Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

She fluffed and growled a bit when I swapped out the wooden eggs for real ones, but she settled right back on them and hasn't budged since. She looks a lot like Johnn's broody.

Mine is bigger though! Yours in still cute

 

[lawatt]

broody update:
-- broody #1 has two ten-day-old chicks who are doing great
-- broody #3 and #4 sitting on their nests
-- broody #5 just started on her eggs yesterday
-- broody #2 is on day 24 for her eggs, a dozen araucanas -- no sign of any pips or cracks, no peeping to be heard -- but i just float-tested half of them and they all appear to viable still. so, fingers crossed...

 

[OHfarmerswife]

broody update:
-- broody #1 has two ten-day-old chicks who are doing great
-- broody #3 and #4 sitting on their nests
-- broody #5 just started on her eggs yesterday
-- broody #2 is on day 24 for her eggs, a dozen araucanas -- no sign of any pips or cracks, no peeping to be heard -- but i just float-tested half of them and they all appear to viable still.  so, fingers crossed...

dumb question how & why do you float test?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Will let yous know how I get on with the chicks tomorrow night but I can not go to see her through the day and I'm scared that she stops sitting. She was still very broody today so do yous think she will still be sitting?

She will still be sitting. Post pics nice you get those babies.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Went out around 7pm to put momma Bunny and her six RIR girls in, but they were already in the coop sitting. Bunny was annoyed with me because I forced her to stand so I could count heads. They will be a week old on Sunday.

 

[lawatt]

dumb question how & why do you float test?

this was my first time doing it -- to see if they might still be viable, since they are late in hatching -- following the info in this thread:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-egg-viability-for-late-or-overdue-hatching

 

[Island Roo]

Day 21 - I hear peeping !!!

First time time letting the broodies do the work. It's so much more rewarding this way.

 

[CoopChick719]

Hey Everyone! I'm back with 2 broodies this time. My Sizzles--Janice & Blue--are sitting on 5 eggs each from my sister's hens. They both went broody about a week ago. Janice first then Blue joined her. Of course they'd pick UNDER the nesting boxes to set up shop.

I think they enjoy watching me crawled under there!

Janice's chicks from her February hatch are all doing well. Of course, the girls are used to roosting with their mama so since she's under the nesting boxes they've decided to be IN the nesting boxes.

Poor Flacco was up on the roost by himself last night.



Pitch is our mystery bird. Some are saying she may be an Australorp.

 

[kannna]

Day 21 - I hear peeping !!!

First time time letting the broodies do the work. It's so much more rewarding this way.

My favorite way to add chicks. The mom does all the hatching, teaching, warming, protecting and integrating. Very little chicken drama.

 

[Johnn]

Argh!, all going wrong! just got a message from the person saying there isn't any chicks yet, just pips! but they will let me know when they arrive home at 8. I will try go tomorrow night if not but I am not sure if I can get there :/