Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[CamiLynn]

Leave her alone and just be patient. Just like opening the bator is not good for humidity and temperatures, so too is lifting the broody. Quick peeks are even not really good, but I totally understand cuz I do it myself. lol.

You will soon have some little peeps running around. But please, hands off for now

Ahhh ok...hiding my flashlight! Lol

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ahhh ok...hiding my flashlight! Lol

Keep the camera handy for those fuzzybutts shots!

 

[CoopChick719]

Thanks Bobbie...we think Mom is pretty too. She's got a great personality as well.

 

[delisha]

Quote: It was warmer today..about 25..

 

[delisha]

Quote: Barred Rocks..and so cute

 

[fisherlady]

New pics at 5 days old!!

Family meeting. Starting on the left we have Flacco (hatched on Super Bowl Sunday), Chipmunk, Mom-Janice, Pitch and Spot. I'm thinking I've got 3 barred rocks & 1 EE. Would welcome any of your thoughts?




Dinner time



Barred Rocks?

They sure are adorable! I agree on the barred rocks probability... I'm sorry, but I forgot where you got your eggs or if you knew what breed ahead of time. I also have Barred Rocks, my second breed was Black Australorps, which looked very similar up till 4 or 5 days old, then the BRs started really showing the barring in the wings while the BA's remained yellow chested and no barring. Ours are 13 days old and the barring is very obvious. If you have any doubts just watch the wing feathers for the barring, it will be obvious shortly.

 

[3riverschick]

That's a lovely little chipmunk chick. I can't tell from the pics. Does it have a brown helmet ..or a stripe going over the top of its skull?
aren

 

[3riverschick]

Ok, so what's going on here?

I went out to check on the pullets tonight. Yup. found the huge broody poops...and the rooster in the nestbox with the 2 girls!! Now this X-large nestbox barely fits the 2 girls. Now he is in it too! What do I do? I asked him 3 times if he really wanted to be there smile, while I was adding more feed. When I left, he had climbed out to see what was going on. There are 4 inch feathers scattered around the coop. I wonder if they are his or the girls?
Karen

 

[perchie.girl]

Ok, so what's going on here?

I went out to check on the pullets tonight. Yup. found the huge broody poops...and the rooster in the nestbox with the 2 girls!! Now this X-large nestbox barely fits the 2 girls. Now he is in it too! What do I do? I asked him 3 times if he really wanted to be there smile, while I was adding more feed. When I left, he had climbed out to see what was going on. There are 4 inch feathers scattered around the coop. I wonder if they are his or the girls?
Karen

LOL what a visual.....

 

[fisherlady]

Ok, so what's going on here?

I went out to check on the pullets tonight. Yup. found the huge broody poops...and the rooster in the nestbox with the 2 girls!! Now this X-large nestbox barely fits the 2 girls. Now he is in it too! What do I do? I asked him 3 times if he really wanted to be there smile, while I was adding more feed. When I left, he had climbed out to see what was going on. There are 4 inch feathers scattered around the coop. I wonder if they are his or the girls?
Karen

It sounds like you only have 3 chickens total in the coop? The two hens and 1 roo? If that is the case, then most likely it is that the second hen is being a good friend/offering support or being co-broody with the first hen. With both of them warm and comfy in the nest box your roo got lonely and/or cold being on the roost by himself so he joined them. They are VERY social and it doesn't surprise me at all that he doesn't want to roost alone.
If they are all getting along you may need to rethink your nest area choice and try making a larger nest area for them, if you aren't going to keep him away from the nest, and the hens don't run him off either, then giving space to reduce overcrowding may help prevent eggs from getting crushed in the 'jockeying for position' that tends to happen.
I don't have any first hand experience with roosters trying to sit in the nest with a broody hen, but flock dynamics are unique to each group....
The feathers may be from the hens plucking their 'broody patch', check and see if they have naked bellies.