Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

But they are still young.
That Orp boy is ADORABLE. I would keep him

I am a rooster lover though. They both look like they are roosters for sure. Too pink and have too large of wattles for that age.

I know, I really don't want to part with either...

 

[bobbieschicks]

I kept smelling something awful this morning. I figured it was broody poop, but did not see it. Turns out it was a rotten egg stuck to poor Topsy. I won't do that again. Any crushed eggs will be tossed. That was the egg I moved from smokey. Now I know why she moved it away.

The good news is I got it off her the bad news is she had it stuck to her all day. Hope it won't hurt her or the baby.

I took the opportunity to briefly check the other eggs. They are heavy. One responded with a chirp when tapped. So maybe she will hatch another chick. She was eager to push them back under herself now that the offender was gone.

Praying for another hatching.

 

[aoxa]

I know, I really don't want to part with either...

Are you allowed roosters where you live?

You have had such bad luck with hatching, and it seems to have followed you to the genders as well Sucks!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I know, I really don't want to part with either...

It's such a bummer to wait 8+ weeks and find out they are all roosters. I kept two of Smokey's rooster clutch. The Wellie and AM are being sold tomorrow morning to a lovely family whose rooster just got killed by a fox. They've made a more secure coop so these two brothers should be quite happy there. And my ladies will finally be able to regrow their back feathers.

 

[Johnn]

No i can keep them i have a huge feild with woods etc, its just teh cock to hen ratio (when they are mating adults) will be 3 cocks and 11 hens

 

[Johnn]

when they first hatched i thaught i had a boy and a girl. then i thaught 2 girls then a boy and a girl again and now 2 boys

 

[stonykill]

Cochins are great mothers. Mine lay really well, but there are lines that don't. I find them just as broody as Orps.
Silkies have been my #1 broody. I have never had a Sumatra, so I am sure Stonykill will suggest them. Obviously they have had good luck with broody hens in that breed.
I've also heard that game hens were really broody.

every Sumatra hen I have ever had has gone broody. Usually at least twice a year, sometimes 3 times a year. Yes I said EVERY Sumtara hen I have ever owned.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Here's some mama hen bonding. A small week old chick got clobbered, prob a territory dispute, I didn't see it happen. A large cut on the body, and a few smaller ones. I pulled the wounds together and let it mat closed....I didn't think it would live...bad wound. I'm also trying a new spray called vetericyn for wounds. After a day, she/he would drink, eat a little. After two days, eating and drinking and walking around more, wound is actually better. I figured some sunshine and outdoors in in order so i went over to the pen...outside the fence. The mama hen came over immediately when this chick peeped, and the chick hopped off to follow her (outside the fence) so I thought what if? I tried it inside and she came over again, looked very closely, talked to the chick, and calmly waked between me and it and led it away. No question she knew this was her chick that mysteriously came home....so she is back to eleven kids. It's been six hours and so far so good, he has been warmed and is feeding on bugs with the others. I keep a check on them and will make sure he gets another spray and back in the coop to night. He is weaker than the others, so still not out of the woods. So that's over three days apart, imprinted.

 

[stonykill]

Games are good broodies, Sumatra are game birds...win win

 

[Johnn]

Im not sure if there is sumartra's were i am...