Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[MargaretYakoda]

(edited)
An incubator is a good thing to have around. (Being able to "work" it "right" looks like it'd be a good thing too. lol)

My incubator should arrive on Monday. I got a tracking number that says so, LOL, so it MUST be true, right?

Meanwhile our broody girl is still setting tight on her eleven eggs. She eats from my hand still, after she shakes out of her broody haze. And she's eating her fermented feed when I put it under her nose. She's halfway through her job. And, so far, she's doing an EXCELLENT job! I think I forgot to report that we candled on Tuesday night. Day 8 of incubation, and eleven out of eleven looked promising.

 

[Johnn]

Felt sorry for my broody missing out in the weather so I took the lid off the nest box and took the divider out and put in a but of food and water. When I was done I was trying to put the nest box divider in and she was going crazy attacking it and the. She realised I was the one controlling it so she started going for my hand which made it a lot harder!

 

[Scrambles55]

Was she growling and screeching at you?? Mine does. Then she strikes like a vicious viper.

 

[bumpercarr]

Was she growling and screeching at you?? Mine does. Then she strikes like a vicious viper.

I love the smileys! Mine always used to growl and strike....she would draw blood if I wasn't fast enough.

 

[Scrambles55]

Silly broody question here. How does a chick safely hatch with a momma hen sitting on top of it? I mean... wouldn't she smother them? Does she lighten up when she knows that they are pipping and zipping?

 

[fisherlady]

Silly broody question here. How does a chick safely hatch with a momma hen sitting on top of it? I mean... wouldn't she smother them? Does she lighten up when she knows that they are pipping and zipping?

They do lighten up... considerably, I have seen my broodies basically straddle the nest to reduce pressure while the chicks are moving around. Although while they are zipping the hens probably keep a bit of pressure on them so the chicks can get better pressure against the shell.

 

[Scrambles55]

They do lighten up... considerably, I have seen my broodies basically straddle the nest to reduce pressure while the chicks are moving around. Although while they are zipping the hens probably keep a bit of pressure on them so the chicks can get better pressure against the shell.

Interesting. Thank you. You guys here are so informative and knowledgeable.

 

[Scrambles55]

OMG!!! I am shaking... I just put my ear up against the nest box and I heard a chick chirping!! Thank you... Thank you!!!

 

[fisherlady]

OMG!!! I am shaking... I just put my ear up against the nest box and I heard a chick chirping!! Thank you... Thank you!!!

 

[chicken farmer]

My silkie hen has one chick that hatched early