Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[RcoM]

Here’s my mumma who I tricked into going broody. Due to her love of foraging and intense desire to feed her 5 hatched chicks, 3 got left in the shell. But the ones now are healthy and strong at 2 weeks old tomorrow!

 

[RcoM]

With my Easter hatch coming soon, I've been hoping for a broody. A very unlikely candidate started hanging out in the nest box for a few days and is now grumbling at me.

It's my golden Spitzhauben, Sprinkles. They are not considered a broody breed. I wonder what kind of mother she will be.

A friend has had several Spitzhaubens who have gone broody, but I've never experienced it here. For me, it's always been the little bantams. It will be fun to watch a big-time forager teach her babies.

What a crazy cool mumma chicken! She has that look in her eye!!

 

[fuzzi]

Martha went broody over a week ago, and after two days I slid three eggs under her (3/18) and removed the faux egg. She was inconsistent on the nest the next two days, so I slid a couple more eggs underneath her on the 22nd. Yes, I know, staggered.

Candling is inconclusive so I will check again in a few days.

I've not done brooding in the coop before, I'm certain it will be a learning experience!

 

[RcoM]

Martha went broody over a week ago, and after two days I slid three eggs under her (3/18) and removed the faux egg. She was inconsistent on the nest the next two days, so I slid a couple more eggs underneath her on the 22nd. Yes, I know, staggered.

Candling is inconclusive so I will check again in a few days.

I've not done brooding in the coop before, I'm certain it will be a learning experience!
View attachment 3782179

Martha is gorgeous. All broody hens look so content

 

[fluffycrow]

Martha went broody over a week ago, and after two days I slid three eggs under her (3/18) and removed the faux egg. She was inconsistent on the nest the next two days, so I slid a couple more eggs underneath her on the 22nd. Yes, I know, staggered.

Candling is inconclusive so I will check again in a few days.

I've not done brooding in the coop before, I'm certain it will be a learning experience!
View attachment 3782179

Hoping Martha is an excellent broody for you! She definitely looks cozy in that nest

 

[fluffycrow]

I'm hoping Cruella will go broody again soon. I'd also really love it if her adoptive daughter goes broody, but I don't know how much that'll come true. Her biological children are still young, but one has started laying

 

[fuzzi]

Martha is gorgeous. All broody hens look so content

Thank you.

I think she's gorgeous, too.

 

[Faraday40]

Sprinkles looks like she’s re-evaluating her decision to go broody.

 

[fuzzi]

Martha's been pretty steady since I last posted. I candled her eggs on Friday and saw veins in the first three!

The next day she took a good break, and one of the other hens sat for the duration...and laid her egg there!

 

[aliris]

Sprinkles looks like she’s re-evaluating her decision to go broody.
View attachment 3786981View attachment 3786982

How many are there?? Am I really counting _20_? Yikes.