Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
too cute!

X2!!!

 

[artsyrobin]

here is a weird one- checking on flo, my broody silkie- since she poops once a day- do this daily- last 2 times the poo is working with maggots

what do i do??? don't want them getting on her or the eggs

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Explain please?

 

[Evie_W]

I have never tried using my broodies to hatch eggs, but my cochin X silkie went broody a couple of months ago so we put a couple of day olds under her in the dead of night and she has been the most wonderful, attentive mother since! The only downside is that the chicks are a littel shy of people, but I'm remedying that with hand-feeding them scratch. I have a friend raising some chicks with an incubator at the mometn and she has to do so much more work!

 

[artsyrobin]

well, i pick her up to move the poo, the last couple times it is wiggling... ewwwwwww.... so i cleaned her fluffy butt and changed the litter and all- luckily she doesn't mind handling, even when she is broody.....

 

[Moochie]

Cochins are so incredibly.. Er well easily confused when they're broody. She's been sitting on 3 eggs for a week and half and I found them cold this evening. She was sitting in another nestbox and I thought "what on earth is she doing?" I go to check and there's 1 egg under her. That 1 egg was layed today by another hen.
I'm frustrated that I had to dispose of eggs with tiny pre-chickens in them... I was excited for new chicks. I can't get mad at her though. I'm letting her sit on this one egg, if it hatches the chick will be lonely though. It's been there for a few days.. Is it okay to add an egg or two more? Or will that mess the hatch dates up and she may not even sit on them all the way?

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
i wonder if it would be too late to slip the other eggs under her? just a thought-

 

[effie]

I agree with trying the eggs-you are going to toss them anyway-so what the hay!!! They just might still hatch.

 

[BlueCamas]

I have my first broody who's eggs are supposed to hatch around the 6th-18th, I'm not exactly sure, we came back from vacation and there she was over 4 of her eggs! I can't wait for them to hatch! I candled them tonight and all 4 eggs had veins surrounding a small dark blob

I am so proud of Vera, the only time she gets off is in the morning to poop, eat and , drink. She doesn't even leave the nest when the others go out free ranging. Her "sister" Violet sleeps next to her every night, it is the cutest! I just don't know what to do when the babies hatch and how Violet will react. Has anyone had two hens raise chicks together? Violet is also protective of the eggs and will tuck them under her is Vera isn't, but she goes outside with the other chickens during the day and then goes back to Vera at night.

I am leaving Vera in the coop to hatch her chicks, but my plan is to put a cage over top of Vera while the eggs are hatching and for the first few days while the chicks are adjusting. Does that sound alright?
Anyway, just though I would give you guys an update!
Here is the little momma herself. She is REALLY scarey when she is broody!
Vera

Vera in her "box: she refused to stay in the nest box with her eggs, so I just put her in her previous place and put a old drawer under her

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
EEWWWW!!!!!

I should worm her asap.

She needs to be in the best possible condition to sit on those eggs

Good luck!