Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

Miss L, your newest avatar is adorable

 

[chooniecat]

??Suzette has another hatch BUT am worried-It is smack dab in the middle of where her tummy would be and the remaining few eggs(5?) are around it and it looks squashed. I realize I didn't watch the others get thru the process(this is where bator experience would help)and I am HOPING its normal for them to look unconscious and squashed. THOUGHT???????????????????

 

[vmdanielsen]

Why take mama away? she will introduce chicks to flock. Even when mine don't hatch in main coop they are still out with all the flock during the day so they are all around each other. it's best to let her bring them into the main coop when she is ready, sometimes it's right after hatch then I had one that has 6 week old chicks and she has just now brought them into the main coop [with a little help from me] I needed her side of hatch coop. They are doing fine because even thought they didn't sleep with flock at night were all together during day time.

Momma and chicks are in a separate coop and pasture away from the main flock. Momma keeps looking at the main flock and paces the fence and has started laying again. Chicks are 4 weeks old. Probably should have let her hatch them in the big coop, BUT I was a big chicken!!

 

[Tripp16]

Day 15 down! 6 more to go!

I sure hope these thunderstorms stop before the babies come...

 

[myby]

welcome- here is a link to the oklahoma thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/501128/okies-in-the-byc-iii/30420#post_8969283

actually i can relate, growing up in southern california, the big thing here is the heat in the summer i use ice jugs in front of a fan when its real hot, or dampen the dirt- winters go from iceing, or like this year, nothing

do you have broodies?

i have a serama broody with a pip, and 4 broodies in the main flock... it is contageous!

I had two broodies. Only one egg hatched on April 13 from one hen, and from the other none! I bought two baby chicks at the store and she took care of them, (the hen who got none from sitting) but for some reason I died after a week. The one that had the chick on April 13 lay an egg today. Finally!
My husband wants to buy an incubator (I warn him of the addiction reported in this web site), but I still like more the hen to do it as it has been along their existance. We will see how this goes.

 

[bobbieschicks]

??Suzette has another hatch BUT am worried-It is smack dab in the middle of where her tummy would be and the remaining few eggs(5?) are around it and it looks squashed. I realize I didn't watch the others get thru the process(this is where bator experience would help)and I am HOPING its normal for them to look unconscious and squashed. THOUGHT???????????????????

Not normal. It may be getting smoothered. Try to move it out a little and give it some air. It could be fine but it could also be injured. Not every chick that is born is healthy.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Miss L, your newest avatar is adorable

Thank you stony. and how is Penelope doing? getting close i can't keep the days straight anymore.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Momma and chicks are in a separate coop and pasture away from the main flock. Momma keeps looking at the main flock and paces the fence and has started laying again. Chicks are 4 weeks old. Probably should have let her hatch them in the big coop, BUT I was a big chicken!!

I'd go ahead and let them in if they have been able to see each other this whole time then things should go pretty smooth. It's when they are so isolated that when mama is put back with the flock they look at her as being new and that doesn't fare well with the chicks either. Either your going to have to do it or maintain 2 separate flocks. Just be there to stop any problems.

 

[Miss Lydia]

??Suzette has another hatch BUT am worried-It is smack dab in the middle of where her tummy would be and the remaining few eggs(5?) are around it and it looks squashed. I realize I didn't watch the others get thru the process(this is where bator experience would help)and I am HOPING its normal for them to look unconscious and squashed. THOUGHT???????????????????

Did the chick make it?

might have been way too many eggs in the nest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Day 15 down! 6 more to go!

I sure hope these thunderstorms stop before the babies come...

I'm with you on the thunderstorms Tripp, they must leave here and head your way. We had close to 2" of rain the last couple days. I am feeling very soggy right now.