Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Well I'm down to two! The other two had died in the shell. They seem ok at the minute....fingers crossed!

Oh, I'm so sorry. I've had hatches that just didn't work out for whatever reason. Even with a broody there's still sometimes when the eggs just weren't viable. I'd leave her alone for some time and check later today on the progress. Were they shipped eggs? The 3 RIR chicks hatched from a batch of 18 shipped eggs.

Praying the two eggs hatch for your broody.


I looked back through your posts and it seems your eggs were local and not shipped? It also looks like they were due to hatch yesterday. So I'd give them a day or two and check after that. If nothing hatches you can try again with your broody if she's in good health and can last another 21 days. Or you can get chicks from someone else. I've purchased chicks from nearby farms and online when my hatch didn't turn out.

 

[loobyloo88]

I got them off my grandad. He was trading 70 welsummer bantam eggs so offered me some...we ended up with 9 (not sure where he picked them up from?!). Hes been around helping me out with them, out first chickens were two pekins (cochin) I have taken in who needed rehoming, and we've only had them two weeks...one was broody when we collected her so my grandad decided to put the eggs under her. Was really looking forward to some chicks for the kids to see hatch and grow. So really hoping on these last two...looking ok for them so far....just been unfortunate! We could probally pick up another two chicks from people who bought off my grandad to hatch originally....we'll see! But I'll probally buy chicks over eggs again at the minute!

 

[calichicken]

I got them off my grandad. He was trading 70 welsummer bantam eggs so offered me some...we ended up with 9 (not sure where he picked them up from?!). Hes been around helping me out with them, out first chickens were two pekins (cochin) I have taken in who needed rehoming, and we've only had them two weeks...one was broody when we collected her so my grandad decided to put the eggs under her. Was really looking forward to some chicks for the kids to see hatch and grow. So really hoping on these last two...looking ok for them so far....just been unfortunate! We could probally pick up another two chicks from people who bought off my grandad to hatch originally....we'll see! But I'll probally buy chicks over eggs again at the minute!

So sorry about the ones you lost

Hang in there and maybe you will still get a few!

 

[loobyloo88]

We have one chick out with a little help. And a second on its way!

 

[bobbieschicks]

We have one chick out with a little help. And a second on its way!

Yea!e

 

[chippysmom327]

Yay loobyloo!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Sadly it looks like we will loose one OE chick. Last night it was fine. Today it was mostly dead on the floor. I made it drink water, and put it back under the broody. I tried to warm it up. I checked it over, but I don't see anything visibly wrong. No pasty butt. Praying it pulls thru.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Loobyloo88

Really sorry to hear your hatch isn't going smoothly. Keeping my fingers crossed for the 2 remaining eggs.
I was so unbelievably fortunate with mine. My first time broody and pretty much first time for me too. She hatched all 14 of her own eggs..... actually, she hatched 13 all within 16 hrs on day 21-22, but had abandoned 2 chicks and the last egg in the nest to look after the other chicks that had climbed out and couldn't get back in. When I got there the chicks and egg were cold but amazingly still alive. We popped the chicks straight under her and they warmed up and were fine. I tried to put the egg under her but it kept getting rolled out by the 13 chicks.... it was quite funny as one would snuggle underneath her and as a result, one would pop out the other side. Anyway, the egg was getting cold and neglected so I carried it around for half the day in my hand. It had already pipped but was still and quiet and I feared it was dead, but half an hour after I had held it in my warm hands, it started to cheap and struggle to unzip. I tried to help it because I knew that there was a risk of the membrane drying and it getting stuck, but also knew that if I helped it might bleed. Such a horrible catch 22 situation! Anyway, after numerous half hearted attempts to help it, the final one damaging a small blood vessel and causing it to bleed a little, it started to make a real concerted effort to hatch and was cheeping quite loudly as it struggled. I was holding it near to the broody most of the time and when she heard it shouting she started getting agitated and seemed to be encouraging it. I decided I had done enough and gave her it back and when I checked an hour later, it was out and I couldn't even tell which one it was. She managed to raise all 14 until they were 4 weeks and then whilst I was busy caring for one with pasty but, another one started to look a bit inactive and sadly died overnight, but pasty but is fixed and the remainder are all still strong and healthy and doing well and giving me a right run around.. They are now nearly 5 weeks and almost independent.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I really sympathise with your situation, because it's so difficult to know what to do for the best in that situation. ****** if you do, ****** if you don't. I think the best I can say is go with your gut instinct.

Good luck.

Barbara

 

[poodlechicks]

Sorry to hear about all the losses and hoping for a healthy hatch from the remaining chicks.

As much as I wanted to keep Summer's chicks, I decided to rehome them. The family and I are so overloaded with things to do this summer, we are not finding time to build a coop to accommodate them all. Come winter, they will need a decent place to spend their days and nights.

Even though most of you must be swamped with chicks by now, I wanted to offer them here too. I know people in this thread care about their chicks.

Sooo, if there are any takers, please let me know.


You all have a great, easy day with your broodies!

 

[rebrascora]

This thread moves along so quickly, you can't even type a reply before you are out of date!
So pleased you have one chick out LoobyLoo88. Many congratulations and keeping fingers crossed for the other one.

Bobbieschicks, I'm so sorry to see that one of your chicks is poorly. I'm sending goods thoughts and I know it will not be for the want of love and attention, if it doesn't pull through. So very sad to see a frail baby and not know why or what to do to fix it.