Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

good plan Niss, and how about your ducks anyone sitting yet? my one muscovy finally settled in and is sitting on 7, she would have more but I have to be careful not to get over run.

Tomorrow should be the day!!! Except I'm down to two eggs--one...was eaten? and one of the remaining eggs disappeared at that time but came back the next day (must have just been lost in the bedding. Anyway, I only expect one to hatch. I'm hoping I can buy day olds next week to add, so Laura isn't 'out of commision' so long to only gain one chicken. Sound like a plan?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Sad day. We finally rehomed the two LF roosters. Only have the silkie roo in charge now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Sad day. We finally rehomed the two LF roosters. Only have the silkie roo in charge now.

I'm sorry it's hard to let them go I know.

I still cry when we have to process ours, but we know its for the good of the flock whether we find them a good home or they go into the freezer.

 

[Niss]

I have a Cayuga who's on the nest about half the time. She gets really worked up, so I try not to mess with her. I don't know if she's doing more harm than good, though, since she gets up so much.

My first ever broody, Wiggins, was pancaked out on a nest this afternoon, so maybe she'll go soon...which begs the question: duck eggs, chicken eggs, or just graft on some of the new breeds I want?

The only problem with adding to Laura's hatch is that I have to A) get a breed I don't really want on Saturday and the chicks will be a few days old or B) wait until probably Tuesday, so if her eggs have hatched she will have had just that one or two since the weekend

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have a Cayuga who's on the nest about half the time. She gets really worked up, so I try not to mess with her. I don't know if she's doing more harm than good, though, since she gets up so much.

My first ever broody, Wiggins, was pancaked out on a nest this afternoon, so maybe she'll go soon...which begs the question: duck eggs, chicken eggs, or just graft on some of the new breeds I want?

The only problem with adding to Laura's hatch is that I have to A) get a breed I don't really want on Saturday and the chicks will be a few days old or B) wait until probably Tuesday, so if her eggs have hatched she will have had just that one or two since the weekend

I'd go with plan B why settle for a breed you really don't want, and if her chicks are a few days old I don't think it will be that much difference, didn't you graft some in last year with sucess? and about your duck that is how Emmie started too, but finally she made up her mind and has now been setting since Monday, give her more time.

 

[KirkKoop]

Cricket and her adopted 2 babies... 2 eggs are still pipping...should be here by AM!




Here are the 3 so far...2 are pipping, NOT MUCH LONGER!

 

[JakRat]

Moved my silkie into a kiddie pool so that they would all have a bit more room. She seems alot happier in there... maybe I should have had her in that all along. I had to bring in a hen with a sour crop last night and just the sight of her made my silkie FLIP OUT. It was crazy. I had to quickly cover her up. Its so interesting though because she doesnt make that sound when our dogs come around her. She is getting up more than she used to to eat and drink, not sure if its because her eggs are almost done and she doesnt need to tend to them as much??

Anyway I was just curious as to when you can tap on the egg and get a peep back... not sure if my silkie mama will let me get one to check, but it would be neat.

Also what do you do with the shells? Does the mama get rid of them, or do you just take them out?

 

[hennypenny99]

It's definately the stink eye. We had a cookout this afternoon with my family and about a dozen kids were running around. My sister's little boy went into the coop with a group of older kids. He is only 3 and I guess he tried to pet her and she pecked him. Poor baby, I think she scared him more than hurt him. She has been on her eggs for a little while now. I didn't keep up with the time as well as I should have. They are either due to hatch this Sunday or next Sunday. I also have a silkie that is broody too but I don't think her eggs are fertile.

Unless she was bred by a guinea?


Oh my goodness I have to tell yall a funny story. Well it's spring time and the chickens and guineas are breeding and I'm incubating eggs so my kids must pay more attention to things than I thought they did. We went to TCS last weekend and my kids got a stuffed rooster and a stuffed chick. We are driving down the road and I hear my 6 year old say "Okay I am the rooster" and then in a sweet mater of fact tone she says "would you like me to fertilize your eggs?"

That bottom pic is definitely the Stink Eye! Translates to: "Stay away from me and my eggs or I'll rip your heart out"

 

[SnowytheNinja]

Sheesh it looks like they went back to HTML. So confusing. but Welcome from San Diego. I went to your pix at photobucket before you edited to ad the link at BYC. Wow is that an Eglu? If its a small blue green egg ist probably an Easter Egger.
deb

Yes it's an Eglu Go. Is this bad? And what's an Easrer Egger? Unfortunately, the chick died (it's mother sat on it). Lol, I have no idea what I'm doing with the pictures...! Thanks for the welcome a friend gave us a gold Brahma chick and an Orpington bantam chick, hopefully they make it

 

[bobbieschicks]

Cricket and her adopted 2 babies... 2 eggs are still pipping...should be here by AM!




Here are the 3 so far...2 are pipping, NOT MUCH LONGER!

Yeah! Adorable!