Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

  One of my Black Sumatra's is hatching her lil ones today. Her 2nd brood of the year!  I heard peeping and looked in on her. I saw 3 heads poking out from under her!

3 heads! Yeah! I bet that was cute to see.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Got busy coping with hot weather whilst dealing with hosting a wedding AND doing the photography so I haven't been around the past couple of weeks but here is an update on Broody Naima and her Copper Marans babies, now 3 weeks old -- looking like 2 boys and 1 girl at this point.




[IMG]http://cdn.backyardchickens.com/b/b6/900x900px-LL-b62e6e58_2012-July-19--IMG_6019.jpeg[/IMG]

Awh so adorable. They grow up so fast!

 

[bobbieschicks]

  and a dark Blue Sumatra hen is starting her hatch! I saw pips! How do I know without lifting her? She was up for a 5 minute eat, drink fest as she had pips! I never touch the broody! 2 hatching on the same day! love it!

Oh sure Stony JK, I have learnt my lesson on messing with the broodies, don't!

Congrats on the pips, you'll have those babies under momma soon.

 

[bobbieschicks]

who can spot the chick? (first pic look for it), (second pic will answer it)











 not sure if yous can see but the two chicks heads are popping out the top in the middle.

Adorable! Glad you got your pics loaded, love the baby pop up pics.

 

[bobbieschicks]

it is outside they are together thats it and she goes after them all the time 

Huh? I guess I missed this conversation. Not sure what you're talking about without a quote linking to the previous post. Sorry.

 

[bobbieschicks]

opps he ... day 9 on the wait i can't stand it lol this is a first time broody hatch for me .. she seems to be doing good with them she finally got off the nest to get a drink but went right back on 

Yes the wait is hard, but it will go by faster if you forget to watch the calendar. Also many broodies hatch early so that can be a bonus! Sometimes they hatch on day 19 or 20 instead of 21.

 

[stonykill]

I have learnt my lesson on messing with the broodies, don't!

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I haven't brought in new ones with someone sitting broody, but I would be hesitant to do that with my flock dynamics. My guess is she will see her as the intruder she is and flog her as best she can. Maybe a side by side period of a week would help them get introduced and not stress the broody or the new girl. Can you wire off a section for both?

What I am looking at doing is not moving her in until after the chicks hatch, then moving Summer and her chicks out of the cat crate in the coop and moving Matilda into it. Summer and chicks will have run of the coop (too high up to let them out in the run for a while) and no one will be able to reach anyone else. Then play it by ear with how they get along. Best I could come up with. :/.

If it had gone according to plan the chicks would be hatching now and two or three weeks old during the intros. But the first batch of eggs were a bust and I wanted to be able to integrate the new girl before work drags me out of state.

Love my inlaws, but they don't really 'get' my chickens. DH will cover the basic care while I am gone and I am sure my niece will keep a nice, close eye on the babies while he is at work! I just want to make things simple for them and safe for the girls before I fly.

 

[bobbieschicks]

What I am looking at doing is not moving her in until after the chicks hatch, then moving Summer and her chicks out of the cat crate in the coop and moving Matilda into it. Summer and chicks will have run of the coop (too high up to let them out in the run for a while) and no one will be able to reach anyone else. Then play it by ear with how they get along. Best I could come up with. :/.
If it had gone according to plan the chicks would be hatching now and two or three weeks old during the intros. But the first batch of eggs were a bust and I wanted to be able to integrate the new girl before work drags me out of state.
Love my inlaws, but they don't really 'get' my chickens. DH will cover the basic care while I am gone and I am sure my niece will keep a nice, close eye on the babies while he is at work! I just want to make things simple for them and safe for the girls before I fly.

That sounds like a great plan and isn't doing anything drastic or difficult for others to deal with in your absence.

 

[aaggjg]

I'd put it back and let whatever happens happen. Hoping everything goes well.

I put them back and put other babies in the coop so mama came up. It's early for bed here but hoping she stays up there for the night!!!! I guess I'll see in the morning.