Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[chiqita]

Nice! He could be a great flock protector.

 

[Nike]

two of my five recent broodies took a sudden and intense dislike to each other, and fought so much (even when separated by a pen) i eventually had to give one of them to a neighbor -- and only after several chicks were killed in the process. i don't think it's "normal," but it does happen...

Oh I remember you talking about this. It's just sad, really! Did yours get pretty beat up too? The mom who got beat up was blind for this past weekend but finally just the corner of her eye on one side has opened and i think she can see just a little out of it. So frustrating!

I would assume that either broody 2 got to close to #1's chicks or tried to adopt some in mamas eyesight. Or she just SUPER protective. I don't know how my broody will react in a couple days. The coop she in is a real rainbow of poultry atm w/o many issues. Guess I will find out around Sun-Mon.
Might seperate her and chicks after hatch if I can w/o her freaking on me.

I think she might be overly protective because she nearly attacks me when I have to fix something within their pen. Yeah, When I seperated them what I did was put all the babies in the new pen first then put mom in. It worked both times I did it.

 

[Donna Lynn]

Help, please? How long is ok to take my broody off fertile eggs everyday? My set up requires I do that for her.

 

[Jharper]

Help, please?  How long is ok to take my broody off fertile eggs everyday?  My set up requires I do that for her.

Once every day for about 10-15 minutes should be good.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Help, please? How long is ok to take my broody of fertile eggs everyday? My set up requires I do that for her.

I don't know exact time but I've seen my broody off for about an hour a couple of times. Not everyday for that long. Today was a cool day (mid 60's) so I hope it didn't hurt her eggs too badly when she decided to be off for a longer time. She has a 1.5 x 2 ft. area to herself but some days you just got to have more room to spread your wings and gossip with your friends.

CG

PS One more week till hatch day.

 

[Donna Lynn]

Thank you, I wasn't sure how long the eggs will stay warm.

 

[Donna Lynn]

How exciting! We are putting the eggs under my broody tonight. I'm excited to watch the process and see my new babies hatch!

 

[Oakieridge]

Some of our broodies going right now. Lots of babies hatching out this week. Loving our bantam Cochins they are sitting the nests really well.

We have a total of 3 mommas with babies and 4 more setting nests. One o the new mommas is still setting her remaining eggs. Not sure how long I will let her keep setting them.

 

[5 Acre Rooster]

Well my girl is getting aournd to biuz. Well the chicks are. Kinda frustrating. Yesterday found 1 hatched dead. Today she has had 3 more pip/crushed. Bummer. She does have 1 little black fluffball under her. And still 7-8 eggs to go. She is exstremely docile compared to normal. I can touch pet and lift her w/o a psycho ninja chicken freak out, which is hwat I normally get trying to touch any of the birds. They never been pets since I got them as adults. But she calmed way down since she started to sit. Hopefully se keeps doing a good job and the rest come w/o issues.
Leavin her be until tomorrow see if she has more luck.

 

[AQHAchick22]

Hey guys so I generally don't candle the eggs my Broodies are on but in this heat I want to check them so I can hopefully get any before they explode. How do you do this without the broody totally freaking out? I can't decide if I should take her off the nest or just reach under her and take them out one by one and mark the ones I checked? Do you have any preferences?