Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[dreweysmom]

I just got my buff orphington eggs under my silkie, she loves it. I will take a picture when I get home before dark and share.

 

[akashia26]

I'd love to see pics of both your hens & the chicks that are here already because as far as I'm aware we don't have bantam phoenix over here (Australia) and very few phoenix at all.

Here is daddy


Here is momma sitting tight. Was not happy with me sticking the camera in there to get a pic.

 

[Blooie]

Here is momma sitting tight. Was not happy with me sticking the camera in there to get a pic.

Holy Cow! She looks exactly like my Daphne!!

 

[cwrite]

Only chick so far...none of the other eggs are showing any signs at all. Gonna let Katiebug name him when she gets home.

Congrats on the arrival of Scout! Looking forward to seeing pics of the rest. : )

 

[darajosami]

It seems I have a third chicken wanting to go broody

I don't mind it but I only have two cages to use and I don't want to allow any to raise chicks in hen house as its not chick proof. Does anyone know how I can break this broody once i have the other two in the cages (picking up 2nd cage Saturday). I leave the hen-house open for the others to get in to lay there eggs in the nesting box. Will it hurt to let her sit and remove her eggs each evening?

Update on the eggs, So far it looks like atleast 15 are viable but I will check again in the next few days (will see how well I can see during the day as I am out the next few nights andn ot back until late

) Might try to check today perhaps under my jumper

. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Today is day 7, so considering they are bantam eggs and apparently they hatch around day 18, they will be due around 11/11

. Congrats to those with chicks born and goodluck to the rest of use.

 

[kristin07035]

Look what i found this morning
One hatched & one to go (the other 2 eggs never developed)

 

[Blooie]

Scout tried his best to die yesterday, but I wasn't letting him. Found him cold, unresponsive, legs extended all the way, head thrown back, and eyes closed yesterday morning. Couldn't detect any breathing so I laid him on top of the broody box, went in the house to get a glass of warm water and started to water candle the rest of the eggs. Got about halfway through when I thought I saw movement from Scout. I grabbed him, put him inside my bra and ran for the house. Took just a few minutes to get a broody area set up with a heating pad underneath and heat lamp above to warm him. Got some Vitamin B into him and then sugar water. Then while he warmed up some more I took a fresh glass of warm water out and finished candling. Not a viable egg in the bunch.

Scout revived beautifully...he was running around the brooder box, pecked at some crushed chick starter, drank water and pooped, so I took him outside, let Momma into the broody box, then put him in with her....she half stood up, pushed him under her and settled right back down. When I checked last night after dark, she growled at the flashlight and I heard him peep in response. Hoping all is well when I go out this morning and that he didn't end up far away from her again.


We did change out her broody area. It's been pretty cold so we moved the brooder box to a different nest in the same area - one we could see into better. These hard plastic ones are fantastic - I love them - but unless you move the entire crate out of the way, crouch down on the floor in front of it and twist your body you can't monitor what's happening. We changed her broody to the basket nest you see off to the right and switched the pine shavings for some straw. Both of them are really happy with the new digs!


And yes, I did put some rocks in the waterer right after I took this. He's already tried to die once, not giving him a second chance at it. I'm very disappointed in the shipped eggs. We ordered 12, got 15, lost one very early, and Scout is the only chick out of the 14 remaining eggs to hatch. Pretty dismal percentage.

 

[ochochicas]

So glad you found Scout when you did and were able to revive him. Too bad about the other eggs not hatching, but at least your broody has one adorable baby to raise. Will you try hatching local eggs next time?

 

[Blooie]

YES! I went to the Wyoming Unite page and asked the fine folks there if I could buy some eggs or trade some infertile for fertile if this happens again. Immediately got two responses so I'm relieved that I have an option besides shipped eggs. I'm sure some of them are just fine, but I'm not risking it again. Scout is doing just fine this morning.

 

[kristin07035]

First time broody mom is doing a great job! Both babies hatched yesterday