Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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Love Brahmas , have some myself. The only thing I see missing the waterer, and they don't need grit with chick starter. mama either. But as soon as she brings them out she'll show them where to get grit out of the ground. Maybe tomorrow you will hear peeping inside the egg, listen for it. Thats a good indicater it's getting close, mind you some don't hear the peeping but you may. It is so exciting and fun and a joy to watch mama with her chicks. All the best and don't forget pics.

 

[SueSteeves]

Thanks Lydia!!!!! The waterer is in there ready to go

Good to know about the grit. I will listen for noises tomorrow.....the next 2 days are not going to be very productive at all thanks to chick fever!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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WE all know where you are right now, will looking looking for updates.

 

[stonykill]

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sounds about normal around here

 

[stonykill]

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if one of my pekins go broody (my friend had a Pekin that did) I'll get some Indian Runner eggs from a guy across the border in Vermont. I want Runners!

If anyone is likely to have a broody Pekin it's you! How many broodys for this years tally?

yup! Seriously, my friend had one go broody, that he got at TSC the year before. I had 14 broody's so far this year. That should be it, but "mama"....well I can't find her nest. I know where she is, I just don't know where she is laying. So....14.....

that was from 10 adult hens, and one born this year, in early march. So there were repeats. "Mama" was one of the repeats

 

[Skittlez]

Miss Lydia, I took broody Betty's babies (say that 10 times fast) away because of the way she teaches them to eat. She takes the food out of the dish and drops it in the shavings and 2 of the babies were not getting enough food. Plus she was getting restless and burying the food and water under shavings from all her scratching. I had to refill like every minute and it was too wasteful. The babies are actually growing better without her. My cochin does the same thing, so I usually remove her babies by day 4. If they would eat enough, I would leave them together.

Stony still hasn't found that silly broodies nest? Poor Stoney. Broody mamma sure is sneaky

 

[Miss Lydia]

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sounds like you did the best for them, when mine start to throw the bedding all over and into the food the door comes open and I let them out.

 

[stonykill]

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Sumatra's are natural egg hiders to begin with

. Add to that "mama" thinks she is a professional broody and

. I really want to make sure her nest is in a safe place. If I find it hidden somewhere in the disaster that is my shed, which has been taken over by 13 Sumatra's (yes, those 13 now live in there) I'll probably let her have at it. It's what she does so well

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Sumatra's are natural egg hiders to begin with

. Add to that "mama" thinks she is a professional broody and

. I really want to make sure her nest is in a safe place. If I find it hidden somewhere in the disaster that is my shed, which has been taken over by 13 Sumatra's (yes, those 13 now live in there) I'll probably let her have at it. It's what she does so well

My game are that way, I found 2 nests they had started out in the woods, no telling how many I didn't find. you know good and well if I can find them a predator can. Now i am down to 2 games and 1 roo that is half game. I gave all the rest away. Not because I didn't like the breed but because they were teaching my other breeds to lay in the woods. These 2 girls i have let lay in the coop for some strange reason.

 

[Skittlez]

Sumatra's are natural egg hiders to begin with . Add to that "mama" thinks she is a professional broody and . I really want to make sure her nest is in a safe place. If I find it hidden somewhere in the disaster that is my shed, which has been taken over by 13 Sumatra's (yes, those 13 now live in there) I'll probably let her have at it. It's what she does so well

A sumatra huh? I am glad you warned me. I have one sumatra hen and so far I think she is using the nest box, but I am not sure seeing as that coop has 7 hens and I am getting 3 eggs. Hmm...maybe I have some yard searching to do. I can't seem to find any of my duck eggs anymore either. I have searched for those, but haven't found any, so maybe they are still in molt? And I think I have a critter getting in my shed, the big ladies are not giving me anymore eggs either. Maybe your sumatra has stolen them to add to her secret nest.

sounds like you did the best for them, when mine start to throw the bedding all over and into the food the door comes open and I let them out.

I wish I could leave them with mamma, it is soo much easier. With 9 broods this year, I have run out of room! I don't have any vacancies in the chick motel and I didn't want to put the babies in with the big girls, they are a little cranky this month.​