Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[southernmomma]

We have bred and are continuing to breed Silkie/OEGB crosses just for this purpose. They have the sweetness of the Silkie and the game bantam combined. They are absolutely amazing!! Most of them end up with smooth feathers, a small crest, and dark skin. If you can find someone in your area with some of these, snatch them up quickly because they are the best of both worlds

Well now this is interesting. How large/small are these ladies? How many SF eggs are they able to cover?
I'm beginning to realize that there's a breed or cross for any imaginable scenario

Thanks,
M

 

[CarolinaHen]

Well now this is interesting. How large/small are these ladies? How many SF eggs are they able to cover?
I'm beginning to realize that there's a breed or cross for any imaginable scenario

Thanks,
M

They are all bantam size. They can cover six, but I usually try to keep them down to 4-5. We have one that is notorious for stealing eggs and bringing them back to her nest. I have caught her with over a dozen before.

We have watched her go into another nest, pick up an egg, hide it underneath her wing and carry it across the run to her own nest.

 

[bumpercarr]

We have bred and are continuing to breed Silkie/OEGB crosses just for this purpose. They have the sweetness of the Silkie and the game bantam combined. They are absolutely amazing!! Most of them end up with smooth feathers, a small crest, and dark skin. If you can find someone in your area with some of these, snatch them up quickly because they are the best of both worlds

Sounds like a fantastic combination! You don't happen to sell eggs for any of those on this thread that may want some?

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Greetings

This is a very lengthy thread and I've waded through considerable amounts of information!!
I'm searching for specific info and my search terms for this thread are not yielding the answers I'm looking for--may I trouble you folks with some questions?

Disclaimer:  I do not currently have chickens but am gathering information and learning as much as possible before taking the leap....please, please feel free to offer any additional advice that will assist me

I would like to have hen raised chicks and am considering game hens

Thanks,
M  

I belong to some local facebook pages and I found this very informative article on broody hens and what to do and not do. I'll pass it along for additional info for you. But I just have to add that buff orpingtons also make good broodies. Mine successfully hatched out babies last August and mothered them until they were 11 weeks old. Here's the link: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/08/caring-for-broody-hens-facilitating-egg.html

 

[CarolinaHen]

Sounds like a fantastic combination! You don't happen to sell eggs for any of those on this thread that may want some?

I haven't shipped any out, but I do sell them locally. I would be glad to ship some if you are interested in them. $1 per egg plus shipping.

 

[southernmomma]

I belong to some local facebook pages and I found this very informative article on broody hens and what to do and not do. I'll pass it along for additional info for you. But I just have to add that buff orpingtons also make good broodies. Mine successfully hatched out babies last August and mothered them until they were 11 weeks old. Here's the link: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/08/caring-for-broody-hens-facilitating-egg.html

Thank you for the additional information

M

 

[daniellea2912]

Do any of you provide additional food for your Broodys other than the flocks usual food while they are sitting? I was offering my hen some extra scratch each day and she would usually eat it up once I replaced her curtain and walked away but she seems uninterested in it the last few days. She has been getting off the nest (I can tell because of the broody poo I find each day, which seems runnier the last 2 days) but when I feel her crop it feels mostly like just water. Should I be concerned? I don't want her loosing a lot of weight . This is her first time being broody and she's about 5-6 days in I think.

 

[CarolinaHen]

Do any of you provide additional food for your Broodys other than the flocks usual food while they are sitting? I was offering my hen some extra scratch each day and she would usually eat it up once I replaced her curtain and walked away but she seems uninterested in it the last few days. She has been getting off the nest (I can tell because of the broody poo I find each day, which seems runnier the last 2 days) but when I feel her crop it feels mostly like just water. Should I be concerned? I don't want her loosing a lot of weight

. This is her first time being broody and she's about 5-6 days in I think.

Once mine are committed to being broody, they rarely get off the nest at all. Maybe once or twice a day to eat, drink, and poop. They do lose weight and only one of mine will eat the corn or feed I put near the nest for her. I don't mess with my broody girls too much. They know what they are doing and I just watch and marvel at how amazing it is

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

Chick question
We rescued a rooster from a neighbor a while ago. The two that I already have chase him away from the girls often. I have chicks due to hatch on the 9th-ish, do you think that will be a threat to them?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Chick question
We rescued a rooster from a neighbor a while ago. The two that I already have chase him away from the girls often. I have chicks due to hatch on the 9th-ish, do you think that will be a threat to them?

I should think your 2 roo's will chase him away from the chicks if they are good with their hens...or the broody herself will give him what for if he is too nosy.

I'd keep an eye on it the first day or so, but it sounds like he is low man on the pole and likely to stay that way. While I notice that the low man is the first man to pick on any new incomers, in this situation, unless the broody herself is very low on the pecking order, I think he will have a hard time getting anywhere near those chicks.

What to watch for is that in the scuffle of hen or top roo's chasing him, no chicks get trampled or scattered away from momma.

My thoughts.
Lady of McCamley