Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Tripp16]

Ok I have quick question.

I have been trying to get my bantam Gracie to go broody. Im sorry let me rephrase that. Im waiting on my bantam Gracie to go broody because I know she will eventually she just has to get her clutch built up. She already has 8 "hidden" from me so I know its a matter time.

My question is. I have 5 bantam eggs in the bator. If she goes broody can I stick them under her? They are due to hatch on the 20th. If she goes broody this week she will only have to sit for a little more then a week. If she goes broody next week she wont even have to sit a week. I have heard the hen has to sit at least a week before she will mother chicks BUT Gracie was a excellent mother last time, but she did sit the full 21 days.

So will that work? I dont think she will go broody before these hatch but if she does. Can I do that?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

No one knows for certain, not even Gracie. But you could certainly try, just watch as she sets & when the chicks hatch. I think each hen has her own component of broody skills, some have a larger measure of devotion than others. It *seems* that Gracie could be a good candidate for this kind of experiment, it's up to you if you want to give it a try.

 

[Miss Lydia]

No one knows for certain, not even Gracie. But you could certainly try, just watch as she sets & when the chicks hatch. I think each hen has her own component of broody skills, some have a larger measure of devotion than others. It *seems* that Gracie could be a good candidate for this kind of experiment, it's up to you if you want to give it a try.

I second it, all you can do is try, like stony says the can't count so it would be worth a try.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yes - it works some of the time - other times it's a complete loss. I guess it depends on how the eggs are packaged and how roughly the post office handles them.

Thats good that only pullets were selected.

Hope she has a great hatch. Did you get your eggs through the mail?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Man! Isn't that the way it is - you have eggs to hatch and no broody or you have a broody and no eggs to hatch. Hahaha! I know the feeling. Hope someone goes broody again for you soon.

I have 3 Blue Cochin's that will be 1yr old on the 12th of this month. 2 of them went broody back in Dec. Their egg hatching rate wasn't good. They ended up sharing the raising of 1 mixed Barred Rock Roo. One of them turned around and went broody again in March. Again she didn't hatch her own eggs well, but ended up fostering 7 other chicks hatched in the incubator. Right after Gracie went broody, the one hen who hadn't gone broody in Dec went broody. She did hatch 2 of her own eggs plus an EE egg and a couple Cochin mix eggs. I also ended up giving her a couple incubator chicks and she is fostering them well. This was Mi'a. Then the 3rd Cochin, Blue hatched 3 eggs. Her own chick for what ever reason died in the nest before I even knew it was hatched. She is raising a Cochin mix and an EE that she hatched and would NOT accept any chicks to foster. The first Mommy's chicks are nearly 2 months old now. I've eggs due to hatch in a few days and was wishing one of the Mommy's were broody so they could be raised w/a Momma.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Even if she's not broody - she may still adopt those chicks. Of course it will be up to Gracie - but you could try once they've dried off.

Ok I have quick question.

I have been trying to get my bantam Gracie to go broody. Im sorry let me rephrase that. Im waiting on my bantam Gracie to go broody because I know she will eventually she just has to get her clutch built up. She already has 8 "hidden" from me so I know its a matter time.

My question is. I have 5 bantam eggs in the bator. If she goes broody can I stick them under her? They are due to hatch on the 20th. If she goes broody this week she will only have to sit for a little more then a week. If she goes broody next week she wont even have to sit a week. I have heard the hen has to sit at least a week before she will mother chicks BUT Gracie was a excellent mother last time, but she did sit the full 21 days.

So will that work? I dont think she will go broody before these hatch but if she does. Can I do that?

 

[dlynne1123]

Ok, so I'm getting ready for my first broody hatch attempt! I have two broodies right now, a Red Star and and Bantam Cochin. Will they share the eggs? Or should I pick one of the two? I noticed them both sitting on fresh eggs last week, together on the same nest! And gettign along. Also, I am cutting down my flock to be ready for some chicks, any suggestions? I can separate if needed, but not sure which broody to pick if I need to separate. Up until now I've had two nesting boxes and 8 birds. All have laid in the same box despite having extra boxes. What is safe to mark my purchased eggs with so I can identify and pull out fresh, unfertilized eggs still. (I have no roosters) Hoping to get them next week so I want to be prepared and keep my girls broody before then.

Any advice welcome! I do not have an incubator and am prepared for worst case scenario but I wanted to try hatching my own, just once! One to keep my broodies happy, and to get some different varieties.

 

[Farmin Momma]

Well I decided to put 4 turkey eggs under my broody miss Ebony, guess we will see how this goes! I think it is 28 days for them to hatch, I set them yesterday.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well I decided to put 4 turkey eggs under my broody miss Ebony, guess we will see how this goes! I think it is 28 days for them to hatch, I set them yesterday.

will be waiting to hear how it goes..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, so I'm getting ready for my first broody hatch attempt! I have two broodies right now, a Red Star and and Bantam Cochin. Will they share the eggs? Or should I pick one of the two? I noticed them both sitting on fresh eggs last week, together on the same nest! And gettign along. Also, I am cutting down my flock to be ready for some chicks, any suggestions? I can separate if needed, but not sure which broody to pick if I need to separate. Up until now I've had two nesting boxes and 8 birds. All have laid in the same box despite having extra boxes. What is safe to mark my purchased eggs with so I can identify and pull out fresh, unfertilized eggs still. (I have no roosters) Hoping to get them next week so I want to be prepared and keep my girls broody before then.

Any advice welcome! I do not have an incubator and am prepared for worst case scenario but I wanted to try hatching my own, just once! One to keep my broodies happy, and to get some different varieties.

I have had 2 broodies share the same nest and hatch and share chicks, as long as they don't get too many under them where they start breaking the eggs it should be okay as long as the girls get along first time fighting starts then you need to break them up and choose which to continue brooding. My pick would be Cochin but others have had hatches with Red Star. I have wonderful bantam cochins who make great broodies and mommies. Keep them on eggs till your fertile eggs come then let them rest for 24 hrs before putting them under your broody . I use a washable marker to mark my eggs some use pencil. I think you'll enjoy this adventure with broody and chicks it's really amazing and fun. Keep us updated.