Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[chickenmomma16]

Quote:
Hmm... I will start scrambling her some eggs. I will make it a point to save meat scraps for her too if she's not getting enough protien The egg she ate was veining (you could see the veins on the inside of the shell) and seemed to be developing from the leftover shell. She has been getting out everyday and eating, I have some food right in front of her too including some fruit. I guess thats not enough for this Momma Hen. I will make sure she gets more!

(other then eating her eggs) She has been an awesome broody so far! So easy to work around. She is at the top of the pecking order so it will be interesting to see how she introduces her chicks to the flock verses my last Black Sex-link broody who was at the bottom. That girl attacked everyone including the rooster. He always held a grudge against her. So far all this hen needs to do is give "the look" to get others to back off and she seems to like this new rooster so we shall see! 1 week to go!!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hmm... I will start scrambling her some eggs. I will make it a point to save meat scraps for her too if she's not getting enough protien  The egg she ate was veining (you could see the veins on the inside of the shell) and seemed to be developing from the leftover shell.  She has been getting out everyday and eating, I have some food right in front of her too including some fruit.  I guess thats not enough for this Momma Hen.  I will make sure she gets more! 

(other then eating her eggs)  She has been an awesome broody so far!  So easy to work around.  She is at the top of the pecking order so it will be interesting to see how she introduces her chicks to the flock verses my last Black Sex-link broody who was at the bottom. That girl attacked everyone including the rooster.  He always held a grudge against her.  So far all this hen needs to do is give "the look" to get others to back off and she seems to like this new rooster so we shall see!  1 week to go!!!   e   

Possible that someone else could have smooshed it?

 

[bobbieschicks]

they don't fight each other or peck others chicks? I have two broody silkies right now would be good if I can put em both in same pen with their babies

Silky hens are such great mommas that they will generally not care who is with them.

My Topsy (silky) would sit next to Smokey (EE) and both had their own hatches under them. Smokey was the aggressive one. At the time I sectioned off broodies and only had one place to do it. So I ended up stapling landscape fabric down the middle between the two. Once the chicks hatched I removed the fabric and both broodies moved to new nests on the floor. They raised their own chicks without issues. Smokey would occasionally peck Topsy, but not bother the babies.

My Topsy and her adopted daughter Vanilla Ice (EE silky mix) co hatched Topsy's eggs in one tiny 12x12 nest box. They co raised them and both did a great job with the babies. Topsy left them at 4 weeks old, but Vanilla Ice stuck with them until 9 weeks.

Co broodies depends on the hens and your coop situation. It's great if they get along, but I would not force it on them. Maybe just a barrier between would suffice if they are in the same area.

 

[gg706]

Still nothing today. My eggs are almost a week over due. Not sure what I should do. Any advice?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Still nothing today.  My eggs are almost a week over due.  Not sure what I should do.   Any advice?

If you're certain on the timing, I'd candle a few of them. Get a very bright LED flashlight and a dark room. Look and see if you can detect anything moving inside. I can't remember what kind of eggs your girl was hatching. If they are dark or green it will be harder to see, but not impossible.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Got home from church tonight and found two of my chickens sitting on the outside door ledge. Apparently the auto door had closed before they got inside. They were huddled together so I just scooped them up and tossed them inside the coop. Looks like I'll have to change the closing time to a little later

 

[chickenmomma16]

Hmm... I will start scrambling her some eggs. I will make it a point to save meat scraps for her too if she's not getting enough protien  The egg she ate was veining (you could see the veins on the inside of the shell) and seemed to be developing from the leftover shell.  She has been getting out everyday and eating, I have some food right in front of her too including some fruit.  I guess thats not enough for this Momma Hen.  I will make sure she gets more! 

(other then eating her eggs)  She has been an awesome broody so far!  So easy to work around.  She is at the top of the pecking order so it will be interesting to see how she introduces her chicks to the flock verses my last Black Sex-link broody who was at the bottom. That girl attacked everyone including the rooster.  He always held a grudge against her.  So far all this hen needs to do is give "the look" to get others to back off and she seems to like this new rooster so we shall see!  1 week to go!!!   e   

Possible that someone else could have smooshed it?

Nope not possible. She is in a locked XL dog crate.
The way the egg was cracked only on one end with most of the shell intact and not smashed told me it was the hens doing and not just an accidental smooshing.

 

[6littlechicks]

Still nothing today.  My eggs are almost a week over due.  Not sure what I should do.   Any advice?

aww, I hope something happens. Do you live where it's cold to? I think mine left the eggs to long early on and they got to cold and died. They were all green inside. I gave her 3 chicks but they wouldn't stay with her so she already came out of brooding and is perching with everyone else tonight. It's sad. I got rid of my rooster since she was sitting because he was mean so now their eggs aren't even fertile for next time. I'll be headed to the auction on Friday for a nice roo.

 

[jammyjammy2112]

my silkie is sitting on 7 eggs i hope they hatch its on day 6 now

 

[Johnn]

my silkie is sitting on 7 eggs i hope they hatch its on day 6 now

Good Luck!