Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Yippee!! I just went out to check... And lo and behold, a tiny little black duck popped up from under Mama Pekin! Soooo cute!! Does anyone have any Additional info on Pekin mom crossed with Khaki Drake? I'm officially a grandma. The duckling did sort of tumble out of the nest, was exploring the straw, I placed it very very gently back under mom and she buried it. Lol It was so sweet! I can't wait to see it tomorrow. I did set my infrared off to the side just in case. Does anyone know how to post pics using an iPhone? I am super thrilled, I just want to share this with all of you. Thanks so much for the support, I swear I was more relaxed during my own pregnancies! I love this site.

Congrats on the duckling. Be careful to make sure ducklings can get back into the nest if they fall out. Mama won't be able to help them. You won't need your infrared light mama will keep them toasty warm, and you don't want to have roasted duck.

 

[Miss Lydia]

hello
This is my first year with broodies. I have mostly FCBM's and Silkies and they have all gone broody at least once so far this year. I'm wondering if there is a season for broody hens? do they stop going broody in the fall or can I expect them to keep going if they have exhibited high levels of broodieness . I have 2 hens that have been going broody 4 weeks after they start laying again like clockwork so far, just wondering if it is likely to continue.

Most of the time broodys start as the days get longer in the spring, and usually wind down when they start getting shorter, they need a break too. Silkies are world class brooders so yours may go up into to fall.

 

[chiqita]

ty.

 

[Johnn]

I found out last week that the chicks and orp are sleeping in a seperate shed to everyone else, they have been perching on top of the box and pooing inside the box, but tonight after staying till perch time that the chicks perch on the side of the box and the mother sleeps in the middle off the box in the poo!, so I quickly put some hay into the box for her to sleep on before I had to go home!

 

[Johnn]

This is their shed!!!, they are still with their mam and are 10 wks on thursday, shes still doing the broody cluck when she walks with them and she is pointing out bits of food and calling them over...

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

No pips! The broody wasn't even sitting on it, she was sitting on an egg one of the other girls layed...

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is their shed!!!, they are still with their mam and are 10 wks on thursday, shes still doing the broody cluck when she walks with them and she is pointing out bits of food and calling them over...

I have 2 that will be 10 weeks this Friday and their mama is going to a new home, they are going to be lost without her. They are both roos. looks like you have a roo too Johnn

 

[homeschoolchick]

Hello I am looking for advice.

I have a coop that is really a rabbit hutch, with the dimensions of 6 x 2. I have one bantam cockerel and two bantam pullets in there. Today is day 18 for my one pullet. Well, my other girl just started laying eggs when my broody started to set. She has now decided the past few days to "egg sit" while my broody got up to do her business. She is now broody and did not roost tonight!

I don't know what to do with both of them in there together. Also, would it be too early to give her three eggs if they will hatch soon?

 

[3 NH reds]

This is the first time we've used shipped eggs, so I have to ask- whats your guys average hatch rate of shipped eggs like? We're used to about 95-100% hatch rate from our own eggs because we get them under a hen the day or so after they're laid, but some of the shipped eggs don't seem to be doing much. Is it normal to have a few losses with shipped?

I had horrible hatch rates from shipped. 5 of 18 was the best and you can guess the lowest rate of 0% . The eggs I got had to go from Fla to MA and had some long times sitting in the post office sorting center. The last batch I tried were wrapped in bubble wrap in shipping peanuts in a box in another box with the peanuts and market fragile. One egg was broken! I think fragile makes a box a target to the post office. Now its day12 for Broody sitting on some eggs off of craigslist. She needs a brood to have and raise and we couldnt see her sitting on old eggs any longer

 

[Johnn]

I have 2 that will be 10 weeks this Friday and their mama is going to a new home, they are going to be lost without her. They are both roos. looks like you have a roo too Johnn

yep the cuckoo marans a roo and im keeping him, not sur eabout the orp chick it has a home lined up if its a boy but if its a girl i will keep