Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[TheRookie]

I have 7 little fuzzy butts! Momma is already teaching them how to scratch and use their water dish. 4 mutts (came from a layer pen with a Buff Orp roo and several breeds of hens) and three Silkies with amazing! foot feathering. What layer could be mixed with a buff orp to get a dark skinned chick with a single comb? I cant remember what all he has in that pen.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hi all--I am going to try this post here because it is but isnt an emergency...
I have many broody hens that do most of my hatching for me.  This year they are now on their second broods and I am suddenly having problems with the chicks.  when they get to be about 2 weeks old suddenly one eye will stick shut, they stop eating and look and act lethargic.  Then they die.  I have never had this problem with hatched chicks before.  I thought it was just a few weak ones at first but today there are 3 more that look affected. They are from different mamas too.  All of them run loose on the farm and do their own thing.  I did bring two in and gave them some
Vet Rx--they died within two days.
What do you think?  Should I just let it run it's course or is there something I can do now or in the future?  I would hate for this to become an ongoing thing...

Thanks for any help you can give!  Terri O

 

Oh no I'm so sorry. Have you posted on the emergencies forum? It's also a place to post these kinds of questions. I haven't any experience with these symptoms but hopefully someone else can help.

 

[stonykill]

Congrats on all the pipping and hatching , we're processing roos but just wanted to pop in say say Congrats and Howdy~!!!

I have about 10 that need to be done shortly myself. And 2 more hatches due next week! My RIR's are due

 

[Tripp16]

Welp! I have a broody duck! Mrs Lilly was on the nest all day and is still on it fluffed up and MEAN! The thing is I cant find fertile duck eggs anywhere!! I dont want to give her chicken eggs, that might not work out to well when they hatch... Lol

Any ideas?

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

There are some Pekin duck eggs for sale in the BYC sales section. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...sted-and-non-crested-pekin-duck-hatching-eggs. There may be more further down too. And if all else fails there are a bunch of listings on eBay.

 

[stonykill]

Welp! I have a broody duck! Mrs Lilly was on the nest all day and is still on it fluffed up and MEAN! The thing is I cant find fertile duck eggs anywhere!! I dont want to give her chicken eggs, that might not work out to well when they hatch... Lol

Any ideas?

I just put a request on my FB chicken page. See if anyone is sorta near you

 

[Tanichca]

Oh gosh. We got two more broodies, a phoenix and another silkie! These will be hens 3 and 4. Hen 1 has her baies already, and hen 2 is on day 20.

 

[Terri O]

Welp! I have a broody duck! Mrs Lilly was on the nest all day and is still on it fluffed up and MEAN! The thing is I cant find fertile duck eggs anywhere!! I dont want to give her chicken eggs, that might not work out to well when they hatch... Lol

Any ideas?...

Too bad you arent closer to me Tripp...I would give you some of my muskovy eggs. Those foolish hens are on their 3rd bunches of babies and some are now laying AGAIN! Terri O

(PS) I will post my dilemma on emergencies too I guess.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

this evening I had to sort out the chicks. Copper has thirteen and blackie has eleven (I think) several of the little ones went to roost in the wrong spot, they were sqwaking but when i went they they ran to the hen, she didn't seem to mind but the chcik wanted her real mother, they are both black hens with the same rooster so the only way to tell them apart is size. Only a week apart...and when i put them in the far end of the brooder they go running to mom. It's happened several times, but tonight I passed the count at sixteen and realized a few had to go back....I'm real glad the hen doesn't seem to mind a sleep over or two.. wish I could post pics!

 

[Tanichca]

If there's a lot of broody poop on one of the eggs, can that hurt the chick? It's only the one egg, but its pretty nasty.

ETA it's about day 20 by my estimation, if that changes anything.