Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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Mama knows when to cover her chicks when they get cold. Usually mine take them out at 3 days. even in the rain, she will keep them warm. hows everyone doing today?

 

[glenstorm]

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Thanks for the response Cayuse. As it stands I have a the two broody hens sitting on the eggs together. I guess this is going to be a team effort. After moving the eggs in the morning both hens have been sitting on them all day. I will have to figure out new accommodations once the chicks hatch because the coop is a Chicken Ark style with a ramp through the midsection of top floor. I am concerned about them falling out of the second story.

 

[featherz]

Well I put two chicks under her and she's clucking away. but it's dark so we shall see in the morning. If she takes them, I'll give her the other 6 chicks.

 

[CayuseRanch]

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Thanks for the response Cayuse. As it stands I have a the two broody hens sitting on the eggs together. I guess this is going to be a team effort. After moving the eggs in the morning both hens have been sitting on them all day. I will have to figure out new accommodations once the chicks hatch because the coop is a Chicken Ark style with a ramp through the midsection of top floor. I am concerned about them falling out of the second story.

My nesting boxes are almost 4 feet up off the ground. A good 3 and a half. I have the same concern. But gonna try it. Wish us luck

 

[CayuseRanch]

Well I did it. Put 18 eggs under my broody cochin tonight. I figure some of them will not be fertile and will be removed around the 7 day mark. After I put all the eggs under her, you should have seen her moving around to get them all covered. Talk about being gentle, I heard her feet moving them around under her but she barely even moved, only her wings stretching out to gather them in close.

 

[stuckinthecity]

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18!!

That reminds me of a friend's "yellow buff" (buff orp) hen who covered 25 eggs. I just don't see how! Hope her hatch goes well!

 

[hokankai]

Took mama and babies outside today!

And here's a cute video

http://s594.photobucket.com/albums/tt29/hokankai/?action=view&current=DSCN2436.mp4

 

[broodytood]

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They are sooooo sweet!

 

[CayuseRanch]

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18!!

That reminds me of a friend's "yellow buff" (buff orp) hen who covered 25 eggs. I just don't see how! Hope her hatch goes well!

Well I doubt that I will have 18 vertile eggs, but we shall see. How many of your friends 25 eggs hatched?

 

[justtoni44]

Finally.....................

My black hen is broody......... Austro ( sp?)
She went broody at 7 months last year.started hatching and went a little nuts screaming like crazy............
two eggs with dead chicks were open, the chicks were dead I thought she did it .
I picked her up to see if the other eggs were in tact and there was a baby rat under her..poor baby
That is what killed her chicks.
and when I lifted her a tiny white chick fell from under her wing.
I felt so bad for her. She is safe this time.........

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Last year once one went broody it was like a compition started........and we had 5 broody's with in a week.