Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Can't believe the babies will be 3 weeks old already on Thursday! They grow up so fast

Here are a few shots of them out with Topsy (59 weeks old) and Vanilla Ice (15 weeks old) in the yard and run area. Today she has them all the way over by the house and hydrangea bushes. It makes me nervous because that is where the little black silkie mix got eaten by the hawk. But I suppose I have to trust her mother's instinct since they are free ranging together.

 

[aoxa]

Janet is still with her silkies, and they are 11 weeks old! They still pile under her at night and everything.

 

[aoxa]

Can't believe the babies will be 3 weeks old already on Thursday!  They grow up so fast

Here are a few shots of them out with Topsy  (59 weeks old) and Vanilla Ice (15 weeks old) in the yard and run area.  Today she has them all the way over by the house and hydrangea bushes.  It makes me nervous because that is where the little black silkie mix got eaten by the hawk.  But I suppose I have to trust her mother's instinct since they are free ranging together.

Vanilla Ice definitely looks like a girl!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Vanilla Ice definitely looks like a girl!!

Hope you are right - your chicks are beautiful!

 

[Miss Lydia]

i went outside and he was standing up to me in front of the hens trying to bite my leg i started pushing him away with my foot over and over then finally he gave up and ran in the bushes lol .. and one of the roosters and hens was watching but my mom said it is good that he is trying to be dominate because he has a mate and he never tried mating or crowing yet and now this so idk

It's good for him to be head roo to his girls but not to you. He needs to learn to respect you as head roo and keeper. not to dispute what your mom is saying but you don't want him touching you. Thats why we should never try to make friends with a rooster. Always keep them a little intimidated of us.

 

[aoxa]

i went outside and he was standing up to me in front of the hens trying to bite my leg i started pushing him away with my foot over and over then finally he gave up and ran in the bushes lol .. and one of the roosters and hens was watching but my mom said it is good that he is trying to be dominate because he has a mate and he never tried mating or crowing yet and now this so idk 

It's good for him to be head roo to his girls but not to you. He needs to learn to respect you as head roo and keeper. not to dispute what your mom is saying but you don't want him touching you. Thats why we should never try to make friends with a rooster. Always keep them a little intimidated of us. 

Exactly.

 

[Johnn]

Can't believe the babies will be 3 weeks old already on Thursday! They grow up so fast

Here are a few shots of them out with Topsy (59 weeks old) and Vanilla Ice (15 weeks old) in the yard and run area. Today she has them all the way over by the house and hydrangea bushes. It makes me nervous because that is where the little black silkie mix got eaten by the hawk. But I suppose I have to trust her mother's instinct since they are free ranging together.

Very cute

 

[Johnn]

some of my hens have hidden nests out in the field and i think one of them might sit, if she does, do yous think it would be ok just to let them use any eggs they have layed in there? or ones layed int he nest box, or would i have to take them away leave them point end down for 24 hours then give them??

 

[Lacy Blues]

You don't have to do anything to the eggs Johnn. If they're fertile, they'll grow. If you want to use them, put them under her.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Those four chicks came from Topsy's eggs I was collecting in the kitchen for about a week to cook. I decided when she went broody just to stick them under her. She was only mated once by the rooster before she went broody. I didn't do anything special to the eggs.