Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

This isn't my pic but thought everyone on this thread would like it

I saw that on another thread and thought it was so cute.

looks like she maybe thinking, "what you have a problem with this"?

 

[Miss Lydia]

finally i think my bantam hen has gone broody but im not sure i will have to wait 3 days to see i put some more eggs under her or by her i guess i should say she put then under her and she is squawking at me and the other hens if i or them go near her i think this is her first time broody and she is just a small little one .. i can take a pic if anyone wants to see her

Love to see a pic and congrats..

 

[farmer boy]

okay hold on i will get a pic in a min be back in a sec

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well after all i put Betty and her newly hatched chick and not quite hatched chick through yesterday they were all doing well this morning, the one chick was still wet so hadn't been out long, went into the coop sprayed everything again and then dusted all the bedding turned it over and dusted some more now I need to pick up more powder today when I go for feed, from now on I will dust all bedding 3X a year just as a percaution, and even though I use Epernix on my flock 4X a year Maybe i need to up it to 6X I do Not want to go through this again nor put my flock through it, especially with babies involved. No one else having mite problems? honestly I clean my coops spray and disinfect daily, just really bummed about this.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well after all i put Betty and her newly hatched chick and not quite hatched chick through yesterday they were all doing well this morning, the one chick was still wet so hadn't been out long, went into the coop sprayed everything again and then dusted all the bedding turned it over and dusted some more now I need to pick up more powder today when I go for feed, from now on I will dust all bedding 3X a year just as a percaution, and even though I use Epernix on my flock 4X a year Maybe i need to up it to 6X I do Not want to go through this again nor put my flock through it, especially with babies involved. No one else having mite problems?  honestly I clean my coops spray and disinfect daily, just really bummed about this. 

It was a mild winter and warm spring, perfect weather for pests.

 

[bobbieschicks]

This isn't my pic but thought everyone on this thread would like it

Hate to see the size egg out of which she hatched that one! Jk

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I had a minor mite issue about two months ago. DEed everyone and that was hilarious! I put a ton of DE in a storage tub and then put the hens one by one in the tub. Then just worked it into there feathers realllly good. They all came out light grey/white. Then I sprinkled a little Sevin dust on the affected hen (only found mites on one hen). Then came the complete coop clean out. Haven't seen any since.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had a minor mite issue about two months ago. DEed everyone and that was hilarious! I put a ton of DE in a storage tub and then put the hens one by one in the tub. Then just worked it into there feathers realllly good. They all came out light grey/white. Then I sprinkled a little Sevin dust on the affected hen (only found mites on one hen). Then came the complete coop clean out. Haven't seen any since.

When we first had mites 2 yrs ago in the summer, I only used DE and nothing else but they came anyway, so I only use DE to keep feed fresh. glad it worked for you though.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I thought I would link this here as I know many of you have had chickens for years. Any idea what is happening with my girls?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...rs-stripped-what-is-causing-this#post_9303483

I've determined Topsy is broodied. So now I have to decide what to do with her.

My coop is sized for maximum of 12 LF chickens (10'x5'=50sq ft, with 4 sq ft per chicken that means 12.5 and I don't have any half chickens).
My flock now in diminishing size but not diminishing age is:
1 Welsummer cockerel (deciding between cockerels right now)
1 Ameraucana cockerel (trying to decide if I want to keep vs wellie vs silkie)
3 LF Lavender Orpington pullets
1 silkie cockerel whom I will most likely keep
1 White Leghorn pullet
1 Ancona pullet
1 EE pullet
1 EE/WL mix pullet
And
6 baby 6 weekld silkies of unknown sex, but probably 4 cockerels and 2 pullets

Adding those up means I have 16 chickens! I've my limit by 4, but those are small babies at present.
So clearly you can see I will reach maximum capacity quickly, especially if I add any more LF breeds in this mix. I do so want some dark egg layers! Thoughts?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hate to see the size egg out of which she hatched that one! Jk

That baby chick looks like it would like to kick butt, look at it's face.