Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[williamsl77]

I'm new to broody hens, too. What do you mean by stealing eggs? Do they pick up eggs and take them to another nest? or do they share a nest?

I'm curious because we just found our broody hen who had disappeared sitting on 21 eggs!! We can't figure out how she got that many eggs where she was. That seemed like a ton of eggs for her to have laid all by herself. I candled her eggs and took out 7 duds. So 14 were viable and developing. She had been getting out regularly, but we had not noticed her out enough times to lay that many eggs. I don't know if she could have carried anyone else's eggs that far, either. I'm so hoping they'll hatch so we can see what we get!!!

 

[artsyrobin]

probably other hens are sneaking in and laying with her clutch, i have two serama mamas that hatched theirs together- rolling eggs back and forth and share taking care of the kids... if they are compatable, probably not a problem- but i'd watch them close, what breeds are they?

here is lacey's first baby- another still to go- ee mixes

 

[Miss Lydia]

So sweet robin,

probably other hens are sneaking in and laying with her clutch, i have two serama mamas that hatched theirs together- rolling eggs back and forth and share taking care of the kids... if they are compatable, probably not a problem- but i'd watch them close, what breeds are they?

here is lacey's first baby- another still to go- ee mixes

 

[Miss Lydia]

What a precious pic, and Smokey is beautiful.

I turned the lamp off and when I was there I got a visit from Smokey's 1st baby - see her peeking out from behind Smokey's wing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh these last 19 days are going to so hard. I put a few treats near her food near the nest. She just stretched out and ate up some grass. I guess she knows its cold out so she doesnt need to get off as much as yesterday since yesterday it was in the 70s!

My broody doesn't seem to have moved at all, but I did notice some of the mealworms I put in there are gone. I think i am going to give her till the weekend then open up her side of the small coop and see if she wants to stretch her legs. She is like # 3 at the bottom of the pecking order so she is going to get picked on. Hey scarlett 456, I am in Yancey co. in the mts. of NC and will probably have some muscovy ducklings later on if you think you might be interested.

Honestly I am not trying to enable you at all.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a question for you guys. I have 2 broody hens right now, Black Betty and Midna. They are sitting on the same nest, stealing eggs back and forth. They don't get angry with each other and have sat about a week now on eggs together. I have already candled and removed the duds and there are like 7 eggs left.

Will they be okay? Will they raise the chicks together peacefully? I put all the eggs out there at the same time so they have the same due date.

These are my first broody hens and I am trying to just let mama do it.

I've had hens share the nest and raise their chicks together, bantam cochins.

 

[Tripp16]

My broody doesn't seem to have moved at all, but I did notice some of the mealworms I put in there are gone. I think i am going to give her till the weekend then open up her side of the small coop and see if she wants to stretch her legs. She is like # 3 at the bottom of the pecking order so she is going to get picked on. Hey scarlett 456, I am in Yancey co. in the mts. of NC and will probably have some muscovy ducklings later on if you think you might be interested.

Honestly I am not trying to enable you at all.

My girl got off for the first time today and took about a 5 minute dust bath and the ate all she could for another 5 minutes then she chased everyone far away from the ladder leading up to the nest and flew up and sat right back down. I am trying not to expect much since its her first time but its hard not to!

Oh gosh dont tempt me on the ducklings! I went to TSC today and came so close to buying some. Would you be willing to ship? I dont know how much space two ducklings would need let alone the type of housing...

 

[bobbieschicks]

Got a few shots of the Wellies - they move very fast. I'm thinking I have two new roosters based on lack of clearly defined V and no eyeliner

Oh well, at least Smokey got to hatch out some chicks - she's so very proud of herself and soon she will be back to laying beautiful green eggs for me

 

[bobbieschicks]

Awhh - so adorable!

probably other hens are sneaking in and laying with her clutch, i have two serama mamas that hatched theirs together- rolling eggs back and forth and share taking care of the kids... if they are compatable, probably not a problem- but i'd watch them close, what breeds are they?

here is lacey's first baby- another still to go- ee mixes

 

[Tripp16]

Got a few shots of the Wellies - they move very fast. I'm thinking I have two new roosters based on lack of clearly defined V and no eyeliner

Oh well, at least Smokey got to hatch out some chicks - she's so very proud of herself and soon she will be back to laying beautiful green eggs for me

Good job Smokey! Even if they are roosters you can still enjoy them while their small. Will you have to sell them? She looks like a great momma.