Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Rachel'sFlock]

Thank you so much, Miss Lydia! I am sure I will be here sweating out the hours with all the other expectant families!
Brightest Blessings!

 

[jennifersouza]

I am exactly 2 weeks out from my first hatch....It's very exciting.

My husband, who grew up with chickens & knows all about them, is really tickled by our online forum.

He's not as excited as I am (to him it's like getting excited about buying lettuce)....I'm so happy to have all of you to celebrate with!!!!!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

jennifersouza, I also get excited about buying lettuce, but even more about picking it!

 

[Jloeffler]

Final tally fornthe day I'd eight happily brooding, one DOA thanks to momma, and three still in eggs. We'll let the three go a bit longer before we give up on them. I am eternally grateful they hatched on a holiday weekend when we could be here to intervene, so I hope any hatches tomorrow fare alright. I took lots of pics (killed the camera battery) and will attempt to post them tomorrow when I can use my much more efficient work computer. One cute one of DHs Boykin Spaniel peeking in on them. She's as fascinated as we are! Only under supervision though!

Thanks, Fluffy, for making me feel better about freaking out!

Jennifersousa - if you get the chance, watch the hatch! It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen! Good luck with it!

BarnGoddess as always your pictures rock! Maybe I won'tost mine...

. The white is the frizzle, right? Amazing that their feathers start already! Very cool!

RachelsFlock enjoy! It gets better!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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As exciting as buying lettuce huh, you wait till those chicks start hatching, he'll probably melt. We're here for you, keep us posted!!

 

[stonykill]

wow a lot has been posted in a few days. We are back from vacation and came home to Broody Sumatra # 14 of the year. She is a young girl, one of this years broody hatches, and is sitting on 4 eggs. She has laid about 18 to 24 eggs so far since she started laying, and is already a broody

. Love these Sumatra's!

 

[Niss]

Wow, what drama! Thanks for all the updates and pics! I'm so glad that the great egg swap took place with out a hitch!

We have had a few bumps here:
My young bird decided against being broody, but I had goofed and split the eggs up

some got cool...but that was back last week when temps were 80+

The other day Fluffy Britches was off the nest and some eggs were eaten

I'm now down to 4, and I don't know which may have cooled...I will have to think hard and design some thing compleatly different for any spring broodies. The last go around I used a small wire rabbit cage, problimatic because I had to let the mama out and she fouled the nest, with the door propped up she one time locked herself out. Also the door swings in and sometimes she would be in the way. This time I left mama in the nest, since my birds don't usually eat the eggs layed in the nest boxes and that was a huge problem last time too. But now I have a nest over 2' up that some naughty bird STILL broke in to. I do like leaving them in the coop so I don't have integration issues. I may build in a brooder area big enough to put down a dustbathing area...I'm just really busy with the house right now.

 

[Jloeffler]

The new babies!

Just Hangin'! Check out those leg feathers!

Big Sis, Hope, checking out the camera.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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What cuties, and big sis enjoying the company!!

 

[Fuffy]

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Very CUTE!!!!

That big sis is just practicing her stinkeye