Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

Labradors

chicken tv almost as much as me!!!

The labs would like to help me by holding the babies

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Thats funny cause right now my dachshunds at least 2 of them are infatuated with our lil duckling. They follow her all over the place. I watch them closely because i am not 100% sure they wouldn't hurt her but they sure do like her. She comes in the house and gets into her dog bed with wee wee pad in it, so i'm thinking they are thinking weird looking dog.

 

[Fuffy]

You are a braver woman than me, Miss L!!!!

My labbies wouldn't mean to hurt them ... Santa just wants to hold them for a while.

She steals the mice off the cat, too.

Imagine gormless labrador with wriggly spaghetti hanging out of her mouth!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I am having a hard time imagining a gormless labrador with wriggly spaghetti hanging out of it's mouth.... got pics?

I know what you mean about wanting to hold them, the 2 dauchshunds who are obessed with this duckling would love to play with her as well, but would end up killing her while having fun, we watch them very closely.

 

[Tiss]

I'd like to see pictures of that too!!!

My regular egg customers are going to be mad at me this week. I just couldn't resist a plate of deviled eggs for The Fourth! With a new mama, a broody and 95+ temps, there just aren't enough eggs to go around. My husband is tired of hearing "stop, you can't eat those - they're sold!"

Happy Independence Day everyone!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

I always save back enough for my dh and I. but this weather has cut back on the laying for sure.

 

[bburn]

Me again, ya'll.

Well the count on the eggs under my broody went from 8 down to 7. The one she stepped on...had to have as it is dented in....is gone. She took care of it herself. Obviously they know....I mean KNOW. We will block off the dog box tomorrow when she goes out to eat her special treat my SIL takes her tomorrow. My SIL will hand me the nest through the bedroom window and I will go in the closet with no windows and candle and 'listen' to the eggs. If I find bad I will take them out. If I am unsure they will go back in for at least another day.

The hen must think the eggs are still good or she would have left them is all I can think. She was really upset when my SIL blocked them from her so she could count the eggs today.

Hardest thing to do will be to throw those eggs away.

 

[Layira]

What a great thread!

This year wasnt great for my chicks, I ended up losing 5 of my babies within 2 days and I was very discouraged. I was very upset and swore I wouldn't hatch anymore this year....Well, it must be a sign from somewhere saying I'm meant to have more chicks because one of my red Leghorn hens went broody! So I waited a few days to see what'd she do and she's still sitting today. I'm collecting eggs from my exchequer leghorn hens to put under her, and today she got her first 2 eggs! I'm thinking because it's gonna be a staggered hatch, I should be seeing babies by the 25th of this month! I'll probably end up giving her between 8 and 10 eggs because its my first hatch by broody.

I'm not sure if I should separate her, I mean, I have 7 nest boxes so I don't think the other hens will bother her. But other than food and water, they don't need much else but space so I think she'll ok. Wish me luck!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Hope all goes well, remember when the first chicks hatch, after about 2 days she will probably leave the nest to show them food and water. If you want her to sit a few more days after that, you'll have to puit chicks feed and water close, but probably after day 4 she'll leave the rest of the eggs behind if they haven't hatched. We'll be waiting to hear how it's going

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I think what your doing is the best thing. At least you'll know if anything is going on. And yes they do KNOW, alot more than us for sure. did you see the post someone had here about how mama and chicks communicate to each other while chicks are in the egg. I will be waiting to hear what you find out...