Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Interesting. I feel better about my girl today because I did manage to convince her to eat. (2 teaspoons of 30% gamebird starter, soaked, and a tablespoon of yogurt. THAT seemed to please her - and me, obviously!) She still looks like crap but she is brighter today.

Hopefully this bit of decent nutrition will improve her even more.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Moe is nested over the hill again. My dilema, should I go get her and the nest...again. or leave her be. OK, she is my fav hen. She has a beautiful spot, I am worried that once the peeps start it will be all over for her...I have two more weeks to decide. The last move she did hatch most of the eggs...at what week is it best for the egg/chick to move? When are they most stable?

I would be worried about Moe being found by a pred even before peeping starts, I lost 2 hens from just that kinda of setup, we looked for them but they were well hid from us but something else found them. I'd move her to a safe place. Just be careful when moving eggs not to jostle them around much. if you have had to move her before then it should be pretty easy to do it again.

 

[JakRat]

I'm so sorry about the little chick.

I would just let them have the babies they have and not try to add more or get more eggs. Once the chicks hatched that was the trigger for them to be done with brooding. I think if you try to give the one hen more eggs she will not sit on them very long if at all. I suppose you could try it - but instinctively once they hatch babies that's it for them. It's okay for them to share the babies - they seem to be getting along well and the babies won't suffer from having two mommas.

Another chick died. They girls are fighting over sitting on the one egg that is left. I think I am going to bring them into the basement and get them another egg to sit on (they are due sunday). The one baby that is left is really confused and its becoming a bit of a problem.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Another chick died. They girls are fighting over sitting on the one egg that is left. I think I am going to bring them into the basement and get them another egg to sit on (they are due sunday). The one baby that is left is really confused and its becoming a bit of a problem.

Who is going to have the chick? let one of the mamas have the chick the other the eggs. I have had a hen take care of one chick it will be okay. you don't want to lose this chick.

 

[Wynette]

Hey, broody hen peeps! LOVE seeing all the hatching action and hearing the stories...so sorry, JR, about your lost hatchlings and the lone confused chick.

That's heartbreaking!

I've got 9 eggs under a silver penciled rock that are due to hatch Saturday and Monday (last 2 eggs were added before I had the original ones marked). This hen is 5 and has never been broody before; she's been off the nest for longr than she should have been several times, but it's also been extremely hot these last few weeks. So, I'm just not sure whether I'll get any chicks or not this weekend! I also have a broody Jersey Giant female that seems pretty persistent...I may go ahead & give her some eggs this weekend if she continues.

I'll post some pics of my silver penciled on her eggs tomorrow morning if she'll allow me to get some pics tonight!

 

[3 NH reds]

They are hatching. The Black Jersey Giant eggs I got on E Bay. Broody Mc Buff sounded different as I got close to the coop today, and sure enough I could hear peep! I have not seen any yet, I just hear them.Kind of early as this is day 20 but they come when they are ready.

Now my problem I have some eggs in an incubator and one has hatched already( sorry no pics I do not want to stress it) Can I give Broody chicks direct or do I have to sneak them in at night.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Hey, broody hen peeps! LOVE seeing all the hatching action and hearing the stories...so sorry, JR, about your lost hatchlings and the lone confused chick.

That's heartbreaking!

I've got 9 eggs under a silver penciled rock that are due to hatch Saturday and Monday (last 2 eggs were added before I had the original ones marked). This hen is 5 and has never been broody before; she's been off the nest for longr than she should have been several times, but it's also been extremely hot these last few weeks. So, I'm just not sure whether I'll get any chicks or not this weekend! I also have a broody Jersey Giant female that seems pretty persistent...I may go ahead & give her some eggs this weekend if she continues.

I'll post some pics of my silver penciled on her eggs tomorrow morning if she'll allow me to get some pics tonight!

Cool, Wynette!! GREAT to see you on the broody thread!!

Love, love, LOVE pictures ....

 

[Wynette]

Hiya, my friend, BG! Glad to be here. Wish I had more time to post - I'd be a posting fool to be sure! My new duck buddy, Miss Lydia, invited me over here!

CONGRATS, NH! If you don't already have Giants, you'll love them, I'm sure! (I COULD be a bit biased, though!)

I'll anxiously await the answer to your question as that is good information to have!

 

[bobbieschicks]

They are hatching. The Black Jersey Giant eggs I got on E Bay. Broody Mc Buff sounded different as I got close to the coop today, and sure enough I could hear peep! I have not seen any yet, I just hear them.Kind of early as this is day 20 but they come when they are ready.

Now my problem I have some eggs in an incubator and one has hatched already( sorry no pics I do not want to stress it) Can I give Broody chicks direct or do I have to sneak them in at night.

Sneaking chicks is trickier then sneaking eggs under a broody. Some broodies take them no problem, others have issues. Most do it at night after the chick has dried off and watch carefully in the morning to see what momma does. Don't wait past 3 days before putting the chick under her or you will run the risk of the chicks not accepting momma more then the momma not accepting the chicks. So definitely sneak them out there tonight and keep an eye on things tomorrow morning!

Congrats! Can't wait for pictures
.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Thank you miss Lydia, I know in my heart it's what I should do to protect her....I will go get her brooder area ready.