Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[hereorthere]

It got way too hot for her she was extra bratty toward me! But after she cast one out and it got super cold I wanted to make sure the box was nice and warm just in case she did not keep it warm. A second egg hatched yesterday and she took care of it like a good mama. So last night I put her first one under her wing and crossed my fingers. Got up early and found the little chick sitting next to but not under. I tucked it back under mama. She pecked at me... But later today both chicks were peeking out from under her. Still one more egg under mama. I am pretty sure it will not hatch but today was day 21 so I will leave it for a couple more days.

Congrats on the 8/10 hatch! Sorry that a rat got in your coop. I have so many rats around but I do not put feed in the coop. I feed them away from the coop. My girls and boy get to free range and only recently have been closed up at night. It was to keep my roo from crowing next to my bedroom windows. I am in Portland. Where are you in the PNW?

Are your welsummers super friendly and social?

Well howdy neighbor! Am in PDX area as well! So, did your last one

? Glad to hear that Homicidal Mama adopted the first little one - it sure makes the coop life easier when things are in harmony.

My Wellies, BCMs, and EE are social and do come when I call the girls over. But I do not have to time to make them into lap chickens if that's what you mean by friendly. My BCMs are flighty but quicker at being the 1st at everything - food, water, impatient for morning food and prefer to leap over the fence (because the grass is always greener on that side!)

My Wellies are slower (maybe bigger rounder body) and very talkative.

 

[wahnsdlr]

I have a silkie sitting on three eggs. Today is day 20. I can hear the chicks chirping from inside the shell. How long till they hatch? (Of course I have to go out of town today.). Even though I can hear them, I don't know what's going on, because my silkie tried to peck me this morning when I tried to peek under her feathers, so I figured I should leave her alone.
Also, I have been taking her out once daily into the yard (I had to move her to a dog crate in the garage as another hen kept trying to take over.). Should I take her out today as well? I've read not to move the broody during this time.
Thanks for advice.

 

[annascadp]

wahnsdlr, it seems whenever I could hear mine chirping inside the egg, they hatched within 24 hours (often a lot sooner.) I'd not move them while they are hatching, or for 24 hours afterwards. They will have absorbed enough food in the yolk to last them that long, but I always offer them a little food and a shallow dish of water, anyway. After a day, they are quick and strong and getting bored, and I let them out.

 

[kilby]

I agree , don't touch her. I only take her out when she wants and that was all of once in 21 days.
The other one likes to go out every four days give or take. Upsetting the mom is a recipe for disaster in my books. I stopped worrying about bath and wash room privileges when someone here said 3-4 days between outings is normal. If I did not feed her though, in the box, she would not have soiled it. Felt sorry for her of course. She could have eaten anytime out of the box but she did not want to budge this one. She was a new hatch herself a year ago. She may change that next time. It is such a privilege to observe and learn each hen's individuality. I let them lead in practically all things... except for pecking her chicks. She went overboard in the survival skills area. Frustrated I suspect. They are just fine. Silkies I hear are the best parents, lucky you.

 

[itstartedwith2]

Stella has her first chick! Yay she at least has one BBR chick I was hoping at least one would hatch her first time she has 2 more eggs under her, how long should I leave them
under her? Today is day 20 so this one came a little early

 

[bumpercarr]

Stella has her first chick! Yay she at least has one BBR chick I was hoping at least one would hatch her first time

she has 2 more eggs under her, how long should I leave them
under her? Today is day 20 so this one came a little early

Wait until either she leaves or day 23 at the earliest. I usually just wait until they leave the nest unless the chick isn't eating or drinking.

 

[annascadp]

Hopefully the other two will hatch by tomorrow and they will all be fine. If those two take longer than 24 more hours, the first one will get really hungry and thirsty and hard for Stella to keep quiet. It might help, in that case, to give them a little feed and water right there, where she can stay on the eggs plus feed the already hatched one. Another thing you can do if she does have to leave an egg unhatched and you hear a chick in there, is put the egg in a little incubator or even under an incandescent light for a few hours, and then offer the chick to her once it hatches. (I have done this and the hen, who was very tame and trusted me, was happy to take the chick. If she doesn't want it, try smuggling it under her in the dark, when she is sleeping. If she still won't take it, you have a problem and your orphan chick could die of loneliness.)

 

[itstartedwith2]

Ok thank you guys! Stella is very tame and must trust me because she kinda shuffled the chick out when I came to check on her kind of like " look what I did!" Haha so fingers crossed I won't touch the eggs unless she leaves and I'll put the some food and water next to them. Plus I have incubator up and running just in case thank you again for the help!

 

[annascadp]

She sounds sweet. Good luck!

 

[sssharon]

Itstarted with2,' you and I must of been on the same page my broody hatched for chicks yesterday. No pictures yet, I tried to get some but they just weren't cooperating with me. Congrats on your new little chick and hope you get some more soon.