Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

compost is like soil that you buy in bags and you can also make it your self by putting scraps into something

If your thinking compost then why not sand? it's cheaper and they would probably like it better.

 

[Miss Lydia]

or my other option is just leaving the broody coop open for her to go in and out then close it at say 19/20 because no one lays in that shed that is above her in the pecking order and no one has layed a egg on her nest before

Very good option.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I can move the 6 week olds temporarily to a 4x8 hallway but it would be tight but only for a few weeks. We are going out of town for 4 days. I maymove the
So my chicken sitters don't have to worry about them. Still beats the brooder and what if electric goes out and all other things. Thanks for heads up this is all new!

A tight hall way would be better than getting the poop kicked out of them for looking the wrong way.

 

[Johnn]

Very good option.

I think i will just do that then adleast then if she has lice she will just take her self for one

 

[bobbieschicks]

Smokey spent about a week preparing to be broody. Once she stayed on the nest box at night I counted 3 nights & no more eggs & called her broody

Your girl sounds really close!

Its ok, I posted the question late at night so I figured with the way this thread moves it wouldnt get answered. Thanks for the response!

But she isnt completely serious yet, I thought since she was on the nest last night she was serious but Stony said his hen did it too. Then after 3 days she wouldnt budge. Lets hope thats her problem!

 

[Tripp16]

Well looks like Gracie is in for the long hall. Or I hope anyways... She is flat as a pancake on her non fertile eggs.

Im getting her eggs from my friend tonight and they have already been incubated for 2 weeks. So she will only have to sit for about a week.

Anyways, something is wrong with Henrietta she cannot keep her eyes open. I picked her up and she went limp. She jumped up on the roost fell asleep with her chicks sitting beside them. What is wrong with her? She was fine yesterday...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well looks like Gracie is in for the long hall. Or I hope anyways... She is flat as a pancake on her non fertile eggs.

Im getting her eggs from my friend tonight and they have already been incubated for 2 weeks. So she will only have to sit for about a week.

Anyways, something is wrong with Henrietta she cannot keep her eyes open. I picked her up and she went limp. She jumped up on the roost fell asleep with her chicks sitting beside them. What is wrong with her? She was fine yesterday...

Oh my gosh Tripp can you give her some electrolytes she may just be run down. Put her in a hospital crate or cage and let her build back strength. Congrats on Gracie being broody my Scarlett hatched her second brood last week boy are they cute.

 

[prairie]

That is a gorgeous hen!! Love her coloring!

i usually date the eggs, that way if someone sneaks another egg in there, its not a big issue- my current problem is hens being clumsy and smashing eggs! i've lost 2 in the last week that were close to hatch...



meanwhile-

and look at Jewel, the once was paralyzed pullet is an awsome mama- when the babies couldn't figure out how to go up the ramp she had them on her back!

 

[prairie]

So funny Deb!! Maybe you will see a snake with a big belly one of these days!!

Last time I went up there were I found two Araucana eggs.... But I couldnt find the Ceramic egg I had put in the Guinea enclosure.... Me thinks someone sucked up a falsie.... Hee hee.

deb

 

[Chiko]

Thats great news. keep us updated on all the progress. 

Update!

Black Cochin Bantam ended up hatching 3 Coronation Sussex, and the Splash Cochin ended up with 1 Coronation Sussex. (The other eggs were duds) The only hen still setting is my Buff Orpington Mix. Her old eggs were dead. Right now she has a bunch or mixed rare breeds. And some mixed bantams. Due to hatch Sunday! i'll post pictures of her