Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I hang out alot on the duck thread stony and I have read of pekins going broody, but maybe they will hold out long enough for you to get some runner eggs set under a broody.

chicken that is.

I'll have to find this duck thread. I have thought about slipping runner eggs under a Sumatra

Oh you'll enjoy it. Ducks hatching lots of talk about problems and breeds. It's a great place with lots of great people. Hope to see you there.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

I'll have to find this duck thread. I have thought about slipping runner eggs under a Sumatra

Oh you'll enjoy it. Ducks hatching lots of talk about problems and breeds. It's a great place with lots of great people. Hope to see you there.

Also theres a thread on going about the Cross Roads show that was in October, I have a request in for pics of Sumatras that won so If anyone posts pics I send ya the link.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
Oh you'll enjoy it. Ducks hatching lots of talk about problems and breeds. It's a great place with lots of great people. Hope to see you there.

Also theres a thread on going about the Cross Roads show that was in October, I have a request in for pics of Sumatras that won so If anyone posts pics I send ya the link.

 

[champer]

So glad to have found this thread. I've only had hens since spring and have had 2 of my banties repeatedly go broody. Eventually, I figured they might as well raise chicks if they weren't going to lay, so gave them some day-old chicks to raise and they did great. Now one of the banties is again broody and I decided to buy some fertile eggs on ebay, they should be here in a few days. The auction was for a dozen eggs, so I don't think this little banty can cover them all. The question is: should I give her just 6 and toss the rest, or perhaps another banty might be inspired to set on them if I slip her the rest, or just stick them all under the broodie? All sugestions welcomed!

 

[stonykill]

well broody number 14 just brought her little ones to the Sumatra Spruce with the ferrel flock. It was cute, NOISY, and entertaining. I was kinda hoping she would live in the shed that some of the others have claimed as home. ohhh well. 10 of this years Sumatra broody babies claim it as home. Darn.... now I want another broody

. I'm crazy as my girls

 

[triplepurpose]

Quote:
The only problem i can see is Muscovies take 34-35 days to hatch chickens 21. so you'll have to be sure to monitor the hatch close and keep up with your dates to make sure the you get the chicks out so mama duck doesn't leave the duck eggs behind. Let us know how it turns out and of course pictures are a must. I haven't tried hatching ducks with chickens because my muscovies are such good broodies and so are my chickens. But it can be done.

I think if this was my plan I would set the duck eggs, wait unitl day 13ish (don't trust MY math) and then set the chicken eggs so they hatch together.

The issue of different hatching times occurred to me also. Obviously it would be simpler to put only chicken eggs under the duck, but I just don't think I can live with the idea of having her do all the work hatching them for me, only to take all the "ducklings" away--seems needlessly cruel and ungrateful. Well, I'll have to figure it out when the time comes, I guess. And yes, there will be pics

I still have a few months before the ducks are mature though, so I'm just getting ahead of myself... Thanks for the replies!

 

[kristip]

I am bummed that brown eggs are tough for me to candle... just not seeing much through those shells. Well my broody has 2 that might pip on Friday and another handful of eggs that might pip the week after. Not sure how successful these are as she is young and it is cool outside. I have to pull her off the eggs to go and poop every day otherwise she chooses not to. Of course tehn she wants to run and snack for quite a while and not sure how long is ok off those eggs.

If we have a successful hatch they will come inside, otherwise they are in the dog kennel in garage. temps are getting colder.

 

[Skittlez]

well broody number 14 just brought her little ones to the Sumatra Spruce with the ferrel flock. It was cute, NOISY, and entertaining. I was kinda hoping she would live in the shed that some of the others have claimed as home. ohhh well. 10 of this years Sumatra broody babies claim it as home. Darn.... now I want another broody . I'm crazy as my girls

Awe, Super Sneaky Sumatra has emerged! How many babies does she have? You really want more broodies? Suffering from empty nest syndrome already! Congrats on the babies.​

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
Awe, Super Sneaky Sumatra has emerged! How many babies does she have? You really want more broodies? Suffering from empty nest syndrome already! Congrats on the babies.

broody # 14 had her 3 little ones about 5 weeks ago. She just brought them from her nest, to the area with all of her Sumatra friends.

It's "mama" potential broody 15 who's nest I am looking for. She is crazy and will stash eggs for 2 weeks before sitting. If she does sit, it will be for the 3rd time this year.

I miss the crazy broody stuff. The angry sitting broody who gets up to eat and yells at everyone. Then fly's 50 yards to get a spot all of her own to eat, away from the crowd. "Mama" is a cute broody, she seeks me out for food when she gets up. She looks for me, then stands at my feet, looking up at me as if to say "come on, feed me". This is the stuff I miss. Along with the lil tiny babies.

So anyway, no new babies, that was basically a broody report/update.

 

[Niss]

I'm dreaming of a spring broody
to hatch out lots of little chicks
when the hens all pancake
so I can then take
a chance to play geneticist

To the tune of "White Christmas"