a couple of tussles, but no one looked twice at her babies and walked away unscathed. She is even tougher this time.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ugh if its not one thing its another! 

Well some of you may know that I had sick chickens last month. Well I finally got them all well and then yesterday someone sneezed, I quarantined her and gave her medicine these past 2 days. Well I was out with Henrietta and her chicks and she sneezed! Then I noticed mucus coming out of her nose! 

I tried giving her medicine but her broodiness is kicked in and she will NOT let me hold her! She freaked out and her chicks were freaking out! Any tips on how to give a oral injection to a hormonal hen? 

Yes. Do it at night in the dark with little light. Put a wash towel over her eyes and do it fast. does it have to be oral? Could you put it in bread for her to eat?

 

[Miss Lydia]

And I am back!!!

We cam back from vacation to find my 8 month old Speckled Sussex had gone broody. A few days later, my silkie that has a month old baby and just got done being broody decided to sit again!!!!!!

Since our rooster is still a bit of a "dandy" we had to go get eggs from our farmer friend again. Our frizzle baby rooster is doing well.. we are still saddened by the loss of the other baby a few weeks after it hatched. Hopefully this hatch will go better. I am leaving them outside in the coop this time as my Speckled is a bit higher on the chain o command and doesnt get pushed around like my silkie did. This will hopefully make the brooder a happier and easier place, and my husband doesnt want them in the house again!

Here are some updated pictures.

Frizzle rooster 3 weeks ago. I will try to get a more updated picture, but he is a bit hard to catch!



Sitting on some eggs!



Reorganized brooder

Cool welcome back and Congrats on a new broody!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes. Do it at night in the dark with little light. Put a wash towel over her eyes and do it fast. does it have to be oral? Could you put it in bread for her to eat?

I think i'd try the bread too Tripp, just put the meds on the bread a small piece so that she gobbles it up and doesn't give any to her chicks. Trying to hold a hormonal hen and give meds into her mouth sounds like a nightmare.

 

[prairie]

Need some imput please. I thought my little black cornish was going broody about a week ago but never really did stick on the nest. But now this morning when I went out at about 6:45am to check on some new little chicks in a carrier in the chicken house I happen to go and look at the cornish's nest and there she was. I don't know if she sat all night or not --but at 11am she was still there. She left the nest about 12 noon and hasn't been back on it today. She has 9 eggs in her nest.

Do you think she might be getting ready to go broody? She did not lay an egg today. I have guinea eggs waiting for her to really be broody and I will swap the eggs. What is everyone's opinion?? Guess I will know in a few days whether she is or not but want your imput.

Another question please --- she is kinda low on the pecking order -- being the only bantam I have and other hens are using her nest too--- What is the best way to keep the others out of her nest?

I have not had a broody before so need your help!