Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[RedHead]

I've got a broody production red sitting on 8 eggs now, they should hatch on the 14-15th. She's in a crate in my bathroom, had to move her because we've had a bear snooping around at night and the pampas grass at the base of the stairs to the house isn't exactly the safest place for her and her eggs. I've found she's become a bit more friendly with me and hubby since every time we check on her one or both of us brings her random treats lol. She really likes bananas and oatmeal cream pies.

So far she hasn't pecked either of us. I'll post some pics when they hatch.
Who says production red's won't go broody

 

[Miss Lydia]

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looking forward to seeing mama and her chicks. Congrats on the broody

 

[MelissaA]

Hello,
I am hoping someone can help me figure my problem out. I have bantam cochins. My original group of hens are 6 years old (5 years last year). I have always had a problem with my hens laying. Several of them lay off and on every year, mostly off. I have a couple that consistently lay every day. I got a 1 year old proven rooster last year and put 6 eggs (from a couple different hens) under one of my reliably broody hens. She sat on them for 26 days and they were rotting under her. She was very dedicated, so much that I had to hand feed and water her every couple days to make sure she didn't waste away. I thought my hatch didn't happen maybe because either my hens were too old or maybe it was too cold outside when I started? SO, I got an incubator, ordered eggs from several different breeders on this list and hatch several new chicks. This year I put 3 different trios in 3 breeding pens. I waited until I had two broody hens and then put 6 eggs under each (eggs from several different hens, fertilized by 3 different roos- all the chickens were hatched out last year). I removed the roo and other hen from the breeding pen and left mom to do her work. I did not candle because I didn't want to increase my risk of damage. We are now on day 30 and again, no chicks! What could it be? Here is some info:

-I live near Portland Or, our average day is about 70 degrees right now/ 50s at night (last year it was March, so it was about 45-50 degrees during the day/ 30-35 at night)
-breeding houses are pretty well ventilated
-breeding house rests right on the ground, so between the eggs and the direct ground is a piece of plywood and pine shavings, although both hens like the eggs to rest right on the wood with shavings around them.
- they are on Layena layer pellets, grit and oyster shell provided in separate feeders, plenty of fresh water and veggie and fruits from time to time, about once every 2 wks, they also always have a Flock Block SunFresh Recipe to peck on.
-chicken coop is always pretty clean
-none of my chickens ever appear to have health issues, no bugs etc

I hope someone can help me figure this out. I am so frustrated!

Thanks!
Melissa

 

[Fuffy]

WOW Melissa!

I wish I had some wisdom for you, but it sounds like yu are doing everything you possibly could!

Maybe someone else will come along with some ideas.

All I can say is that I have tried for 1 1/2 years to get buff sussex, and hatch after hatch failed. And now I'm the proud mom of 3 buffy baby girls.

So please don't give up!

 

[bburn]

Back again......SIL pulled the nest out after blocking off the dog crate.

I candled all six eggs because there was one broken. Blood rings and sloshy. All tossed to the woods. And.....this might be the wrong thing to do but I put 10 eggs back in the cleaned nest and we put it back in the dog box. She was on top and pulling them all under her when my SIL left her. We will see what happens. She wants to sit. She looks really good. She eats everyday and drinks when we take fresh water two or three times a day.

Hoping I did the right thing. It is really amazing to me that none of the eggs hatched as I had almost 100% fertility when I hatched in the incubator. We will see......we will candle at day 10 and toss them if they are not developing and try to break the broody.

I will be back.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Aww sorry that happened B, one of my hens was sitting on non viable eggs for 21 days and after I took the eggs I replaced them with more and she sat another 21 days and hatch 3 beautiful bantam chicks, she was fine the whole time, and your doing it right by making sure she has good food and fresh water. Wishing you the best,

 

[Glenmar]

Hown long do hens stay broody. I have one that has been broody for about 6 weeks now. And 2 others that are part time broody.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I've never had one stay broody that long but some of them will be broody off an on, one of mine just got up after about 3 weeks of sitting on nothing and another one gave it up last week. I guess some are just obsessed with it. What breed? one of mine is bantam the other is Brahma, both laid and hatched by broodies right here.

 

[yorkchick]

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Go with the "Buffy" theme? The obvious names to begin with--Buffy, Willow, Cordelia? You could expand later with plenty more where that came from--Drusilla, Faith, Anya, Tara, Dawn... yeah, maybe I've watched a little Buffy...

 

[Fuffy]

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Go with the "Buffy" theme? The obvious names to begin with--Buffy, Willow, Cordelia? You could expand later with plenty more where that came from--Drusilla, Faith, Anya, Tara, Dawn... yeah, maybe I've watched a little Buffy...

Thanks yorkchick!

I had thought of Faith, Hope and Charity. Only problem is I'm Faith. And I'm not vain enough to name a hen after myself!