Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[OHfarmerswife]

Hoping they are doing well this morning. I've only ever lost one chick right after it being born. Sometimes it happens. But if the chick was merely cold and not having health problems then it should be fine.

Went out early thus am and the chick appears to be ok. Mom was trying to be patient & let me look! It's cold here, so will do a more thorough check after church .

 

[Johnn]

You don't need the shells. Post picks once the babies and momma are bonded. Be sure to cover the chick with your hand as you scoot them under momma. That way if she pecks, she gets your hand and not the chick's head. I just lifted Bunny a little and solved them under her one by one. She would shift a little and cluck cluck cluck.

I am going to flash the touch on her for one min so I can see which way she is facing! I am going to shine it on my face and talk to her before I do anything so she doesn't freak out thinking it is someone else. I just plan to slide my hand under, pull the eggs out and shove the chicks under and then leave and return some point in the morning. Wish me luck!

Good Luck with the eggs, Johnn!

Thankyou!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I am going to flash the touch on her for one min so I can see which way she is facing! I am going to shine it on my face and talk to her before I do anything so she doesn't freak out thinking it is someone else. I just plan to slide my hand under, pull the eggs out and shove the chicks under and then leave and return some point in the morning. Wish me luck!
Thankyou!

I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[Johnn]

I'm going to let her out with the other girls for the last time today, hopefully that wont make her want to go off broody because the weather is horrible!

 

[Johnn]

These chicks are coming at just the right time (tonight), she really needs them. She has only ate 3 meal worms today and not touched her water! But I will be keeping them locked up with supervised outside time as I think the Buzzards are back

 

[rlhagan56]

Question, my banties chicks started hatching Thursday night, today is Sunday. The last one hatched last night. Will the first one or two be alright since she still hasn't left the nest to feed them? I gave her bread pieces yesterday and she ate real well, dropping one trying to get them to eat it. But they were hiding under her lol. I closed them all up alone in our little banty coop with food and water. I didn't clean it since the eggs were never supposed to hatch! I was just being nice and letting her do her thing and put the eggs under her. Learned THAT lesson! 1 must have been her egg, the first hatch is a banty barred rock like her, the other four are teeny, tiny yellow chicks. The other two banty hens are a white Japanese and a buff Sebright. Forest the roo is named Forest Gump for a reason, so he apparantly needs a new name. She isn't even a year old yet! I put chick starter food in there, and worry since it wasn't cleaned out, and I can't do it now.

 

[Johnn]

Ok, so far two of the three chicks I am getting tonight have hatched and the 3rd has got a pip in the egg. What would be best, just to stick with two or dow hat the woman suggested and put the egg in my pocket and keep in warm and leave it to hatch under the hen??

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ok, so far two of the three chicks I am getting tonight have hatched and the 3rd has got a pip in the egg. What would be best, just to stick with two or dow hat the woman suggested and put the egg in my pocket and keep in warm and leave it to hatch under the hen??

You could try that but its likely the one not hatched will have a hard time getting out and may get injured. I'd wait a bit, if its pipped it will zip shortly.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Question, my banties chicks started hatching Thursday night, today is Sunday.  The last one hatched last night.  Will the first one or two be alright since she still hasn't left the nest to feed them?  I gave her bread pieces yesterday and she ate real well, dropping one trying to get them to eat it.  But they were hiding under her lol.  I closed them all up alone in our little banty coop with food and water.  I didn't clean it since the eggs were never supposed to hatch!  I was just being nice and letting her do her thing and put the eggs under her.  Learned THAT lesson!  1 must have been her egg, the first hatch is a banty barred rock like her, the other four are teeny, tiny yellow chicks.  The other two banty hens are a white Japanese and a buff Sebright.  Forest the roo is named Forest Gump for a reason, so he apparantly needs a new name.  She isn't even a year old yet!  I put chick starter food in there, and worry since it wasn't cleaned out, and I can't do it now.

 

I've put crumbles in with the chicks and momma in the nest box and they've eaten some there. Another thing is to scramble some eggs and feed them a bit.

 

[Johnn]

I just got the two hatched ones and they are back and under, she went absalutey crazy at me trying to take the eggs!, I have never had a hen go for me so much in my life!, she was swinging her head back to do a power peck, the way she was carrying on I am surprised she didn't get up and start flapping at me! She could also here the chicks so I think that provoked her because she thought I was taking her chicks because she started shaking to pull them back under. When I shoved the chicks in, they were peeping then I shut the nest box and went around to the pop hole and she was doing the broody cluck. Hope she accepts them!