Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Tripp16]

Oh my gosh!! I am sorry that had to happen! Your poor girl probably did everything she could!

Glad you had new ones to give her!

Well today was not a happy day, I had blocked off my nesting box so my bantie could get some privacy. One of the big girls tore it up and killed all her chicks I wanted to cry so much. As soon as I opened the coop she ran to me screaming, then she ran to the first peeping baby with a broken neck. I scooped up all the chicks in an empty treat dish and removed them immediately from her sight. I then grabbed a few live chicks that I had and put them in place of the dead chicks. I brought them back to her sight and showed her they were all okay, she immediately bit me and jumped in the treat dish and sat on them.

Now she is in a cage away from the other girls. I can't believe my big girls did this.

Here she is with the new batch of chicks. I put them in an outside cage first so they could get acquainted and they spent about 45 minutes out there in the fresh air.

 

[Aumlet]

Well today was not a happy day, I had blocked off my nesting box so my bantie could get some privacy. One of the big girls tore it up and killed all her chicks I wanted to cry so much. As soon as I opened the coop she ran to me screaming, then she ran to the first peeping baby with a broken neck. I scooped up all the chicks in an empty treat dish and removed them immediately from her sight. I then grabbed a few live chicks that I had and put them in place of the dead chicks. I brought them back to her sight and showed her they were all okay, she immediately bit me and jumped in the treat dish and sat on them.

Now she is in a cage away from the other girls. I can't believe my big girls did this.

Oh my gosh that's so awful. Poor mama. Hopefully her "fixed" babies will soothe her.

 

[stone_family3]

Thanks guys, she's settled in with them nicely.

 

[stonykill]

Well she has been toying with the idea for about 2 weeks! She has just recently really stayed on the nest a while. Like today she was on it at 10 and she is still on it. She was alseep earlier!

that is a good sign

 

[stonykill]

They are so pretty, can you see into mamas nest to see if any have hatched yet? or is it too risky

i can see her, but it isn't easy. To reach in ...well she would attack me. If she gets off her nest tomorrow and I see her off, I'll take a look and see what is going on. It should be soon now

 

[Atomic Ranch]

UPDATE: Well, I was losing hope that either egg was viable after 25 and 23 days. BUT... just now... I lifted her off to confirm and remove her... and... a PIP!

So, when should I check again? Should I not touch her at all? Or should I make certain it's making progress tonight?

 

[Fuffy]

Well today was not a happy day, I had blocked off my nesting box so my bantie could get some privacy. One of the big girls tore it up and killed all her chicks I wanted to cry so much. As soon as I opened the coop she ran to me screaming, then she ran to the first peeping baby with a broken neck. I scooped up all the chicks in an empty treat dish and removed them immediately from her sight. I then grabbed a few live chicks that I had and put them in place of the dead chicks. I brought them back to her sight and showed her they were all okay, she immediately bit me and jumped in the treat dish and sat on them.

Now she is in a cage away from the other girls. I can't believe my big girls did this.

Here she is with the new batch of chicks. I put them in an outside cage first so they could get acquainted and they spent about 45 minutes out there in the fresh air.

That's awful!!!!!
Well done for your quick thinking, though!
And well done that mamma for accepting the new babies!

 

[Fuffy]

Thanks, Deb! It's originally designed for guinea pigs or small bunnies. Got it for not-a-lot at the garden centre. Does a fine job as a broody house, I just wish it were a bit bigger so I could put food and water in, and that it had a lockable door for the night

Oooh I love your tunnel nest..... I just got my hands on an old plywood toybox going to convert it.... for my Wellies.

deb

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[Fuffy]

UPDATE:

All eggs were covered at lock-up time, and Hermione was in the zone

 

[bobbieschicks]

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That's great! Post pics when you can!