Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[TeaChick]

One of my most favorite hens started screaming at me and demanding to be carried around like a baby about a week ago. I thought she might be going broody so I made her a personalized nest in a "secret" place. She was pleased, threw some straw on her back, and growled at me (loudly!) and looked as if she was waiting for me to do something. I gave her five or so eggs and she happily rolled them under her. She's been sitting on them for a couple of days now and lifts her chest up and opens her wings whenever I check on her. She loves to show me what she's doing! So anyway, I have three broodies now (I deterred five or six others from trying to go broody). The seramas are so funny and unique. Gotta be careful with them because they hatch like there's no tomorrow! I have one of those giant cabinet GQFs and it's been collecting dust since last summer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that my hens have some fuzzies soon!

Oh, wow! I'll have to remember that (wanting to be carried around = might be going broody, make a "secret" nest).
Very happy she's proud to show you!!! My broody screeches at me when I lift the burlap sack to see her or the eggs (if she's off the nest), etc.

I would like to join this thread. I have a hen sitting on 20 eggs that barely fit! She its on day 14!

20 eggs

I'm not going to tell my broody; she's only sitting on 9. (It's both of our first brood, so I'm letting her do what she feels like doing. Next time I might try swapping out the eggs for layer eggs.)
Wishing you well!!! =)

can you see the feet of the chicks. there are 6 of them.

 

[TeaChick]

My hen is currently broody. I shared this with my great grandma whom bred chickens many years in mexico.. She instructed me to soak the eggs in lukewarm water every 8th day in order to keep the embryos from sticking to the shell.. Today was the 8th day and my hen was cooperative with the whole process as I just picked them up when she got up to eat drink etc... Just thought I'd share that.. What do you guys think about this?

My broody screeched at me like I was setting her nest on fire when I picked up one egg to write the date on it, so I've left them alone.
As far as soaking them, this is my first brood and hers, so I'm just leaving her alone.
If your great g-ma was keeping chickens someplace in Mexico with very low humidity, then soaking them might have been necessary there???

No peeps for almost 4 hours. Too silent for me and I cant see what is happening.

ETA.... I have a chick!!! YIPPEE!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Question- the chicks I want to put under my broody are going to be Mareks vaccinated but I am unsure if my hen was vaccinated as a chick as I got her as a started pullet. Is this a problem? Should I vaccinate her?

The Marek's vaccine does not create a contagious bird. It is a mild form of the virus that triggers the immune response of the bird to keep the tumors in check from the real virus. Therefore the vaccine does not prevent Marek's either. It only prevents the tumors from growing inside the vaccinated bird reducing the symptoms.

Young chicks are vaccinated at a day old because it normally takes about 6 weeks for the tumors to begin to grow and potentially produce the dreaded symptoms. These symptoms typically show up at 6 to 24 weeks in birds who are not vaccinated or who have low natural resistance to Marek's...usually just before or after the stresses of coming into laying. Many think the bird's natural immune system is compromised due to the hormones reducing their natural resistance to keep the tumors in check. EDITED TO ADD: obviously male birds contract the disease too, but there is a higher incidence in females just around the age of lay.

You can vaccinate an older bird with no ill effect to the older bird...but probably no positive effect either...whatever possible tumors the bird may already have in place will not be reduced by the vaccination...therefore people typically don't vaccinate older birds because it is often a waste of money and effort since they likely have already contracted the virus and obviously have been fending it off with natural resistance.

Many birds are naturally resistant to Markes; many of us keep flocks of naturally resistant birds and do not vaccinate. It is a preference.

Once a bird contracts the true Marek's virus, it will be a carrier for life. Many flock owners purposely breed from flock members who have survived Marek's and lived to thrive as they show they have a natural resistance to the disease. Marek's is not passed vertically, from hen to egg; therefore embryos in the shell will not contract Marek's from the mother but can obtain her genetic natural resistance.

Currently, the vaccine used is either a Turkey virus derivative or a more recent chicken strain derivative...however the vaccination program is inadvertently naturally selecting for more virulent forms of Mareks...ie Mareks that is especially virulent and not reduced by the vaccine is making a rise.

So you needn't fear your vaccinated chicks will infect your flock; however, you need to be aware that your flock can still infect your vaccinated chicks who can develop severe symptoms of Marek's before the vaccination subdues any possible tumors.

It is generally best to keep small chicks away from the adult flock until they are of laying age...at a minimum of 16 weeks, at an optimum of 20 to 24 weeks of age...to protect them from being infected from the flock.
Lady of McCamley

Sources:
http://www.examiner.com/article/how...mareks-disease-michigans-small-chicken-flocks
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39918/mareks-vaccine/30
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps030

 

[TeaChick]

Following. I have a broody goose sitting on 6 duck & 5 turkey eggs.

Hooray for cross-species brooding!!! =D

 

[bumpercarr]

Question- the chicks I want to put under my broody are going to be Mareks vaccinated but I am unsure if my hen was vaccinated as a chick as I got her as a started pullet. Is this a problem? Should I vaccinate her?

Here's a good article for you to read. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/the-great-big-giant-mareks-disease-faq

 

[Scrambles55]

This is chick #3. Chick #2 has more yellow on her. Going out in 2 hours to try and get more pics.

There may be more in there.

 

[Johnn]

That is quite a broody stare!!!!

I know, she does not like me going near her nest!

 

[Sydney Acres]

The Marek's vaccine does not create a contagious bird. It is a mild form of the virus that triggers the immune response of the bird to keep the tumors in check from the real virus. Therefore the vaccine does not prevent Marek's either. It only prevents the tumors from growing inside the vaccinated bird reducing the symptoms.

Young chicks are vaccinated at a day old because it normally takes about 6 weeks for the tumors to begin to grow and potentially produce the dreaded symptoms. These symptoms typically show up at 6 to 24 weeks in birds who are not vaccinated or who have low natural resistance to Marek's...usually just before or after the stresses of coming into laying. Many think the bird's natural immune system is compromised due to the hormones reducing their natural resistance to keep the tumors in check. EDITED TO ADD: obviously male birds contract the disease too, but there is a higher incidence in females just around the age of lay.

You can vaccinate an older bird with no ill effect to the older bird...but probably no positive effect either...whatever possible tumors the bird may already have in place will not be reduced by the vaccination...therefore people typically don't vaccinate older birds because it is often a waste of money and effort since they likely have already contracted the virus and obviously have been fending it off with natural resistance.

Many birds are naturally resistant to Markes; many of us keep flocks of naturally resistant birds and do not vaccinate. It is a preference.

Once a bird contracts the true Marek's virus, it will be a carrier for life. Many flock owners purposely breed from flock members who have survived Marek's and lived to thrive as they show they have a natural resistance to the disease. Marek's is not passed vertically, from hen to egg; therefore embryos in the shell will not contract Marek's from the mother but can obtain her genetic natural resistance.

Currently, the vaccine used is either a Turkey virus derivative or a more recent chicken strain derivative...however the vaccination program is inadvertently naturally selecting for more virulent forms of Mareks...ie Mareks that is especially virulent and not reduced by the vaccine is making a rise.

So you needn't fear your vaccinated chicks will infect your flock; however, you need to be aware that your flock can still infect your vaccinated chicks who can develop severe symptoms of Marek's before the vaccination subdues any possible tumors.

It is generally best to keep small chicks away from the adult flock until they are of laying age...at a minimum of 16 weeks, at an optimum of 20 to 24 weeks of age...to protect them from being infected from the flock.
Lady of McCamley

Sources:
http://www.examiner.com/article/how...mareks-disease-michigans-small-chicken-flocks
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/39918/mareks-vaccine/30
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps030

Thank you Lady of McCamley. Excellent explanation.

 

[elsfieldchickens]

my Easter chicks

 

[LisaLouHoo]

my Easter chicks

Awwww, so cute! Is that another mama watching over them on the right?