Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[boxermom]

Send some of that contagiousness my way PLEASE!

I just have broody turks and they break their eggs. My hens aren't "in the mood" yet...

 

[stonykill]

Black Broody....who is on day 16 now...is nesting with her head under her wing. The look I would expect if there were a little one. Not possible....but interesting none the less......

 

[AKsmama]

I love seeing all the pics of the chickies and their mamas!

Our broody is still sitting. She was on 9, but we discovered one had been cracked badly enough for the membrane to show, so we took that one out. We opened it and our girls, ages 8 and 5, were very interested to see the little embryo. So cool how even at 5 days development you can see the eye spot and the little wing areas. Yesterday was a week since she started sitting, so DH and I candled 4 eggs real quickly. Saw embryos in 2, nothing in 1, and the last one, a blue EE egg, we couldn't see through. DH did build her a little broody house, but she panicked a tiny bit when we put her in there, so we moved her back to the nest box. Maybe we'll use the house when the chicks are little.

I know she gets off the nest for a few minutes each day, but I've only observed her out with the flock once during this week, when I had tossed out some scratch in the evening. It was so funny! She walks around making that soft little clucking noise and man, does she go wham on the head of any chicken that looks at her!

She had a quick chest-bumping tiff with one of the other hens. I love to see her fluff up and hold out her wings. I guess she's getting in a little mama practice!

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's so exciting to hear how many of us decide to go the ole fashioned way and let mama do it, I have more joy out of watching my hen and her chicks than just about anything, it's so peaceful. My first time mama Brahma is finally feeling more comfortable with bringing hers out. And tomorrow is hatch day for our little bantam/game hen she's a first time mommie too. so to all who have chosen to let mama do it, congratulations and enjoy!!

and as far as contagious, please no more I still have 5 more hens sitting.

 

[mskittydjs]

I completely agree that watching my chickens is one of the most peaceful and enjoyable past times that I have!! I cannot wait to see the babies running around! Yesterday morning I removed Cinderella from the cage to allow her to stretch and hopefully see her eat. She did the same thing and started taking a dirt bath and eating dirt. (I checked her when I picked her up and she doesn't have mites) I have a food dish and water dish in the cage for her and still cannot tell that she is eating or drinking. Thanks Gold Griffin Chicken Mom for the suggestion of the granite grit and sand. I do not have any right now but will definitely go get some today! When I look in on her, all I see is that same Get Away From Me I have Lives Underneath Me Stare!!! My son says she is very intimidating! Thanks BlackBart for the reassurance! I love the photos Stoneykill! When I let Cinderella out, my Ameraucauna Rooster (Mulligan) tried to mate with her and I have never seen a hen fight a rooster before but she did and won!! You go girl! She told him to leave her alone and meant every word of it!

Loved your photos too Angidee and Notafarm!! Would love to have a few ducks too but maybe next year when I can gradually get in on other things!

Once again, thanks everyone for your advice, humor and friendship here!! My friends do not understand at all how I can be so attached to a chicken...I tell them they are not just chickens...they agre my babies!!! God has given them to me and I am going to care for them like I do everything else! MY DH tells me all the time that I was born 150 years to late...I would have been an excellent pioneer wife! I just tell him then that he is so lucky to have me!!!

 

[GoChick]

My broody is on day 12! She's in a separate dog crate inside the coop. This morning, while she was out, I counted the eggs and there were only 12. There were 14 when she started!! Could she have eaten them? Why?

Thanks!

 

[chicknmania]

Quote:
Yes, they will eat them. Who knows why. For one thing they might decide that the eggs are duds.
Sometimes they just eat eggs. Boredom? Inexperienced mom? Dietary deficiency? We had one little banty hen once, who I would've loved to have babies from, eat ALL hers over a period of days. Put some sunflower seeds in your hen's food, and make sure she has plenty of oyster shell.

 

[chicknmania]

Quote:
We have a little buff silkie hen, Izzy Lou. She's a tiny little thing, and she is broody now. When she sees a roo anywhere near her she practically turns herself upside down, puffing herself up and spreading her wings, growling at him, trying to make herself as big and intimidating as possible. So funny.

 

[GoChick]

Quote:
Yes, they will eat them. Who knows why. For one thing they might decide that the eggs are duds.
Sometimes they just eat eggs. Boredom? Inexperienced mom? Dietary deficiency? We had one little banty hen once, who I would've loved to have babies from, eat ALL hers over a period of days. Put some sunflower seeds in your hen's food, and make sure she has plenty of oyster shell.

Thanks, chicknmania! I give her BOSS, but will add some more and oyster shell. I wasn't giving her oyster shell, as she's not laying maybe that was my mistake!

9 days to go... I can barely wait!

 

[marymac]

I have a BO who has now decided to go broody. I've only had experience with silkys and have given them 7 eggs to sit on. She hatched all 7 of them. How many eggs can I put under my BO? i really need to know.