Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[hmbrown05]

Thanks for the replies! Now I guess I need to figure out how to have her decide to nest away from the pig...

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I think I might bring her inside today. I'm found a dead chick that was near her this morning. Will she push out any chicks that aren't strong enough? This one didn't look dried off like the other two. When I went outside last night I heard loud cheeping and I found I think this chick separated from Mama, so I put it back under her. I wasn't sure if she could reach it or not. Or maybe she couldn't find it it got away from her in the dark? She still has two eggs, but I will check their status soon. If they haven't pipped by today they are probably duds, any ideas?

Okay, I broke down. She's in the house now...

Thanks for the replies! Now I guess I need to figure out how to have her decide to nest away from the pig...

Good luck helping a broody "decide" anything.

 

[ochochicas]

I think I might bring her inside today. I'm found a dead chick that was near her this morning. Will she push out any chicks that aren't strong enough? This one didn't look dried off like the other two. When I went outside last night I heard loud cheeping and I found I think this chick separated from Mama, so I put it back under her. I wasn't sure if she could reach it or not. Or maybe she couldn't find it it got away from her in the dark? She still has two eggs, but I will check their status soon. If they haven't pipped by today they are probably duds, any ideas?

Sometimes the hens know that there is something wrong with a chick. My broody killed a day old during the summer. He seemed big and healthy, but apparently she knew something we didn't. I've never had a problem with her since. She's on her second brood now. They are 2 weeks old and doing great. Not a single chick lost out of the seven she hatched.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Sometimes the hens know that there is something wrong with a chick.  My broody killed a day old during the summer.  He seemed big and healthy, but apparently she knew something we didn't.  I've never had a problem with her since.  She's on her second brood now.  They are 2 weeks old and doing great.  Not a single chick lost out of the seven she hatched.  

Good to know! It makes sense. The chick that I found this morning wasnt dry and fluffy like the rest, so maybe it wasn't strong enough. I'm still thrilled she had 2 chicks in her (and my) first brood. I had broken her two or three times since the summer, so she is now fulfilling her instincts.

 

[lauraschicks]

my OEGB broody just hatched her first clutch for my Christmas present yesterday. I couldn't see how many she hatched, but I was able to see that one was black.

my only problem is that she insisted on laying her eggs in a bucket on the screen porch and when we moved her and her bucket of eggs into the coop she stayed the night but next day paced the fence trying to get back to her eggs/bucket, so we moved them back to the porch. She did an excellent job and now has who know how many chicks since I can hear them, but have only seen the one.

Addendum to delayed post:

This morning I went out and checked on the babes and mama and found them in the food container with mama standing in the food container with her wings and fluff all spread out over the container to keep the babes covered while they ate. She had them and the dish so covered I still couldn't see the chicks...

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

my OEGB broody just hatched her first clutch for my Christmas present yesterday.  I couldn't see how many she hatched, but I was able to see that one was black.
my only problem is that she insisted on laying her eggs in a bucket on the screen porch and when we moved her and her bucket of eggs into the coop she stayed the night but next day paced the fence trying to get back to her eggs/bucket, so we moved them back to the porch.  She did an excellent job and now has who know how many chicks since I can hear them, but have only seen the one.

Addendum to delayed post:

This morning I went out and checked on the babes and mama and found them in the food container with mama standing in the food container with her wings and fluff all spread out over the container to keep the babes covered while they ate.  She had them and the dish so covered I still couldn't see the chicks...

I understand completely! It's so much fun to know she's hatching, but you just want a little peek!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Peep show!

 

[fisherlady]

Peep show!

They are adorable! Congrats!

 

[A6chickenhome]

Peep show!

Soo cute!!! Thanks for posting the pics.

 

[kristin07035]

Ahhh I'm going crazy! My broody's eggs were due to hatch on Christmas day. Today is day 23 and they are chirping up a storm but still no external pip. I never had a late hatch before its making me cuckoo