Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Hayduke27]

The adventure continues...

I have been checking on the hens every couple of hours, as tomorrow is the hatch day. Big Mamma, as I've taken to calling the marans, shifted nests once again, and one more of her eggs broke. I think another chicken broke it, but I don't know for sure. By the time I checked on them again, the egg was broken open and the little chick was not moving. It had not yet absorbed all of the yolk sac, but was otherwise fully grown. I moved the remaining 3 eggs from under Big Momma to little cochin. The cochin is now sitting on 6 eggs, and she's sitting firmly, doing the good broody thing. If the eggs survived the cool down on Tuesday, they should be hatching tomorrow.

I was just out watching the cochin, and she does seem to be making new chirping sounds that I have not previously heard. I don't want to get my hopes up, but is there a chance this is her peeping at the chicks under her? Maybe she can feel or hear them? I hope some hatch for her...

On yet another side note, I felt badly for Big Momma, as she has been trying so hard to be a mom. She's been sitting for 5 weeks, maybe longer, and she has set as long as 8 weeks before. So I did the chicken math, went to the feed store, and low and behold they had just today received a shipment of chicks that were less than 72 hours old. I brought 6 white leghorns home, stuck them under big momma, and it was love at first site. The chicks settled right in, Big Momma took to them immediately, and I think everyone is happy. Now if I can just get a few eggs to hatch tomorrow, I'll have way too many chickens

 

[Hayduke27]

Here's the proud new foster mom, Big Momma. Believe it or not, there are 7 chickens in this picture

 

[vpatt]

Here's the proud new foster mom, Big Momma. Believe it or not, there are 7 chickens in this picture

I hope they do well and I love the name! I got a blue frizzle Cochin yesterday and if she makes a good broody I am going to call her Nana Mama. Good luck with the eggs, too

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Here's the proud new foster mom, Big Momma. Believe it or not, there are 7 chickens in this picture

Congratulations on the fosters...and keeping my fingers crossed for the Cochin's hatch tomorrow.

Love the broody names...I name my broodies too (where I don't name a lot of my 'regular" chickens)...I've got "the Queen Mum" (veteran Silkie) and 2 Cochins "in training" Mimsy and Rosie (short for Rosemere...or Red Momma as she is red highlights). They are only about 7 months now, and haven't laid an egg yet...I look forward to when they go broody. I suspicion they will brood together as they do everything together.

LofMc

 

[venymae]

The adventure continues...

I have been checking on the hens every couple of hours, as tomorrow is the hatch day. Big Mamma, as I've taken to calling the marans, shifted nests once again, and one more of her eggs broke. I think another chicken broke it, but I don't know for sure. By the time I checked on them again, the egg was broken open and the little chick was not moving. It had not yet absorbed all of the yolk sac, but was otherwise fully grown. I moved the remaining 3 eggs from under Big Momma to little cochin. The cochin is now sitting on 6 eggs, and she's sitting firmly, doing the good broody thing. If the eggs survived the cool down on Tuesday, they should be hatching tomorrow.

I was just out watching the cochin, and she does seem to be making new chirping sounds that I have not previously heard. I don't want to get my hopes up, but is there a chance this is her peeping at the chicks under her? Maybe she can feel or hear them? I hope some hatch for her...

On yet another side note, I felt badly for Big Momma, as she has been trying so hard to be a mom. She's been sitting for 5 weeks, maybe longer, and she has set as long as 8 weeks before. So I did the chicken math, went to the feed store, and low and behold they had just today received a shipment of chicks that were less than 72 hours old. I brought 6 white leghorns home, stuck them under big momma, and it was love at first site. The chicks settled right in, Big Momma took to them immediately, and I think everyone is happy. Now if I can just get a few eggs to hatch tomorrow, I'll have way too many chickens

Here's the proud new foster mom, Big Momma. Believe it or not, there are 7 chickens in this picture

She looks like she is fiercly guarding those bebes! Good for you for letting her be a mommy

 

[Hayduke27]

She looks like she is fiercly guarding those bebes! Good for you for letting her be a mommy

She really is! I had gotten used to the pecking and growling of her while she was broody. However, once I put those chicks under her, the look in her eye went to a whole new level of evil. I didn't get near her once, and haven't even seen those chicks since I gave them to her. The last I saw, she was sort of laying on her side-ish, in the nest, so as to be able to put her weight on the side of the nest without squishing the chicks. When I got close, she cocked her head toward me like "you want to die, clown?", so I backed away slowly.

I am very excited to watch her raise these babies. Now if only I can get a few to hatch tomorrow!

 

[Hayduke27]

Well, Big Momma has taken to motherhood like a duck to water. She couldn't be happier trying to wrangle her little fuzzy butts around the nesting area. She is just chirping and trying her hardest to keep her eye on them. I sectioned off a part of the coop for just mom and babies, and they have their food and water all set up in that area. This morning, before I had done so, 2 chicks got out of the nest before I was out at the coop. They were hopping around in front of mom's nest, which was a little too high to get back into. Luckily, none of the other chickens seem to have gone after them. They are now enclosed and have a ramp to the nest.

One thing I did notice was once I put the chicks under Big Momma, she immediately began to preen on her oil gland and rub it on her underside and on the chicks. Is she giving them her scent?

As for the cochin, no news yet. She sits diligently. Tonight at around 8PM or so will be exactly 21 days. I haven't lifted her or anything to see if there are any changes in the eggs, I figure I'll just let her do her thing. Man, I hope a few hatch!

Have a nice day everyone!

 

[ShinShien]

Okay, her eggs hatched. There are 7 chicks and 1 jiggling egg, but she's moved on to care for the chicks. What do I do with that obviously-not-dead egg? I'm new to this, so I don't even own an incubator.

Here's 'her'

 

[K Epp]

Take the egg inside and put it close to a heat source. Desk lamp for example. Put a thermometer by it and keep it as close to 100*. Wrap a damp paper towel around it also.

 

[fisherlady]

Okay, her eggs hatched. There are 7 chicks and 1 jiggling egg, but she's moved on to care for the chicks. What do I do with that obviously-not-dead egg? I'm new to this, so I don't even own an incubator.

Here's 'her'

If the egg is jiggling and/or cheeping then it is trying to get ready to hatch, it may have been a bit cooler for a day so maybe it is late. I would wrap it loosely in a soft towel or cloth and put it in a shoe box under a brooder light. adjust the height of the light from the box to get a temp of around 100* (I can't remember what hatch temp is supposed to be in an incubator since I don't use them)
You can use the search block at the top of the page to look up hatch temp for incubator and probably even do a search for 'emergency incubator' to see how others have set it up. I have done the shoe box and lamp for a couple with success.
Once the chick is hatched, dry and upright I would graft it back to mama hen if you can.