Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[aoxa]

aww , thats terrible!!, i really just want my opr to hatch a little cream legbar girl out to replace Melow, if she dosen't go broody again i will just go to the pet shop were i got Melow and get one from there, although i will be shocked if she dosen't considering the chicks are 17 weeks in 3 days and she still hasn't left them!

It was partly my fault, as I instructed the chicken sitter to move the nest down when her babies hatched. The nest was at breast level - and they would have surely died jumping out. She did not like to be moved. I knew this, but thought if she had chicks peeping to her, she wouldn't dare leave them. I was wrong.

 

[Johnn]

It was partly my fault, as I instructed the chicken sitter to move the nest down when her babies hatched. The nest was at breast level - and they would have surely died jumping out. She did not like to be moved. I knew this, but thought if she had chicks peeping to her, she wouldn't dare leave them. I was wrong.

For some reason i feel guilty for not taking the eggs out the orpingtons nest and putting them back under her, but instead i cracked them open with out thinking, im not sure how long they were left for but it must have been over an hour because they were very cold. My black chick fell/got down from the nest 30cm high but i guess it isn't too big of a drop compared to yours.

 

[aoxa]

Stony, how are sumatras with production? Someone was looking for a good broody, foraging, high producing breed. Sumatras came to mind. Care to elaborate?

 

[aoxa]

For some reason i feel guilty for not taking the eggs out the orpingtons nest and putting them back under her, but instead i cracked them open with out thinking, im not sure how long they were left for but it must have been over an hour because they were very cold. My black chick fell/got down from the nest 30cm high but i guess it isn't too big of a drop compared to yours.

She had abandoned the nest the day before for 12 hours and still 2 hatched. They were very cold to the touch and survived until hatch despite the mother's sporadic tenancies.

 

[Lacy Blues]

For some reason i feel guilty for not taking the eggs out the orpingtons nest and putting them back under her, but instead i cracked them open with out thinking, im not sure how long they were left for but it must have been over an hour because they were very cold. My black chick fell/got down from the nest 30cm high but i guess it isn't too big of a drop compared to yours.

Johnn, you could always move your broody's nest to the floor. If she's resistant to being moved, you can make her a box with a locking door, put her in it when its dark, with her eggs and lock the door. I did that with one of my broody Andalusians. Left her locked in til the next night, then once it was dark, I unlocked the door and left it open. She moved perfectly well. No issues at all. They don't eat/drink much anyway when they're broody and it wasn't hot so I wasn't afraid of her having a problem with not enough water. In fact, her chicks are due to hatch on Nov 1. Hopefully all goes well. Tonight, I will need to put just a little water on the shavings under the eggs so the humidity will be good for hatching. I hope she does well as a mama. She's been on a nest for 6 weeks now. I don't know if she's been broody before as I only got her in January. She's definitely a dedicated egg sitter, hope she accepts the babies when they hatch. I'll keep y'all posted. I'll try to get pictures. She's setting some of my daughter's Golden Campine eggs and she has 3 so hopefully they all hatch and do very well.

 

[stonykill]

Stony, how are sumatras with production? Someone was looking for a good broody, foraging, high producing breed. Sumatras came to mind. Care to elaborate?

depends on the hen. Some are great layers 6 days a week. Some only 3 to 4 days a week. Anything from a medium egg to a medium large egg. As for the foraging and broodiness they are top notch. 1/2 dozen Sumatra hens would keep a family in eggs and chicks

 

[aoxa]

  depends on the hen. Some are great layers 6 days a week. Some only 3 to 4 days a week. Anything from a medium egg to a medium large egg. As for the foraging and broodiness they are top notch. 1/2 dozen Sumatra hens would keep a family in eggs and chicks

Thanks

I imagine they can take care of themselves against a more rowdy breed? IE: RIRs.

 

[stonykill]

Thanks

I imagine they can take care of themselves against a more rowdy breed? IE: RIRs.

a picture is worth a thousand words

 

[Miss Lydia]

a picture is worth a thousand words

Beautiful flock,stony

 

[stonykill]

Beautiful flock,stony

thanks, that is some of them