Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[CoopChick719]

Day 3. Patiently waiting for my own fuzzybutts

We're still hoping that the last 3 eggs under my Sizzle will hatch. She's staying put even though 3 chicks have been popping out from under her wings. My daughter says then hen looks like PeeWee's Playhouse out there.

 

[CoopChick719]

I have peeps!

I seen one Orpington so far, and one mix. I only gave her a few Orpington eggs, but, we all know how that sometimes works. Obviously someone snuck an egg or two in there. Or she is an egg stealer.

Hooray!!

Congrats delisha!

 

[Phoenix Farms]

Well the broody has been moved to her own pen but wouldn't stay on her eggs. So we locked her in and set her on the eggs. I'm hoping for the best. Can't wait for my own peeps. In going to be overun with chicks since I have 42 eggs in the 'bator and I just bought 8 Faverolle pullets.

 

[luvmychicken]

Well the broody has been moved to her own pen but wouldn't stay on her eggs. So we locked her in and set her on the eggs. I'm hoping for the best. Can't wait for my own peeps. In going to be overun with chicks since I have 42 eggs in the 'bator and I just bought 8 Faverolle pullets.

thats what worries my bout moving my broody to a brood box

 

[CoopChick719]

Well I did get a picture..but only one stayed out long enough..

Awww...cute baby!!

I couldn't find a small enough crate at Walmart today. The smallest was for a 30lb dog and it was 3'x2'x2' and way too big for my coop. I'll have to work on wiring off the side of the coop tomorrow.

Tonight Topsy was up on the roost with all the other girls and the two roosters. Only her 13 week old babies are still on the floor of the coop. I didn't check her wounds, I'll look at her tomorrow during the daylight to see how she is doing. It was cold and snowy today so she spent most of her time hidden under the coop.

I'm kicking myself for not letting her hatch some eggs, but I already have more chickens then I can house. I sized the coop for 14 LF chickens. Thankfully of my 16 chickens, 7 of them are small to tiny and the other 9 are medium to large. So the tiny ones are like having 3 LF. oh wait 9+3=12 so I could still have two more chickens in there right!

I was doing my own chicken math today bobbie. Pretty sure I could have 16 LF. However, I've got 3 bantam cochins and 3 Silkies. These 3 babies are LF. Hmmmm....

 

[Destinysma]

Finally getting sight of all five new chicks.

 

[CoopChick719]

Too cute....little fuzzybutts!!

 

[fisherlady]

Finally getting sight of all five new chicks.

Love them!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Finally getting sight of all five new chicks.

Adorable!

 

[bobbieschicks]

thats what worries my bout moving my broody to a brood box

I've had success seven times with moving them by setting up the new area with a little of the shavings or straw from the old nest. Then I move her at night by putting a small hand towel over her head and doing it in the late evening while its practically dark. Then I make sure it's dark in her new nest and she's left sitting on the fake eggs or ping pong balls in my case. I let her stay on those fakes for the day or two and then put the real eggs under her after I'm certain she will stay put.

I've only had success once moving a broody in daylight.

The last time I didn't move my broody from the nest box. She sat and hatched four out of five eggs. It was easy to spot her eggs since she was my only silky laying at the time. So any other eggs I would just remove daily when I put her down to eat and drink. I also made sure she returned to her nest by removing eggs from the other nests quickly and taking out the ping pong balls. She also had a little helper pullet who was not broody but she got into the nest until the chicks finished hatching and then helped raise them. That was a first for me to watch.