Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

Rachel'sFlock :

Chicks~ One week + 3 days old:

Sooo, AliceAnn has the peeps out free ranging with the flock, today.
Like all loose, in the pasture...exposed....
She had them out, in the run, on Day 2. This gave me nightmares, but all went well, and she kept them in the coop for the next 4 days after, so I relaxed.
Then, yesterday, she had them outside, on the upper pasture , but quite close to the run door, and not for very long.
Today, she fled the run along with the rest of the flock (they yearn to be free, despite "bearing confinement well"), the peeps in tow.
They have been out there all afternoon.
It is so hard to let her raise them, after having raised her in a brooder, with a heat lamp, and a thermometer, at 95 degrees for the first week, subtracting 5 degrees a week, in a perfectly hygienic environment, for 6 full weeks before letting them out into their enclosed coop, where I still continued to leave my bedroom window open so I could hear if they "were in trouble".

She has them out in 55 degree weather, eating bugs and dirt, with no human protection whatever (but that I am still listening with bionic Mother Hearing), and they are the happiest, strongest, fastest little self-sufficient peeps I ever saw.
I am a firm believer in doing it Nature's Way, and I have really applied myself to leaving Her the "H" alone....
I know it is the rightest thing in the world to do...but oh how it tests my Faith!!!

...I know, Stony, et al...chickens know how to be chickens better than we do.
My mantra, as I sip tea, pray, and try not to stalk them...

yes they do. My broody mama's will have there brood out everyday whether it is 30 out and snowing, 40 and pouring rain, or a tropical storm. They are out with their babies. Personally I love this. Man made brooders are just stressful.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
yes they do. My broody mama's will have there brood out everyday whether it is 30 out and snowing, 40 and pouring rain, or a tropical storm. They are out with their babies. Personally I love this. Man made brooders are just stressful.

Obviously I believe you, Stony, and believe in Nature's way...lest I would have swooped down, taken them from their Mum and have them in a cozy little box with a lamp right now!

I'm pretty sure I will get less parranoid about this, the more times we set clutches.
sooo...you hatch in the winter, eh???
hmmm.....

 

[stonykill]

Rachel'sFlock :

Quote:
yes they do. My broody mama's will have there brood out everyday whether it is 30 out and snowing, 40 and pouring rain, or a tropical storm. They are out with their babies. Personally I love this. Man made brooders are just stressful.

Obviously I believe you, Stony, and believe in Nature's way...lest I would have swooped down, taken them from their Mum and have them in a cozy little box with a lamp right now!

I'm pretty sure I will get less parranoid about this, the more times we set clutches.
sooo...you hatch in the winter, eh???
hmmm.....

I don't, but my girls...

. Last October "mama" sat, and on march 5th of this spring, my 1st broody sat. The march broody had her little ones out in snow several times. One of her little ones just hatched 5 eggs 2 weeks ago. someone might still sit this year, but I don't think so. Late Feb or early march, I bet a few sit.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
Obviously I believe you, Stony, and believe in Nature's way...lest I would have swooped down, taken them from their Mum and have them in a cozy little box with a lamp right now!

I'm pretty sure I will get less parranoid about this, the more times we set clutches.
sooo...you hatch in the winter, eh???
hmmm.....

I don't, but my girls...

. Last October "mama" sat, and on march 5th of this spring, my 1st broody sat. The march broody had her little ones out in snow several times. One of her little ones just hatched 5 eggs 2 weeks ago. someone might still sit this year, but I don't think so. Late Feb or early march, I bet a few sit.

I am hoping this hatch will "scratch broody's itch" and she will take a break from being broody for the season.
But last year, she went broody every 4-6 weeks like clockwork, even in winter.

 

[woody1]

Got a question for you knowledgeable folks:
We've got a banty hen setting on 11 eggs. They started hatching yesterday and today she's still keeping the peepers under her and sitting on the remainder of the eggs. When can we expect her to come off with whatever she's got? We'd like to get her and the brood penned up in a little more secure place than where she is. Thanks and regards, Woody

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
mine come off the nest from 24 to 72 hours after the 1st one hatches. Most of them from 24 to 48 hours. Although of my 14 broody's this year, several have waited the 72 hours. She will take them out when she is ready.

 

[cackler]

My broody hatched 1 guinea keet a week or so ago. She had some more guinea eggs under her but I took them away a couple of days ago as they were no good. Today I put 3 chicken eggs in her nest where she hatched her keet. I have 7 guinea eggs in the bator that should hatch in a couple of weeks. HOPEFULLY she'll be broody when the new keets hatch & she will raise them .

She was setting on the chicken eggs tonight at least.

 

[Jloeffler]

Here's my broody pancake!

She let me take her off the nest for a little bit yesterday for snacks. I put fresh grass clippings and collected some clover for her. She was very eggcited about it!! Here's her roo. Whenever I put treats out for them he calls to her to let her know. He's been a very good roo.

Rachel: I'll be right there with you if these three JB eggs hatch!! I'm already eyeing places in the fencing something as small as a JB chick could duck in and out of the run through and trying to figure out how to close them up tight! They are as nerve wracking as my kids have ever been...

 

[Animalian]

Ooo that's a gorgeous little pancake! What is she?

I made my first attempt at candling last night, three had 'a darkness' in there and one was clear, its been three days. I hope its something! lol

 

[Jloeffler]

Quote:
She is a Black Tailed Buff Japanese Bantam. Only slightly larger than a big morning dove but full of spunk if you are attempting to obscene with any of her eggs!

very friendly birds if handled regularly. I wasn't sure I would like them (DD picked them out) but they have definitely grown on me! Congrats! Seeing a dark spot is promising! How dark are the egg shells you are looking through? If they are light colored, white cream or tint, wait three to four more days and not only should you see veining but you should be able to watch the chick moving around! It is one of the coolest things I have ever seen! If it's a dark shell, even light brown, it will make it significantly harder. I always saw the best at day 14. Then you can actually tell wings and feet when you see them move!