Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[BarnGoddess01]

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do you have the food close enought that she doesn't have to go far, Sometimes all i could get one of my broodys to eat was mealworms but that was better than nothing. might try scrambled eggs or yogurt or both too.

well, the food is right next to her, tonight i gave her some mealies, some scratch, and crumbles- finally wetted it down a little and she started eating... she gets so zoned into hatching- food isn't on the radar....

My broody wouldn't eat in front of me. (Too busy giving me stink eye, I believe!) It's actually probably some instinct that says - don't leave the eggs when anyone else is snooping around. But the food did go down just a tiny bit day by day so I know she was eating at some point. But she didn't eat much. I noticed more water going down than food. Now, 3 months after hatching, she's the prettiest girl in my coop and laying the nicest eggs - at almost 3 years old. Raising a brood obviously did her a world of good - even if she didn't eat much.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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well, the food is right next to her, tonight i gave her some mealies, some scratch, and crumbles- finally wetted it down a little and she started eating... she gets so zoned into hatching- food isn't on the radar....

My broody wouldn't eat in front of me. (Too busy giving me stink eye, I believe!) It's actually probably some instinct that says - don't leave the eggs when anyone else is snooping around. But the food did go down just a tiny bit day by day so I know she was eating at some point. But she didn't eat much. I noticed more water going down than food. Now, 3 months after hatching, she's the prettiest girl in my coop and laying the nicest eggs - at almost 3 years old. Raising a brood obviously did her a world of good - even if she didn't eat much.

Yep we have to give them credit they have been doing this alot longer than us,

oops now I am starting to sound like stony

even my hen that sat 42 days in a row came off the nest healthy.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

So it's been a while since I've posted, I wanted to give all you helpful peeps an update. I just can't thank everyone enough for the information and SUPPORT I've received throughout this exciting, yet nail biter of a time! Our lone chick was hatched to our first time broody white leghorn on Nov 9th. This is the first chick ever hatched at our home (soon to be farm?!). The little guy is a loner as 9/10 a Big Fat Hen, his brood Momma, left the last few eggs to care for him, her? Anyhow, by day two his foot was looking pretty bad, he was holding it up, hardly using it at all. I got the brooder set up inside and prepared to take him from 9/10 and try to fix him up inside, but without intervention from me, his foot got better and he's looking awesome. I do find it strange that all my other hens are now laying in the brooder we set up for 9/10 instead of in the coop. Don't know what that is all about, chick envy? So here is the lil guy with 9/10, I tried to get shots that showed his feet.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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What a cutie so happy to hear it's doing so good. and as for the brooder, anytime I change anything in the coop I put in a new nest box etc. it automatically becomes the favorite, and they will wait in line to use it even though they have alot more. silly girls.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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9/10 and her chick are fabulous! Thanks for sharing!!

 

[wilobrookfarms]

Well all you broody experts! lol I have a question? I have a broody silkie. She has been acting broody for a week and a half. My question is, will she finish out a batch of eggs if I put them under her this week? As of now, she is sitting on a dummy egg, but I have 6 fertilized eggs coming in the mail, will she follow thru? Or quite half way thru?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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They can't count so most likely she'll just stay till hatched, I had a hen that sat on infertile eggs for 21 days and turned right around and sat another 21 days and hatched 3 chicks.

 

[wilobrookfarms]

Awsome! Hopefully Franny will be a Mom in 21 days or so!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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They can't count so most likely she'll just stay till hatched, I had a hen that sat on infertile eggs for 21 days and turned right around and sat another 21 days and hatched 3 chicks.

x 2. I'm betting she'll sit 'til something hatches.

 

[stonykill]

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My broody wouldn't eat in front of me. (Too busy giving me stink eye, I believe!) It's actually probably some instinct that says - don't leave the eggs when anyone else is snooping around. But the food did go down just a tiny bit day by day so I know she was eating at some point. But she didn't eat much. I noticed more water going down than food. Now, 3 months after hatching, she's the prettiest girl in my coop and laying the nicest eggs - at almost 3 years old. Raising a brood obviously did her a world of good - even if she didn't eat much.

Yep we have to give them credit they have been doing this alot longer than us,

oops now I am starting to sound like stony

even my hen that sat 42 days in a row came off the nest healthy.