Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[luvmychicken]

2 more eggs hatched over night. Saw them briefly. One is white witha black strip on its head. The other is pure black. With black legs. Will get pics soon

How many mre is there to hatch??

Just one. Last time I candled it it was hard to tell if it was a good one or not. Will wait till Monday. If it has not done anything by then. It will remove it. Today is day 21.

 

[salt and pepper]

thanks for the reply, I know she isn't laying yet, because she is an ameraucana, and I haven't gotten a blue egg, but every day she makes a nest, and sits in it, egg or no egg, for quite a while. I am hoping that after she does lay, that she will go broody. will keep you updated =)

 

[delisha]

Quote: If they are a few days old it should not matter. Make sure you can observe at first light no matter what you decide to do. Some mothers will not bond to chicks place under her. Some just take every thing you give them and steal as many as they can get away with. At night is a good choice if the mom is a bit drowsy she will start talking to them..just make sure you can take them away if she decided these are not hers and don't want them. My Orpingtons take every thing no matter what the age.

This girl hatched out two chicks and sat that nest and would not take the chicks off to eat so I took her eggs. I hatched out 3 other chicks a week later and just gave them to her 15 minutes ago. I have been checking on her and she seems fine with them. I worry more about the chick and learning to go under for warmth.

 

[Debs55]

Hey y'all. 5 more days till hatch day! But I have a question. My broody is nesting on the floor of the coop and at night the other chickens ( 2 pullets and a roo..all silkies) cuddle with her. She even lets them help sit on the eggs at night. My question is the day before hatch day should I put some wire around her at night in case they hatch during the night? During the day I can just shut the coop door cause the other chickens never go in there during the day. I'm scared they may squish the chicks

 

[delisha]

Hey y'all. 5 more days till hatch day! But I have a question. My broody is nesting on the floor of the coop and at night the other chickens ( 2 pullets and a roo..all silkies) cuddle with her. She even lets them help sit on the eggs at night. My question is the day before hatch day should I put some wire around her at night in case they hatch during the night? During the day I can just shut the coop door cause the other chickens never go in there during the day. I'm scared they may squish the chicks

They know chicks when they see them. I would not worry. When mom hears some peeping going on she might suggest to others to move over.She will probably set tight to the nest the last few days. Some really good flocks co-raise chicks all together. If you are one of those..you are blessed. I have several hens who will show feed to all the chicks and even a drake duck who shows new chicks were feed is. I also have some birds that the hens keep there charges away from. They are pretty smart birds. If your group is all together, they will help raise these chicks. It is a win win.

 

[akashia26]

what does it say about us when our 9 month old pullet has a 100% hatch rate and we only get 4 out of 9 in the bator. she has all 12, and we're glad they all fit (she's kinda small). but still we kept ours at 97-100 and turned them 3 times a day. kept the right humidity and temp. constant climate control and care. she sets them in freezing weather, humidity jumping up and down . her getting off and getting something to eat. probably turning them more but also turning them during "lockdown". and she gets 100% and we gat 45%. kinda humbling.

 

[fisherlady]

what does it say about us when our 9 month old pullet has a 100% hatch rate and we only get 4 out of 9 in the bator. she has all 12, and we're glad they all fit (she's kinda small). but still we kept ours at 97-100 and turned them 3 times a day. kept the right humidity and temp. constant climate control and care. she sets them in freezing weather, humidity jumping up and down . her getting off and getting something to eat. probably turning them more but also turning them during "lockdown". and she gets 100% and we gat 45%. kinda humbling.

Yep, our broody silkie just hatched out 8 for 8 eggs on Jan 26th.... shipped eggs to boot! Freezing weather, shipped eggs and she still got the job done! VERY humbling!
Congrats on your great broody hatch and hope you can get some pics! 12 is quite a handful for any momma hen, especially in cold weather!

 

[Johnn]

I want a broody!!

 

[ocap]

Yep, our broody silkie just hatched out 8 for 8 eggs on Jan 26th.... shipped eggs to boot! Freezing weather, shipped eggs and she still got the job done! VERY humbling!
Congrats on your great broody hatch and hope you can get some pics! 12 is quite a handful for any momma hen, especially in cold weather!

I would like to know the breed of the 8 chicks your broody silkie hatched. I am getting silkies later this spring and want to know how many eggs they can handle.

 

[fisherlady]

I would like to know the breed of the 8 chicks your broody silkie hatched. I am getting silkies later this spring and want to know how many eggs they can handle.

She hatched 4 Barred Rock, and 4 Black Australorp...