Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[dkcrumly]

So yesterday I had let both broody hens with their chicks out to free range (been doing this for a week now). They have had a couple little fights "protecting" their babies from each other but nothing that lasts long or is serious. They have learned to give each other space while still enjoying the yard. However, yesterday I went out there to start putting everyone away and they were both laying on the ground on their backs, about a foot apart from each other....I thought OMG they're dead!! What got in the yard and killed them? I was just sick! I went up to them and one was moving slightly so I picked her up and she immediately started moving and fluffing her feathers, so I set her down and she ran off to be with her babies. Then I picked up the other one who seemed limp and dead and held her to me...after a couple seconds she was fine too! What the heck was this all about? Did they faint? Were they playing dead? Both of their combs were very red and a little bit bloody so they had been going at it long enough to do some damage. I put neosporin on them and made sure they drank some water before putting them in their coops for the night. This morning everyone is just fine!

Anyone know what happened?

I will be making sure they are free ranging one at a time now because I don't want this to happen again, or for it to be worse even!

kristen

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
They probably got into a fight and just got exhausted.. I have seen my mama hens do that but not to the point of falling on their backs, doesn't usually last that long. They probably worked it out by themselves. glad they are okay.. sorry I had to laugh, I can imagine how they must have looked. When we had too many roos one time these guys started fighting and went way up the back bank behind out home, well it's not easy getting up there but finally I had to because it was getting dark, well when I git there I picked both up in my arms and they immediatly went limp, by the time I got back down to the house I thought both were dead. called my dh and he took one well they both recovered in due time just a little bloody and exhausted. So yes they can give us a fright for sure.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Day 18 here with my Red Sex Link broody sitting tight. I feel like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas!!!

Will day 21 EVER get here????

These aren't even my first chicks. They are her first but not mine. Does one EVER get tired of chicks???

(She was funny yesterday. I saw her stand up on the nest a couple of times and look between her legs. I wonder if the eggs were moving or making noise. Something sure seemed to be getting her attention.)

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
They probably got into a fight and just got exhausted.. I have seen my mama hens do that but not to the point of falling on their backs, doesn't usually last that long. They probably worked it out by themselves. glad they are okay.. sorry I had to laugh, I can imagine how they must have looked. When we had too many roos one time these guys started fighting and went way up the back bank behind out home, well it's not easy getting up there but finally I had to because it was getting dark, well when I git there I picked both up in my arms and they immediatly went limp, by the time I got back down to the house I thought both were dead. called my dh and he took one well they both recovered in due time just a little bloody and exhausted. So yes they can give us a fright for sure.

I'm so glad you said that, Miss Lydia! I too found myself giggling when I read Kristen's story. I would be beside myself if I found my birds that way but Kristen, it kind of is a funny story!! Thanks for the laugh.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I bet they are peeping and you can probably hear too, have you picked one up and put it to your ear? my goodness I had 10 broodys including 1 duck and I was excited with them all, exhausted and excited by the time it was all over.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I bet they are peeping and you can probably hear too, have you picked one up and put it to your ear? my goodness I had 10 broodys including 1 duck and I was excited with them all, exhausted and excited by the time it was all over.

Not a chance I'm getting any where near those eggs today. Broody mama is locked down tight. Stink eye is so fierce that she actually has one eye closed - likely, so she can glare harder at me with the other!! I didn't know feathers could stand so upright. (I've tried listening from a distance but it's windy today so ambient noise level is high. Not hearing anything but roaring wind.)

I hope something actually hatches ....

 

[dkcrumly]

Quote:
They probably got into a fight and just got exhausted.. I have seen my mama hens do that but not to the point of falling on their backs, doesn't usually last that long. They probably worked it out by themselves. glad they are okay.. sorry I had to laugh, I can imagine how they must have looked. When we had too many roos one time these guys started fighting and went way up the back bank behind out home, well it's not easy getting up there but finally I had to because it was getting dark, well when I git there I picked both up in my arms and they immediatly went limp, by the time I got back down to the house I thought both were dead. called my dh and he took one well they both recovered in due time just a little bloody and exhausted. So yes they can give us a fright for sure.

I'm so glad you said that, Miss Lydia! I too found myself giggling when I read Kristen's story. I would be beside myself if I found my birds that way but Kristen, it kind of is a funny story!! Thanks for the laugh.

I know, it is funny now that it's over

kristen

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I bet they are peeping and you can probably hear too, have you picked one up and put it to your ear? my goodness I had 10 broodys including 1 duck and I was excited with them all, exhausted and excited by the time it was all over.

Not a chance I'm getting any where near those eggs today. Broody mama is locked down tight. Stink eye is so fierce that she actually has one eye closed - likely, so she can glare harder at me with the other!! I didn't know feathers could stand so upright. (I've tried listening from a distance but it's windy today so ambient noise level is high. Not hearing anything but roaring wind.)

I hope something actually hatches ....

Could have some pipping and maybe a chick tomorrow. looking forward to updates...

 

[slurrywidow]

Quote:
Oh wow! I would have been so upset seeing them laying there like that! However....once I got to the end of the story I have to admit I was kind of giggling too. Silly birds, I can just hear them "okay, okay, I'll give if you will. Truce, truce!"

So glad they are okay.

 

[LOST Chick Heather]

Holy Moly it's WORKING!!!!

Should update first: 7 SLW Eggs placed under Eloise on the 5th of August. One broke the same day. Despite the other girls insisting on laying in the same box as Eloise, all has been well. Second egg broke today and did not have an embryo in it-so it was a dud anyway. I have been so lazy about this and did not bother to candle (I like my sleep). It was really cute to see the other hens in the flock sitting on the fertile eggs while Eloise would get off the nest for a breather, snack and dust bath.

Tomorrow is day 21 but I just went out there 2 hours ago, knowing to start really checking around now and....two are pipped. One more so than the other. The one with the larger pip you can hear tapping inside the egg and the one with the smaller pip you can hear peeping! (Eloise came off her nest box, one of her sister's eggs was in there and the broken SLW one-which I cleaned)

My kiddos are so excited, me too!

Grrr...2 hatched but I don't know if they'll make it

about an hour ago my dd came in yelling that one hatched and was on the floor of the coop. Not knowing what to do I scooped it up and put it under momma, it was still wet. the other had hatched and I meddled because one of the other hens was being aggressive trying to get into that nestbox and I trying to get it under momma think I broke its yolk and momma ate the rest of the yolk. She took a while getting it under her and I just put it under her-haven't heard any peeping recently...

Already have a next time list started: momma needs to be separated from the flock, no iffs ans or butts...