Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Here is a pic of me being the broody hand to the orphans...they were sleeping while standing, looking lost so i scooped them together into a 'nest' so they finally got some much needed rest.

Awh bless their little hearts!

 

[bobbieschicks]

The eggs have arrived!!! I ordered 10 but she included 4 extra. I don't know if she can cover that many and I don't have a bator. But they are smaller than her eggs and she is covering ten of those... Hummmm... They are D'Anver eggs w/ a bantam brahma hen. Thoughts?

Candle them and check for cracks then set them aside for 24 hours to rest. Try them all. She will manage them fine if it's as hot there as it is here.

 

[prairie]

Aris,
Your chicken house looks so much like mine -- I have a dirt floor with lots of hay strewn around. I just went through my first hatch -- 2 hens hatched out 12 for me about a week ago --even with this heat! I cut boxes for their nests too -- actually Tyson Foods Chicken boxes which I thought was apropro!!. Good luck on your hatch!!

Sorry for the low quality of the image is due to the phone, those 2 girls went broody with 4 days difference , the white at the back has 10 eggs and started at 6/30 and the other one at 7/4 but I added 3 eggs today and now she has 12 eggs.For some reason both hens smashed 1 egg ,probably the nest's were to high for them to enter so I cut the one nest a little and put some bricks in front of them to help them climb.
I will try for some better quality pictures the following days and some close ups of the girls so we can see a proper stink eye.
Wish me good luck with the hatching

 

[bobbieschicks]

So cute! Congrats!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I think they have the idea to snuggle now without 'broody hand' thankfully....being a broody is hard work, these will be the tamest games around I think...next week, will be teaching how to catch a bug, scratch the dirt, and take a dust bath 101. 

So cute! I can't wait to see the pics of you leading them around in the yard

 

[bobbieschicks]

Both of my successful broodies stuck to their nests like glue and only pooped, at most, every 3 days. I think my current broody, Naima got off the nest 4 or maybe 5 times in the 3 weeks. That's it. She literally scared me to death. But she doesn't seem any the worse for wear at this point. She is taking very good care of her chicks and seems quite vigorous. She really doesn't seem to have suffered that much at all. Their bodies really must go into some sort of state similar to hybernation. Naima did drink but she only ate the barest minimum of food - no matter what I tried to tempt her with.

Thinking ALL good thoughts for those eggs! Glad to hear she still has 6. You should candle them to see if they are developing.

They hardly seem to eat, drink or poo, but they do all three things as needed. And you will know when she poos? PHEW!

 

[Wynette]

They hardly seem to eat, drink or poo, but they do all three things as needed. And you will know when she poos? PHEW!

Thanks, guys! I appreciate the feedback, BG & bobbie!

I did my first broody hatch (well, not ME, the hen - BA HA HA!) last fall, and it went like clockwork. Gave her 6 eggs, she hatched them all, raised them up, no issues whatosever. So, I'm familiar with how it's "supposed" to go. This year, none of the times I've tried are working out the same. I with that same hen that went broody for me last year would go again this year!!

BG, that's so intresting that Naima only pooped every 3rd day or so - makes me feel much better!

 

[Aris]

@ pairie
There is no floor at my coop so what you see is soil mixed with chicken poop and hay, their nests are boxes that my grant father uses when he collects oranges and tangerines.
My coop is probably one of the most ugly at the BYC but it get the job done, with the assistance of a big Bougainvillea tree above it provide the valuable shade needed since I live at Creta the northeast island of Greece and temperature right now are 30-35 Celsius at an average summer day ,that's 86-95 Fahrenheit ,and it won't be better until September .

 

[jc12551]

This isn't the best pic ever (taken with my phone), but this is my first ever broody (surprise hatch) with her two-week old chicks. They are cuckoo maran x barred rock?? crosses. The one on the far left is always off from the crowd. I think it is a roo. I am away from home for 10 days and have a local teen taking care of the animals. I hope everyone survives

 

[CarolJ]

My last broody and the current broody only pooped every 2-3 days. We are out of town - won't be home till Saturday afternoon - and the eggs under Blackie will reach day 21 on Saturday. With this heat, I"m betting they'll hatch today or tomorrow. It's driving me crazy not being there. I just have to keep telling myself that chickens know how to hatch chicks without human help or observation. I'm loving vacation - but I am SO anxious to get home and see how my chickens are doing.