Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

I can hear chirping! I THINK I see a dead chick in the back of the nest. My question is...with 7 broodies all sitting together do I need to worry about chicks getting smothered? I can't get in to she how many or where the other chicks are until hubby gets back. It's a 2 man operation when you have a 3yr old following you around...lol. Any advice would be great. Not sure if we should keep them out there or bring them inside.

Congrats on the new fuzzy butts! Sorry about the one that didn't make it. I'd let the momma do the work and she will keep them warm. It got down to 20s here a couple of times, but Smokey did fine keeping everyone warm.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I can hear chirping! I THINK I see a dead chick in the back of the nest. My question is...with 7 broodies all sitting together do I need to worry about chicks getting smothered? I can't get in to she how many or where the other chicks are until hubby gets back. It's a 2 man operation when you have a 3yr old following you around...lol. Any advice would be great. Not sure if we should keep them out there or bring them inside.

Sorry about the one that died, but I would think those mamas have it all under control they know just whose chicks belong to who and will take care of them. Congrats on the new fuzzy butts!!

 

[aoxa]

And the other chicks are in there with her, they all might have eaten it if it's gone. Chickesn will eat each other if given the chance. So sorry, but like you said maybe the person checking didn't look through all the bedding.

 

You were right! She had buried it Oh well. Live and learn about the washing.

She brought her three babies outside today for the first time. I need to make a broody enclosure. They can get through the fencing I have now

 

[Morganwood]

Thank you all for the encouragement. As a first timer this is all equal parts excitement and terror...lol. I can't wait to see how many we have!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

You were right! She had buried it Oh well. Live and learn about the washing.
She brought her three babies outside today for the first time. I need to make a broody enclosure. They can get through the fencing I have now

About fencing, I have 2x4 welded wire around the coop and secure run. I managed to get 1/2" hardware cloth around most of it. I ran out of time before my knee surgery and haven't made the gates yet. I just have the welded wire laying across the openings. Anyways the babies go in and out of the welded but they still return to momma when she calls. They stick very close to momma. Having the gaps has helped them escape the advances of the other chickens when they first started coming into the yard. The bigger chicks, my six week olds, can't squeeze thru and a couple of times they've gotten pecked pretty hard.

So I say all that to say, you don't have to worry too much about the babies wandering too far. Most times they will stay close to momma or at least return to her quickly when she calls.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You were right! She had buried it

Oh well. Live and learn about the washing.
She brought her three babies outside today for the first time. I need to make a broody enclosure. They can get through the fencing I have now

I'm so sorry aoxa, but you still get to see her be a great mama..

 

[wildriverswolf90]

My broody hatched 7 out of 12! The eggs were supposed to be an assortment of bantam breeds but look like a color assortment of OEGBs! She has also adopted a lonely astralorp chick. She is being a very good mama and is very watchful and protective!

(sorry for the crappy quality)

 

[Tripp16]

My broody hatched 7 out of 12! The eggs were supposed to be an assortment of bantam breeds but look like a color assortment of OEGBs! She has also adopted a lonely astralorp chick. She is being a very good mama and is very watchful and protective!

(sorry for the crappy quality)

Congrats!! My girl has only had one hatch so far today but one pipped around lunch time this morning but hasnt hatched, beggning to worry about but maybe it is just absorbing the yolk and will hatch during the night. We can only hope right?

Your momma looks like a good mom. My girl has yet to let her baby come out from under her.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats and they all look very healthy, very proud of that mama to take in your Austrolorp.. That is so neat.

My broody hatched 7 out of 12! The eggs were supposed to be an assortment of bantam breeds but look like a color assortment of OEGBs! She has also adopted a lonely astralorp chick. She is being a very good mama and is very watchful and protective!

(sorry for the crappy quality)

 

[Morganwood]

Went in when hubby got home. We got the one dead chick out. Didn't find any other chicks so was I hearing them in their shells? We lifted all the mommas (they were so not helpful) and couldn't see any pips but we didn't have the best light. Couldn't hear anymore peeping so I hope they are just sleeping and hatching tomorrow.