Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[showbarnmom]

We are at 11 days. She is so fluffed out. I plan on moving her into the grow out coop around day 18, is that about right? She's currently in the big coop w/all the adults. Would rather have her in the grow out coop by herself when they hatch. And potentially stick some 2 wk olds under her too. I hope.

 

[elmtree]

I tried to go the natural route. My broody momma Goldie hatched three of three beautiful babies. She decided to take them out while I was gone one day and lost 2 of them. I was soooo freakin sad, and she was looking for them... It was my first hatch ever. I felt like such a bad chicken keeper. So I found two day olds from a gal not too far. I slipped them under her and she accepted the Orp (color of the baby she lost), but wouldn't accept the SS. I gave her to a friend and bought another Orp which is doing wonderfully! She accepted her and they are all so adorable together in their confined area.

 

[elmtree]

 

[Jharper]

I tried to go the natural route. My broody momma Goldie hatched three of three beautiful babies. She decided to take them out while I was gone one day and lost 2 of them. I was soooo freakin sad, and she was looking for them... It was my first hatch ever. I felt like such a bad chicken keeper. So I found two day olds from a gal not too far. I slipped them under her and she accepted the Orp (color of the baby she lost), but wouldn't accept the SS. I gave her to a friend and bought another Orp which is doing wonderfully! She accepted her and they are all so adorable together in their confined area.

Wonderful!

 

[Jharper]

My PRIR is starting her 2nd hatch this year and I have her 4 silkie eggs that are due Tuesday, more than likely Wed. or Thurs., just waiting for her. She just went broody today. Is it too early to give her the eggs?

 

[chickydee64]

We are at 11 days. She is so fluffed out. I plan on moving her into the grow out coop around day 18, is that about right? She's currently in the big coop w/all the adults. Would rather have her in the grow out coop by herself when they hatch. And potentially stick some 2 wk olds under her too. I hope.

HI,
They may be to old (2 weeks) . I read they imprint in the first 4 days..Of course it will not hurt to try.........I am certain you will be right there to watch.
She may see the older ones as a threat to her newly hatched.. Good Luck

 

[showbarnmom]

[COLOR=008080]HI,[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008080]They may be to old (2 weeks) . I read they imprint in the first 4 days..Of course it will not hurt to try.........I am certain you will be right there to watch.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=008080] She may see the older ones as a threat to her newly hatched.. Good Luck[/COLOR]

The last time I tried it didn't go well. But it was a difference hen. So who knows.

 

[Jude Turkman]

I had 20 eggs under my one hen, i thought... and then I counted today and there was only 19

So I reaaaaallly hope it just fell on the floor somewhere and rolled away to never be found because otherwise I brought it in the house with my eating eggs

u know Nike, sometimes eggs can get cracked each time the hen or others gets onto the nest and as the hen continues to sit on them that egg will be broken.
Well, this is a reminder for everyone, a misconception on figuring out that missing eggs are eaten by the hen itself, well this could get the hen innocently labeled as an egg-eater. A chicken, i don't know with the other birds, especially the hen, has an innate behavior off "grooming" her eggs a way of ensuring them to be hatched. Now, going back to your concern Nike, IF u got missing egg/s, while the hen is brooding them, investigate first. U might get wrong and surprised, end up feeling guilty. now, that genuine, motherly behavior of a hen is that, when her egg/s is/are broken under her brooding care, as soon as she finds out that a wet substance or material exists in her nest, she tends to search for it. If it's a wet hay, cloth or something else, she will scratch it off her eggs. but if that wet thing is an egg material, she is then gonna suck off that leak from the egg, and sometimes eat the tiny pieces of shells, well egg shells are edible though. When that hen feels like everything's fine, she's gonna go back brooding without even starting to "masaccre" her own eggs. Like the female ducks, if they found out that her egg is broken, usually in the middle of her brooding time, the duck is gonna insert her upper beak into the egg through the crack and end up quacking-quaking-quaking-quaking-quacking loudly, even when the egg is still in her beaks. then she goes far from her nest and put that smelly-broken egg on the ground.
I could say this because I experienced this a whole lot time with my pets.
Hope it sooths.

 

[Johnn]

 

[Tomtommom]

That one is downright idyllic! Beautiful!