Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Peep-Chicken]

Ideas?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...reaking-under-broody-1-egg-left#post_13675073

 

[Dumb Kluck]

I think it's official! The Black Beauty hen has gone broody I started hand feeding her treats (she's the biggest treat hog of the flock LOL) because it worked so well with my redhead and keeping her conditioned to human interaction. My black bird settles down and closes her eyes when I stroke her feathers... looks like a second sweet broody this summer! Different breeds, but both happen to be mix breed, youngest of all layers & newest additions to the flock (under a year old & brought here a couple months ago). I have a line on some local Americauna blue eggs, probably also mixed breed but pretty birds & good layers.

 

[ChickyChickens]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/898356/the-never-ending-story-of-our-birds
Go and check this out and subscribe Awesome thread!

 

[ChickyChickens]

I have started keeping my hens that are raising chicks in a covered run where no hawks or mongooses can get to them! Doing this is my first time and I don't know when I should let mommy out and away from her babies! Should I wait till she weans them or must I wean them at a certain age???

 

[GuineaFowling]

My eggs are due to hatch next Monday on the 23rd. Unfortunately out of seven eggs one I found cracked on day nine and yesterday I discovered something had been stealing eggs from underneath her. She currently has four eggs now.. One I don't think is going to hatch because I found it out of the nest box by there door of the coop. I know my hens didn't do this. I hope at least three hatch.

 

[Scott H]

Today it's 49dg and raining. Our broody, Tina, has the chicks, not quite 4 weeks old out running around in it. They seem to be doing fine and there's not much I can do about it except worry, of course. There are lots of bushes and they could get under the coop if they wanted to.

 

[fisherlady]

Today it's 49dg and raining. Our broody, Tina, has the chicks, not quite 4 weeks old out running around in it. They seem to be doing fine and there's not much I can do about it except worry, of course. There are lots of bushes and they could get under the coop if they wanted to.

It is hard to get used to the idea that the little ones aren't as delicate as we think they are.... we have had hens setting or hatching all winter and the broodies have them out into the weather as long as it is over about 15*F, though they do keep them in the coop at least below that. But they are out and about on the floor scratching (we have sand floors) even in the 15* or less stuff.

It sure does make you worry though!

 

[Chickenny]

OK so I'm in a little bit of a panic! This morning I woke up to an egg rejected and a poor dead chick that looked like it had been pecked to death! it was terrible I had to work in 10 minutes and I was Scrambling pm what to do. I ended up kicking all but one hen out of the coop and took the rest of theeggs sand put them under her plus one chick. (she had one under her already)the one egg that was kicked out had a small crack it in like a beginning of a Pip. I left it as is and went to work. When I got home it had pipped completely. But we had no place for all the other hens and I was afraid to move the new mom. So we set up our heat lamp and made a spot for the two chicks inside. We candled the remaining two eggs and they were completely see through no veins no nothing so we are left with one pipped eggs and no place for it, and I can't find anyone with a incubator available! So we brought it in put in a shallow container with some shavings and set it under the heat lamp where the chicks are.
I can see inside I can see her little beak moving and once on a while she let out a little chrip. I VERY lightly spritz the egg, I'm worried it will dry out under the lamp. Then I got a small container with a cover filled it with water a poked holes in the top. Not sure if that will go anything for humidity. Or if I'm even doing the right thing. I just knew I needed to get the egg and chicks away before there was another death. Please help and don't judge I'm doing the best I can with what I have and hind sight is always 20/20

 

[winteree]

I have started keeping my hens that are raising chicks in a covered run where no hawks or mongooses can get to them! Doing this is my first time and I don't know when I should let mommy out and away from her babies! Should I wait till she weans them or must I wean them at a certain age???

no on that aspect chickens are like cats they will wean the chicks on their own time

 

[bumpercarr]

OK so I'm in a little bit of a panic! This morning I woke up to an egg rejected and a poor dead chick that looked like it had been pecked to death!

it was terrible I had to work in 10 minutes and I was Scrambling pm what to do. I ended up kicking all but one hen out of the coop and took the rest of theeggs sand put them under her plus one chick. (she had one under her already)the one egg that was kicked out had a small crack it in like a beginning of a Pip. I left it as is and went to work. When I got home it had pipped completely. But we had no place for all the other hens and I was afraid to move the new mom. So we set up our heat lamp and made a spot for the two chicks inside. We candled the remaining two eggs and they were completely see through no veins no nothing

so we are left with one pipped eggs and no place for it, and I can't find anyone with a incubator available! So we brought it in put in a shallow container with some shavings and set it under the heat lamp where the chicks are.
I can see inside I can see her little beak moving and once on a while she let out a little chrip. I VERY lightly spritz the egg, I'm worried it will dry out under the lamp. Then I got a small container with a cover filled it with water a poked holes in the top. Not sure if that will go anything for humidity. Or if I'm even doing the right thing. I just knew I needed to get the egg and chicks away before there was another death. Please help and don't judge I'm doing the best I can with what I have and hind sight is always 20/20

Put a damp rag or sponge close to the egg. That should keep it moist enough. Use hot water so you don't chill the egg. No judgements....we all go through it.