Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

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Well, aren't they just the cutest! I'm honoured!!
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glad to hear someone else had success w/ a broody & ordering! hooray! & those babies are super cute. i sifted through some of the thread & the pics of moms w/ babies warmed my heart. very sweet. made me super excited about the new adventure i'm going on w/ the chickens
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Rachel'sFlock :

What I have learned from my First Hatch:

Meddle less.
Relax more.
Have more faith in the hen to do her work.
Set fewer eggs to begin with.
Enjoy the suspense.
Have a stack of books to read during the 21 days.

Next time (and, gods and hens willing there will be a next time) I will be a lot more patient with the whole process.
The second (and subsequent times after) will likely be much easier.

Turns out, chickens really do know a lot more about being chickens than I ever will! Stony, and Miss Lydia, you were absolutely right! About everything!

I can vouch for this all being true. My first time was a flop and I think it was too much interferance and too many eggs. The second was MUCH easier on me, even though it was still sort-of the first time. I didn't mess with the hen near as much, and at the hight of other hens sneaking in she only got up to 7...she now has 4 adorable little chicks and I know you guys deserve part of the credit for the advice, the fuzzy butt fixes you shaired, and holding my hand though all the
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so poor mama didn't have me messin in the coop all day.

As to taking the chicks out. Once my hens started they were out all day every day. I just lay a board to span the jump and check on them after supper to make sure they ALL made it in (a few times one didn't--if it won't let you scoop it up then grab mama off the nest to cluck to it
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One night I didn't get out to check on the first batch and one was lost--My observation with both moms is the hen will stay with the majority of the chicks, Fluffy Britches would plop on top of them all outside befor I remebered to instal the "ramp", but will leave one chick to take the other 3 to the nest at night).​
 
hey peoples what does the broody 'growl' sound like? My PR is favouring the nestbox lately and made a strange noise when I checked on her in there the past two days.
 
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"stonykill" is a stream on my property. "kill" being Dutch for stream.

Cute bird, but I would think a roo should carry on my name....
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Ahhh, this whole time I was wondering why you had chosen your name. A stream is one thing I wish we had on our property. As for needing a roo to name after you, believe me, I thought of that and "stony" looked the most roo-ish out of the bunch. "He" just has that look in his eye!
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"stonykill" is a stream on my property. "kill" being Dutch for stream.

Cute bird, but I would think a roo should carry on my name....
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Ahhh, this whole time I was wondering why you had chosen your name. A stream is one thing I wish we had on our property. As for needing a roo to name after you, believe me, I thought of that and "stony" looked the most roo-ish out of the bunch. "He" just has that look in his eye!
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My little JB hen was all squashed down over her 4 eggs this morning when I went to check on them. She has managed to defend her eggs from the egg stealing blue cochin bantam hen who wants some eggs in the worst way!! Unfortunately I don't think hers are fertile since her feathering seems to be preventing the JB roo from hitting a homerun. Poor hen! Maybe someone will be selling hatching eggs at the chicken swap tomorrow?! hee hee
 

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