Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

Congrats on the new baby!!

 

[Faraday40]

I've got an outbreak of broody-fever going on here!
Cookie - just left her chicks on Sunday (because they were 8 wks & I sold them )
Smudge - hatched chicks this weekend & also adopted all the chicks from the incubator.... and a few older ones that I also slipped in.
PR - went broody for the 1st time, so after a week of kicking her off the nest, I let her have a few eggs as a trial.
Xansie - let her chicks go, laid eggs for 2 weeks, & is now broody AGAIN! (She's a small silkie, so I just put her in the same nest with PR. They can share the eggs & chicks!)

* By the time their eggs hatch, I bet Cookie will be broody again

Trouble (my Sebright) - doesn't want to feel left out, so she's been squawking, puffy, and trying to steal eggs. As soon as a hen lays an egg, Trouble hops on top! If she stays broody, I may let her join PR & Xansie in raising their chicks or really confuse her & give her a turkey egg. Note: Sebrights are not supposed to be a broody breed. Trouble can't read, so she doesn't know that fact.

My BIG Orpington Smudge is a 1st time mama. She's doing great and loves all her babies.

 

[LizsChicks]

Almost a week in to a staggered hatch and we’ve had 8 hatch, 6 have survived. One found dead under momma and one incomplete hatch this morning. 5 eggs to go. The 6 chicks seem healthy and momma is taking good care of them!

 

[LizsChicks]

Well all initial eggs hatched. 7 successfully. Considering I really only have room for 2 more hens I’m happy with that. She has a bunch more eggs under her so I’m going to have to go out and get rid of those. She’s not really nesting them. She’s had the babies outside exploring the coop and I’m impressed that they handle my long ramp! My spare chicken adopter is super excited to get her babies but is patiently waiting until they are big enough to be sexed. She doesn’t have a roo right now so is willing to take all my extras regardless of sex (I’m tempted to sneak in my current roo since he’s an ass but he’s my ass so I think I’ll keep him ) he’s feisty and chases the kids but they are old enough to fend for themselves

 

[fisherlady]

Mindy was counting her chicks....after they hatched.

We had 2 SPR hens hatch chicks Sunday evening into Monday. I moved them to a joint floorbox this morning when I got home from work... and of course I had supervision, lol

 

[Faraday40]

Mindy was counting her chicks....after they hatched.

We had 2 SPR hens hatch chicks Sunday evening into Monday. I moved them to a joint floorbox this morning when I got home from work... and of course I had supervision, lol

View attachment 1409062 View attachment 1409063

That chick-loving dog is amazing!

Well, my PR must have seen the video of your broody PR. (She never realized she was supposed to go broody before that.)

Not only did PR go broody, but my silkie joined her! I didn't want to give up TWO nest boxes, so they got to share. They made it through all 21 days, hatched 12 chicks, and I already sold 3.

Trouble adopted some chicks & like always is very vocal about everything.

One week later: Here's Trouble contemplating her decision to go broody.

Jewel is my BIG orp. She's sitting on a bunch of eggs. She started with 4 turkey eggs & then we added some chicken eggs a week later. This should be my LAST hatch of the spring/summer.

.....However, Cookie is acting broody AGAIN!
No Cookie! Don't do it!

 

[Molpet]

I had another hen go broody I gave her 8 eggs... @Faraday40 they could be Dinners

this makes 12 chickens and a turkey so far

 

[Faraday40]

I had another hen go broody I gave her 8 eggs... @Faraday40 they could be Dinners

this makes 12 chickens and a turkey so far

I think you may actually have me beat! Your place sounds a lot like mine!

Xansie = left her chicks; we kept 2; now 15 weeks old
Cookie = all chicks sold (Chicks are 12 weeks now)
Smudge = has 6 wk old chicks & 4 wk old chicks & 2 turkeys
Trouble = has 2 wk olds
PR & Xansie = are sharing some 1 wk olds
Jewel = Sitting on some eggs due to hatch on the 20th
Cookie = started broody; gave some eggs a couple days ago.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm hoping for a broody from this new group of chicks when they grow up. But one will be enough

I guess when it rains it pours...

 

[aliciaplus3]

I have 3 that are trying to sit now.... the last one I let sit didn't do very good.... she ate the chicks and shell. Grrrrrr