Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Same thing has been going on her stony, I think mamas are just very tempermental right now and it doesn't take much to set them off. It's gotten some better now because 2 of my broodys have gone back to just being hens. They still round their babies up in the eve. but pretty much they leave them on their on during the day. Last eve. went into count heads and 2 of the 3 week olds were sitting on the roost and being picked on couldn't figure out why they weren't with mama she was in the nest box sitting on an egg. silly goof! so i took the egg and gave her her chicks all got settled down then.

 

[Tbird84]

I had a broody fight yesterday too! Between Snow White(my broody muscovy) and my Golden Phoenix hen who has babies right now. Apparently Snow White got too close to the bowl they were eating out of.

Because all the duck hens are broody(4 of them), my drakes are frustrated and fight amoungst(sp?) themselves.

Now I have to come up with separate quarters for every broody because they are so snippy. Don't want the babies getting caught in the middle.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I still perfer this to sitting in front of an incubator and staring at eggs.

Thankfully my 2 drakes have kinda settled their diputes with the head drake still in control. He is about 8 years old so don't know how much longer he can hold on. I had to make a separate bedroom for 2 of my duck hens when their sister went broody, they are now sleeping in an xtra large dog crate in my feed/ storage building. And today when i went into let them out another one of them is broody but went ahead and took the eggs, since we have no more room. I always hate to take the eggs from them. But Got to be able to keep them secure at night and we are out of room, and my dh says they will not share a building with his motorcycle!

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
Thank You GG Chicken Mom!

I may try your way with a bright (LUM) flashlight. I'll be sure to post what I find, IF I find......

Lisa

The thing about candling is that if there are a lot of eggs under the mamma, you can make her a bit more comfortable. I mean it just can't be comfortable being a living pancake for 3 weeks!!! Also if the eggs go off they can explode and cover the live ones with nasty goo.

Last year I tried to candle every few days and only managed to confuse myself. This year I waited til we had a warm day somewhere near the middle of the 3 weeks. I was able to see enough to know there were some eggs that were not doing anything, and was able to get rid of them. Hermione didn't mind at all

 

[Tbird84]

I just start carrying around a flashlight in my pocket so when the hen comes off the nest in the evening to feed, I can candle without making her mad.

 

[laughingull]

Day 21 and not so much as pip

also 1 of my 2 quail eggs hatched but didn't make it. Cute little one looks in perfect condition but still has yolk stuck to its belly so I am guessing something went wrong in the hatch? Fingers crossed for poor Miss Tiggywinkle that her wee ones are just running a bit behind schedule (though wait- I started the eggs Easter evening... so it wouldn't be 21 days untill tonight??? When do you start counting??) Thrilled at least I can vicariously enjoy baby chicks through all of your amazing pics- keep the pictures coming I LOVE them!!!!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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bet you have pips during the overnight hours, so the quail that hatched didn't make it? if so i am so sorry.

 

[annaraven]

Quote:
post 1371 in this thread has pics

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
post 1371 in this thread has pics

very sweet, Ernest knows to keep his distance.

 

[caseyb]

I am having good luck with OEGB hens so far this year, my blue hatched 6 out of 7 and my silver duckwing has 5 now and 3 more piping. Have not had good luck with my millie fluer and porclian D'uccle's only hatched only one chick each. The millie is sitting agin now,hope she does better this time.