Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

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If it were me, I would leave them together.

The other one will be lonely on her own. You may even find that she goes broody and they share the responsubility.

If it doesn't work, you will know for next time.

The broody won't eat the layers, but you need to keep her strength up. By the time she has been sitting for 5 weeks or so (allowing for fertile eggs to arrive in the post) she will be near starvation.

So give her anything you can think of to keep her strong, remembering that she won't eat much of anything anyway.

Good luck and keep us posted

 

[Miss Lydia]

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So sorry for your loss, I had the same thing happen with the next to last broody here, one hatched and when i found it mama had already done it in, that same afternoon the other hatched and I got it away from her but she had already pecked it. It lived for 5 days before it died, I know now that something was wrong with both and mama knew best. It's still hard and I sure hope your next hatch will be better and healthy. I interfered when mama knew best, thank goodness you didn't have to see it struggle any longer than you did.

 

[Firefly]

Thanks so much for your well-wishes, guys. I am trying to decide now if I should attempt again with this broody-- do they get better at it? (Assuming it was even her fault).. . she just seemed so focused on her eggs! Even though she wasn't attacking or harsh with the chicks, I'm worried she didn't do what she was supposed to with them. She's STILL broody, won't come out of the nest even though the chicks and eggs are all gone.

 

[stonykill]

while I was outside doing chores "mama" came to me for her daily broody feeding

I fed her and then counted her eggs. She is on 12 !

 

[Miss Lydia]

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You are going to have the Sumatras coming out your ears stony, Congrats !!!! everyday i see more roos, up to 6 now

 

[Miss Lydia]

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It's hard to say firefly, she might sit again but you'd have to make sure she got good protein to keep up her strength. I had one hen sit for 42 days and she did fine. so go with your gut. Like you said sometimes it's not mama fault. But don't give up trying broody's.

 

[bburn]

Just being pesty here.

Pretty Baby still sitting. SIL fed her this morning. She comes out to eat when she brings food out and eats and drinks and then is right back on the nest. SIL is sure she is thanking her with the little noises she makes! Today is day 20!! Any time now!

 

[stonykill]

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It's hard to say firefly, she might sit again but you'd have to make sure she got good protein to keep up her strength. I had one hen sit for 42 days and she did fine. so go with your gut. Like you said sometimes it's not mama fault. But don't give up tryoing broody's.

having both incubated and used Broody's....I can say Broody's is the way to go!

 

[stonykill]

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You are going to have the Sumatras coming out your ears stony, Congrats !!!! everyday i see more roos, up to 6 now

Thanks! They seem to be all hers and 1 Black Sumatra's. 2 days in a row I see the same Black Sumatra hen yelling at Mama to get offthe nest. So I think they were both laying there, and Mama decided it was time to raise more little fuzzy butts

 

[Miss Lydia]

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If you can lift an egg to your ear you might just hear peeping. It is so cool to hear!! let us know when you see the first pip