Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

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that is what I use and have never had a problem

 

[NottinghamChicks]

yeahhhh! Congrats on your baby (or babies) I use the mason jars with the red platic base for water even for the tiniest bantams, Give momma a non layer/non medicated crumble and she will feed the baby within two or three days. Babies cannot have the calcium in regular feed as it can be toxic from what all my local grain store people tell me, and momma shouldn't have the medicated feed. Old fashion broody rearing is so easy, momma will do everything. How exciting for you

 

[welasharon]

Ack! I have chick starter (pretty sure medicated), grower (medicated too I believe) and layer...

 

[stonykill]

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I always get the gamebird. It is non medicated. TSC also has a brand that is non medicated. If it has been a few days since they hatched and they need to eat, hardboil some eggs and mash them up until you get out to get food.

 

[welasharon]

Just born during last night or today. I will check locally but there is a TSC an hour from here. Gamebird non-medicated.
ETA: Do you feed all your birds this? Non-medicated?

 

[stonykill]

all I feed ANY of my girls and boys in non medicated. If you have a feed store such as Agway, or Blue Seal Feed, they will carry non medicated food.

 

[Cindilou]

I got 15 eggs fertilized eggs today. They were a trade for a rooster I couldn't keep. 2 had cracks so the little lady is sitting on a baker's dozen.
We found the pet carrier, filled it with hay and put the eggs in there. It is on the ground beneath the coop (coop is about 4 feet off the ground). Took her out of the laying box and she did not want to give up those unfertilized eggs but she ate, drank and then we nudged her toward the carrier and she has been there ever since about 4PM. We even checked on her at 9:15 and she is still there. This is going to be so fun. Let the countdown begin.

 

[welasharon]

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I find this very interesting. I am new to the chicken stuff. I am not a nature/natural freak necessarily but the medicated part of the feed kind niggles in the back of my brain. I have been using it because that is what I was told to use where I first got my hens. hmmmm

 

[Cindilou]

Here is Belle, doing the mom thing:

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
I find this very interesting. I am new to the chicken stuff. I am not a nature/natural freak necessarily but the medicated part of the feed kind niggles in the back of my brain. I have been using it because that is what I was told to use where I first got my hens. hmmmm

It is all I've ever used. I just can't see the point of eating medicated eggs from my own birds. What's the point then??