Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[chickeneer45]

Adorable!!

My broody hen looks just like yours! What breed is that?

 

[Jharper]

Same color as a Welsummer, but looks like she has a pea comb.  Welsummers have a single comb.  What color are her eggs?  What color are her legs?  She could be an EEer.

That was my other guess.

 

[Jharper]

I think she is an EE.

 

[JodyDI]

It took my 6 3 days to learn their ramp. I had to crawl on my belly under the chicken tractor, to put them up top. Ugh I'm not getting any younger.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I'm hoping this thread isn't too old to get a reply...I need some advice. I have a silver grey dorking who went broody right after her companion (my only other chicken) died. She's been sitting on her unfertilized eggs for 7 days now. I've ordered hatching eggs online but it could be another week before they arrive. I've changed out her current eggs with some others that have been refrigerated so they don't rot and explode on her while she's sitting. My concern is that by the time the new eggs arrive, she will have another 20-21 days to sit on those, which could be more than 30 days total. I plan on having an incubator handy in case she won't sit, but would prefer it if she did it, since she'll probably do a better job. Will she sit on the eggs for long enough? The anticipated ship date for the eggs is 5/13, so I'm worried if I pull her off the nest she won't be ready to go again when they do arrive.

Bunny sat for 46 days before I finally got her chicks under her. The hens can't tell time. They usually will keep sitting until either they hatch something or gets chicks.

 

[JodyDI]

yeah!! so cute

 

[bobbieschicks]

has anyone on this thread had to deal with simultaneous broodies that will attack each other's chicks?  i have FIVE broodies right now, at various stages of sitting/hatching, and at least two of them, while being great moms to their own chicks, are completely intolerant of the others' chicks and will viciously attack them.  i've lost three chicks already in the process of figuring this out, and have everyone separated for now but will not have space to keep the next two hatches separate, too -- am now thinking i might have to take all the chicks away from them and raise them indoors in a brooder unless i can find a way to keep them from being so wildly aggressive?

Can't help you. I've had multiple broodies with chicks at the same time and no one attacking anyone. A few pecks here and there when the chicks aren't listening, but no attacks.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

She looks like a Welsumer.

Xs 2

 

[OHfarmerswife]

My Welsummer had been giving me an egg every single day since she started laying 4 months ago! Then three days ago, my Silkie hatched 6 eggs. Since then, my Welsummer has been sitting on a plastic egg in the nest watching my Silkie and those chicks. She has stopped laying eggs and growls when we try to move her. Soooo, today I set 8 fertile eggs in front of her. She carefully tucked each egg under her one by one. We will see what happens!

Please keep me informed. My Welsummer just went broody yesterday and is sitting very intently, so I am getting her some eggs. I am thinking about trying Swedish Flower Hens, anyone familiar with them?

 

[JodyDI]

Outside for the first time!, it was only for about 10 mins because the chicks were getting cold, so she lied down to let them under so I thought that was the best chance I was going to get to catch them. I picked her up and one chicks was left on the floor then the other fell out her wing so I quickly scooped them up before they could react.:

OMG so cute!! My daughter has turned our home to a rescue shelter for abandonded cats/kittens. So I cannot let mine out of the tractor. Or at least I'm to scared to try. there are too many young curious energetic Meows. Some ferals too, I'm trying to capture to spay. I'm curious Johnn, where do you live, I'm noticing the ground and growth??