Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Niss]

Wow, what excitment since my last check in!!! Congratulation are due to many as well as thanks to those who gave us pics or are out getting some today!

Countrygirl--I'm also expecting a hatch on the 24th! SS--I was referring to Speckled Sussex, and BA--Black Austrolorpe--Morganwood showed exactly why I want some of those!!!

I swore I wasn't brooding in the house again, but today I go to pick up a quality metal brooder with light and feeder for $20. DH found it on craig's list, he was also looking at incubators...he must not know if I had one it would always be running!

 

[Tripp16]

Wow, what excitment since my last check in!!! Congratulation are due to many as well as thanks to those who gave us pics or are out getting some today!

Countrygirl--I'm also expecting a hatch on the 24th! SS--I was referring to Speckled Sussex, and BA--Black Austrolorpe--Morganwood showed exactly why I want some of those!!!

I swore I wasn't brooding in the house again, but today I go to pick up a quality metal brooder with light and feeder for $20. DH found it on craig's list, he was also looking at incubators...he must not know if I had one it would always be running!

Same here! Even though I am starting to LOVE the broody hen method if I had a bator I dont even want to think about how big the power bill would be or how big the chick feed bill would be!! LOL

 

[Miss Lydia]

Wow, what excitment since my last check in!!! Congratulation are due to many as well as thanks to those who gave us pics or are out getting some today!

Countrygirl--I'm also expecting a hatch on the 24th! SS--I was referring to Speckled Sussex, and BA--Black Austrolorpe--Morganwood showed exactly why I want some of those!!!

I swore I wasn't brooding in the house again, but today I go to pick up a quality metal brooder with light and feeder for $20. DH found it on craig's list, he was also looking at incubators...he must not know if I had one it would always be running!

Yippie Niss your right behind us!! very exciting!!

 

[Tripp16]

Here is my broody Momma sitting tight, her name is Gracie, here lately My friend and I have been calling her "Queen" Gracie from the way she has been acting!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Here is my broody Momma sitting tight, her name is Gracie, here lately My friend and I have been calling her "Queen" Gracie from the way she has been acting!

Aww she is so pretty..

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is my broody Scarlett, she was born last March and my first broody of this year. due the 17th of march..

 

[Tripp16]

This is my broody Scarlett, she was born last March and my first broody of this year. due the 17th of march..

She looks nothing like I had thought of her as. Shes even prettier! I love her feather and she looks like she is going to be a great momma.

She doesnt seem as uptight as my girl. Mine is always crammed down in the straw and pushed up against the back of the nest. I guess they have different personalitys. Mines due the 19th of march! Well thats day 21 I hope they will come about day 20. Who knows...

 

[bobbieschicks]

What a pretty girl - can't wait to see her with her chicks

Here is my broody Momma sitting tight, her name is Gracie, here lately My friend and I have been calling her "Queen" Gracie from the way she has been acting!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Awh - what a beauty - she looks so relaxed at her job. Can't wait to see her & her chicks!

This is my broody Scarlett, she was born last March and my first broody of this year. due the 17th of march..

 

[Niss]

What beautiful mamas! What nice, clean nests!
Which brings me to my first question. Are ducks messy about EVERYTHING? This is the box I put on the floor, to let eggs accumulate, so maybe some bird might thinks "wow, what a nice big clutch, think I'll just hatch those out." The eggs are in there two deep, and frequently spilled out in to the foreground area. They are half buried in bedding, and almost always pooped on. Should I toss them and start fresh? If so how many do I let them accumulate before marking and pulling new ones? Or, since little silkie Laura seems to have been kicked off the nest today (when I found her the eggs were cold, a new one had appeared, and she was inside the cage one one large egg) should I give her duck eggs to try...although that sounds silly now that I think how little she is. If hers don't hatch I'll just buy her chicks--that was my original plan. Ideas? This is the duck mess, notice eggs inside the cardboard box and out front: