Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[cwrite]

I think deep down I've given up un this hatch. I will candle tonight as we click over to day 24 to see if I can see if there is any internal pips or movement but don't honestly know that I'd recognise that anyway and it's more curiosity than thinking I can save anyone.

So think the next big question is where from here? Penny has been on the nest just over 5 weeks all up now so I am hesitant to just put more straight under her without allowing her to recover somewhat. Bit heartbreaking after all her hard work that it's come to nothing but I have very limited room for new stock so don't want to buy any old newborn chick for her and not be able to then get the ones I really wanted.

Im toying with buying another batch of blue australorps next time she is broody and trying again but at the same putting some salmon favorelles in the incubator from a different breeder so I have two chances of them making it as posted eggs. I've tried looking locally but the stock is pretty below average.

I just saw this post now.

I hope you have a better idea of what is going on tonight & there is still hope.

 

[Lavmoon]

I have two that went broody last week(the same 2 that tried last month but when I moved the one she gave up). I waited till they had been moved into the brooder and had continued to sit tight then gave them eggs on Saturday. Everything seems to be going good so far. I noticed that since I moved them both this time and put them in side by side boxes(how they were in the coop) they haven't even seemed to care about going anywhere else! I guess they will just be broody buddies. I can't wait to see how well they do.

 

[ChickyChickens]

I have two that went broody last week(the same 2 that tried last month but when I moved the one she gave up). I waited till they had been moved into the brooder and had continued to sit tight then gave them eggs on Saturday. Everything seems to be going good so far. I noticed that since I moved them both this time and put them in side by side boxes(how they were in the coop) they haven't even seemed to care about going anywhere else! I guess they will just be broody buddies. I can't wait to see how well they do.

Aerrrr! I hate nit when hens give up after you move them!!!

hOPE THEY DO AWESOME!!

 

[lilstarshine7]

Hi everyone. I have 2 hens that went broody at the same time...They both layed in the same nesting box, no matter how I tried to seperate them...they continued to stay in the same nest, so I left them. Together they layed 16 eggs, half are cochin from my gold lace and the other is japanese bantam...they are such great mommies...when one would go to get something to eat or drink the other would spread out enough to cover all eggs...a few days ago, I noticed neither leaving the nesting box and today I hear peeping under mommas...I seen 2 black ones, dont know about the others, I dont want to disturb mommas. They were raised together along with another japanese bantam rooster and black cochin rooster along with a white cochin hen...they are family and are all together in the coop....I know people say you should remove the roosters but they are very good and very protective and watchful of both mommas...My question is when do I start feeding the chicks chick starter? Should I offer it now or wait. And how long before mommas start to venture with there babies? Thank you. I love my little chicken family, now a bigger chicken family...lol

 

[appps]

Im new to this too but from what I read you should have it on hand now but the mother will teach them to eat it some time in the next couple of days. Chick will be fine not eating for a few days as its just absorbed that big egg yolk to bide it over till mum gives up on the rest of the eggs.

Im on day two and mum hasnt moved off the nest yet, but we have also had an unexpected cold snap so that might be a good thing.

 

[oolyboolu]

Good morning! I'm a first time egg mama with a first time broody from my first ever flock I have 10 hyline browns (don't care if they aren't fancy, I love them!) and one is set in her broody ways so I picked up some eggs from a local lady. Mamma is currently laying on buff orpingtons and Wellsummers (10 left of 12), and hatch day is Thursday/Friday and I'm SO EXCITED!!

 

[poodlechicks]

Good morning all.
I've been lurking here every now and then just to check on the broodies, chicks and the amazing stories.
oolyboolu, keep coming to this thread. You'll learn so much from our seasoned "broody hatchers"

 

[rebrascora]

Hi, welcome and congratulations on your broody, especially so when she is a production red.... not often that hybrids go broody!

It was really anxious but mostly excited with my first brood earlier this year. I was also horribly neurotic and my poor broody had to put up with a lot from me particularly after the chicks were hatched. I kept them confined in the brooder for the first 10 days or so and then carried the chicks (all 14 of them) and their mam out to a small run on the lawn each day and then back on a night and fastened them back in the brooder so that they were safe and nothing bad could happen to them!
Second and third brood I was much more laid back and let the broodies decide when they wanted to leave the brooder by leaving the door open and then letting them decide when they felt comfortable to take them outside the hen house. I have learned to have trust in my broodies because they do an absolutely brilliant job. The chicks are fully integrated into the flock from pretty much the first week and even though I have a large mixed flock with many juvenile cockerels, as well as an adult cock, there has not been a pick of bother. They free range as soon as the broody feels they are ready and it is wonderful seeing them flitting around following their mother, learning how to dust bath and forage and roost. My broodies are right at the bottom of the pecking order but they don't allow any other chickens to pick on their babies. It really is an absolute pleasure to watch a broody and her chicks.

Hope you have a successful hatch. I recently got some welsummers and they are beautiful birds. I've not tried any Orps yet though. I only have one production red, Molly, and she is a real star and lays pretty well every day even though she is going through a serious moult and the others have all stopped, she is still churning them out... what a hero she is.

Look forward to reading that that you have lots of lillte fluff ball soon.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[oolyboolu]

Thanks Poodlechicks and Barbara! I do lurk around and read a lot on the site trying to learn and see what others do.
I've been pretty relaxed I think and trying not to interfere too much with mamma, she seems to know what she's doing! Her nest area is in the coop with the others but I have it separated with plywood and chicken wire. She has standing room by her nest but I let her out for a bit when I get home from work. She stretches and hops about, steals from the main feeder, takes a HUGE poo then gets back to the eggs on her own

My only future question would be if her area is going to be big enough for her and chicks? SHe has her square ft nest, then about a foot and half by 1ft area in front of that with a small feeder and waterer. I was thinking of adding to it somehow.

Ooly

 

[ChickyChickens]

Good morning! I'm a first time egg mama with a first time broody from my first ever flock

I have 10 hyline browns (don't care if they aren't fancy, I love them!) and one is set in her broody ways so I picked up some eggs from a local lady. Mamma is currently laying on buff orpingtons and Wellsummers (10 left of 12), and hatch day is Thursday/Friday and I'm SO EXCITED!!

I love her!!!