Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

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Yes, I want a roo.

I lost 4 Gorgeous Coronation roosters to the heat, and I only have 1 Lt Sussex boy for around 18 Sussex hens, it isn't working!

My Lt Sussex boy is sooo docile and does NOT do his job fertilizing the hens, that Sussex chick was the only one out of 13 eggs that hatched. I have some Coronation roosters that will be shipped to me when it cools off, but I still need a Lt. Sussex rooster that will "do his thing".

There is a BYC'er in GA that sells Lt. Sussex cockerels/pullets/chicks/eggs I may get some from him.

~ Aspen

I'm sorry you lost your roos to the heat, it's been bad all over.

Yes, it sure has.

~ Aspen

 

[TexGardenGirl]

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so your saying she is sitting on 19 chicks right now? I have seen my broodys peck their chicks before and thought why, but they were never injured by her, maybe she is feeling a little over whelmed right now especially as hot as it is. Why do you want to take mom away? are you thinking she may hurt another?

Yes. She's got 18 babies total (the 19th is indoors because she got scalped 2 days ago). She's pecking hard enough that I'm afraid she might draw blood, which then might lead to the others picking at the chick? I don't really know who did it to the little keet 2 days ago, but the results are very bad. I saw momma peck again a little while ago and I took her out. I guess I'm torn - I do want to leave her with them, but it's her first brood and maybe she just can't do it. But if you say it happens sometimes with no problems (and I have personally seen her do it at least 4 times today, and no one is hurt today) that means maybe I'm overreacting. Hmmm. She wants to go back to them so I could put her back now with no problems. I assume I need to decide pretty quick though.
Thanks!

 

[TexGardenGirl]

We decided to put her back with the chicks. Everyone seems happier about it. I figured out another way I think the keet may have gotten hurt - the more I thought about it the more it looked like the skin had been scraped off, rather than pecked at. I think it may have gotten its little head stuck in the wire and scraped off the skin pulling back inside. It really doesn't look like the multitude of pecks it would have had to be to cause that much damage.
Thanks Miss Lydia for the reality check!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I hope they all will be very safe and happy thats one big family.

 

[Cindilou]

My girl seems to be going broody again! Her last set of chicks is only 2 months old. She is still laying but she is screeching, pulling out her breast feathers and not getting off her egg that she laid or the others' eggs. Not yet! I do want a couple more laying hens but I need to see how many are females and males out of the first batch first. Sheesh...she's a workaholic.

 

[Fuffy]

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Hope it's coming right for you now!

 

[Fuffy]

Mrs. Fluffy Puffy :

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I'm sorry you lost your roos to the heat, it's been bad all over.

Yes, it sure has.

~ Aspen​

They are truely adorable!

I could offer you a lovely buff sussex roo in about 2 months...You would need to come and get him though

 

[Nigellas]

OK... Day 21 and nothing yet. I didn't put them under my hen until the afternoon, so I suppose I technically have a few more hours yet - but there is nothing happening - No pips, no rocking, no sounds. I'm thinking this was a flop.

How long should I give it before I officially abandon them and pull them from her? I feel SO bad for my hen. She was sitting on an empty next for well over a month before I finally gave in and gave her fertile eggs, now if these don't hatch I don't know what I can do for her. She really wants to be a mama. I really doubt this late in the season I can find any local day old chicks to give her to adopt... Poor Erma.

 

[Niss]

Nigellas-- I'll send good vibes your way. Although I had no luck with our eggs I did find my broody 4 day old peeps to reward her 2 tries at hatching.

Fluffy--I would LOVE to come over and pick up your roo! To bad we are dumping every cent in to fixing up the house and I'll likily never get my European vacation.

 

[featherz]

My BLRW is broody again and she has three BO eggs under her. She had five, but one of the hens that shoves into the nest to lay HER eggs broke two of em. grr. Anyways, my poor pale broody (they look so awful after sitting so long!) is due tomorrow!!

Wish her luck. If I get no chicks, I'll have to find some.