Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[swirler]

IDK what "lockdown" means.

I assume you mean 37` C (what is that? like 50-60`F?)

Sorry; I'm new.

By "lockdown" I mean the day 18 candling that you would do before locking down an incubator and not opening it again (so that the chicks can pip in undisturbed humid conditions). And yes, most of the world uses Celsius, as do I. If you ever want to convert, just open a Google search and type
37 c in f
and it will give you the answer.

She's gorgeous! What's that coloring called?

I'm still not sure! It's not a standard Brahma colour here. Isabella, or lavender partridge, or something else altogether. Whatever it is, she's beautiful.

 

[bumpercarr]

Quote: I'm new to Brahmas, mine are LF and I've read that although they go broody, they aren't suitable because of their size (they tend to crush eggs and babes). Is yours a LF or a Bantam? I hope she's LF, it would give me hope that mine will be able to brood. I hate trying to break them.

 

[swirler]

I'm new to Brahmas, mine are LF and I've read that although they go broody, they aren't suitable because of their size (they tend to crush eggs and babes). Is yours a LF or a Bantam? I hope she's LF, it would give me hope that mine will be able to brood. I hate trying to break them.

Nope, she's a big girl. She easily covered a dozen eggs (and could have covered more). She was very mindful of the eggs, and didn't break any - I saw her get off them for eating/drinking/pooping breaks, and she got back on the nest very slowly and carefully. First time mother, one year old, born from an incubator and never seen mothering. She's doing all the right things now - hovering carefully for the babes, never leaving them, showing them how to eat and drink, and tolerating them trying to peck at her eyes.

I can't say whether the one dead chick was squashed or not. It looked intact, if perhaps a little small. Sometimes chicks die.

 

[swirler]

Best pic I could get this afternoon:

 

[swirler]

But wait, the Barnies are out and about now!

 

[TeaChick]

By "lockdown" I mean the day 18 candling that you would do before locking down an incubator and not opening it again (so that the chicks can pip in undisturbed humid conditions). And yes, most of the world uses Celsius, as do I. If you ever want to convert, just open a Google search and type
37 c in f
and it will give you the answer.

Thanks for the info on "lockdown" and candling.

I know that most of the world uses Celsius; BYC is an American site, so I don't think it's an incredible stretch to think that temperatures would be labeled.

 

[Happy Flock]

Do broody hens eat and drink during "lockdown"? Or can they sit on the eggs for 2, 3 days without food and water, waiting for the chicks to hatch?
My 2 broodies have been sitting inside cardboard boxes in the house. I was taking them out daily for poop/food breaks outside, but stopped doing it today (day 18).They have food and water nearby but don't seem to have moved at all from the nest. The cardboard boxes have an opening for them to leave the nest without jumping.
What do you experienced chicken lovers think?

 

[fisherlady]

Do broody hens eat and drink during "lockdown"? Or can they sit on the eggs for 2, 3 days without food and water, waiting for the chicks to hatch?
My 2 broodies have been sitting inside cardboard boxes in the house. I was taking them out daily for poop/food breaks outside, but stopped doing it today (day 18).They have food and water nearby but don't seem to have moved at all from the nest. The cardboard boxes have an opening for them to leave the nest without jumping.
What do you experienced chicken lovers think?

Mama knows best.. if they have food and water easily available then let them decide if they want anything. If you are worried about them for health reasons you can always fix a small dish of water and offer it to her on the nest, and also offer a few goodies such as meal worms or scrambled egg bits. The hens may accept your offering or may totally ignore you, but at least you will feel better knowing you tried to tempt them. Don't force the issue, and if your hens are really people shy then don't stress them with the hand offerings, just leave it nearby for them.

 

[chickydee64]

But wait, the Barnies are out and about now!

Great pictures................very sweet

 

[carlsaSC]

My Buff Orpington died this morning at the age of around 22 months. She went broody in late March, and I acquired some fertile eggs for her to sit on. Many pecks later, she hatched 3 of 5 eggs. She mothered them until I thought they were large enough to fend for themselves. She laid exactly one egg after hatching the chicks. I moved her back in with her cousins, but she lost color in her comb and wattles and her tail was down, not up. I would guess she has been in this lethargic state for a couple of months. Last week, I moved her into one of the unused nest boxes. As of yesterday, she was still pecking and drinking, but not moving out. Today she is dead. If she were a human, she would be diagnosed with "failure to thrive." Otherwise, I have no clue.