Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Lady of McCamley]

Ok well, she is in her own confined area that is (at the moment) poo-less and her food dish is perfectly level so I will know if she gets into it. I will wait until late this evening before I start to worry then I guess. It is about 70 in her little room today, so not too cold or hot.

Thanks for the help!

x2 on what Fisherlady said.

They DO get up and eat and drink. Some of them every other day. It is a rare bird who will starve herself to death with brooding. Do expect to see weight loss in your hen. That is normal. Brooding the next generation is hard work.

Feeding high protein chick starter with electrolytes/vitamins in the water (like Chick Saver) can really help to give them quick calories and a nutrition boost....think of her as a long distance runner who will go to the stations on the run to grab water and quick food then right back to the race.

If you worry too much, you'll be tempted to over handle her and stress her, which won't be good for her, and you risk interrupting the natural process. Trust your hen's instincts and let her do her job unless you have compelling reason to believe something is truly wrong.

Lady of McCamley

 

[KrystalRose]

Thanks for the responses, I will give it time before I worry. Just curious, I only have medicated chick feed on hand, what is the reason I shouldn't give this to her? I can go get regular if I need to, I was just curious.

Its amazing how much she can flatten herself out like a pancake!!! Looks like she melted into the nest.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thanks for the responses, I will give it time before I worry. Just curious, I only have medicated chick feed on hand, what is the reason I shouldn't give this to her? I can go get regular if I need to, I was just curious.

Its amazing how much she can flatten herself out like a pancake!!! Looks like she melted into the nest.

You can, I often do, give the medicated chick feed even to the brooding hen.

It simply means she is getting Amprolium too, which is a coccidiostat (that eliminates coccidian protozoa which inhabit all soil to some degree).

On the one hand, you don't want to overkill the coccidia so that the bird no longer gains a natural immunity to it, but on the other hand periodic treatment can knock down overgrowth, and stressors can bring on overgrowth...brooding definitely falls into that category.

So I often give my broody hens the medicated chick feed if that is what I have on hand, and I often feed my chicks that for the first month or so, switching to non-medicated by 6 to 8 weeks. I will also treat with Chick Saver electrolytes/vitamins as the Amprolium works as a metabolism inhibitor that prevents the cocci from metabolizing Vitamin B slowly starving them to death...and that can create a B deficiency in chicks if they are sensitive to it. (Had that happen with a set of new chicks presenting as leg/foot abnormality...walking on toes...giving Vitamin B with electrolytes Chick Saver cured it within a week).

Lady of McCamley

 

[bramblefir]

I'm so excited to be able to join this thread!

My Black Langshan, Eunice, has been thinking about going broody since the 5th and has finally gone "full" broody as of the 8th (based on the fact that she started growling and a crowbar is now needed to lift her off the nest). We marked 15 eggs on the 5th, but didn't separate out from the coop until yesterday since we weren't certain if she was truly serious.

I pulled out some unmarked eggs yesterday and one marked egg that had been cracked. The marked egg had veins developing inside. I have no idea how many eggs she has under her now, but I'll count them when I candle them on the 15th.

 

[fisherlady]

I'm so excited to be able to join this thread!

My Black Langshan, Eunice, has been thinking about going broody since the 5th and has finally gone "full" broody as of the 8th (based on the fact that she started growling and a crowbar is now needed to lift her off the nest). We marked 15 eggs on the 5th, but didn't separate out from the coop until yesterday since we weren't certain if she was truly serious.

I pulled out some unmarked eggs yesterday and one marked egg that had been cracked. The marked egg had veins developing inside. I have no idea how many eggs she has under her now, but I'll count them when I candle them on the 15th.

Welcome to the thread! Good luck with your broody girl and hopefully all will go well with her hatch. You should have lots of cute little fuzz balls running around in no time (though it will seem like forever while you are waiting!!)

 

[fisherlady]

You can, I often do, give the medicated chick feed even to the brooding hen.

It simply means she is getting Amprolium too, which is a coccidiostat (that eliminates coccidian protozoa which inhabit all soil to some degree).

On the one hand, you don't want to overkill the coccidia so that the bird no longer gains a natural immunity to it, but on the other hand periodic treatment can knock down overgrowth, and stressors can bring on overgrowth...brooding definitely falls into that category.

So I often give my broody hens the medicated chick feed if that is what I have on hand, and I often feed my chicks that for the first month or so, switching to non-medicated by 6 to 8 weeks. I will also treat with Chick Saver electrolytes/vitamins as the Amprolium works as a metabolism inhibitor that prevents the cocci from metabolizing Vitamin B slowly starving them to death...and that can create a B deficiency in chicks if they are sensitive to it. (Had that happen with a set of new chicks presenting as leg/foot abnormality...walking on toes...giving Vitamin B with electrolytes Chick Saver cured it within a week).

Lady of McCamley

Thank you for clarifying on the medicated feed! I usually say (unmedicated) since that just happens to be what I use... I am not a very good reference when it comes to the antibiotics, since I don't use them (other than topical for wound care) I tend to not mention them much and can't offer any guidance on them, but I am so glad we have you for help on them when needed!

 

[vpatt]

I'm so excited to be able to join this thread!

My Black Langshan, Eunice, has been thinking about going broody since the 5th and has finally gone "full" broody as of the 8th (based on the fact that she started growling and a crowbar is now needed to lift her off the nest). We marked 15 eggs on the 5th, but didn't separate out from the coop until yesterday since we weren't certain if she was truly serious.

I pulled out some unmarked eggs yesterday and one marked egg that had been cracked. The marked egg had veins developing inside. I have no idea how many eggs she has under her now, but I'll count them when I candle them on the 15th.

Good luck to you and to Eunice! This is the best thread with the best people giving advice! Ive learned so much here that helped me get thru my first two hatches. I am looking forward to future experiences with broodies and cute little chicks. I know that I only set four eggs each time....I don't want too many more chickens....but I want them to be able to go broody naturally. At least most of the time. Chicken math is ever lurking, lol. In fact I have heard thru a friend she knows someone who is giving away some chickens...uh oh.

I will be watching for updates on Eunice and her eggs. I hope all goes well.

 

[KV Silkies]

ok, just gave my broody some eggs yesterday, NERVOUS! this is her first hatch, but the poor thing has been patiently being broody it seems like forever.... gave her 3 of my own eggs that were showing veining and one of my shipped eggs, gonna check in a few days and if all are still developing gonna let her have a few more.... fingers crossed for little "Stormy" and her eggs! she seems pretty happy to have a clutch to be sitting on.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

ok, just gave my broody some eggs yesterday, NERVOUS! this is her first hatch, but the poor thing has been patiently being broody it seems like forever.... gave her 3 of my own eggs that were showing veining and one of my shipped eggs, gonna check in a few days and if all are still developing gonna let her have a few more.... fingers crossed for little "Stormy" and her eggs! she seems pretty happy to have a clutch to be sitting on.

Super duper...so glad your little broody is being rewarded for her diligent behavior....and glad you've got the back up incubator just in case...although I have had excellent luck with first time broodies that are persistent (even if they never brood again)....but from your byline, I presume she is a Silkie and brooding is deep in her genes.

Keep us posted.

LofMc

 

[KV Silkies]

Super duper...so glad your little broody is being rewarded for her diligent behavior....and glad you've got the back up incubator just in case...although I have had excellent luck with first time broodies that are persistent (even if they never brood again)....but from your byline, I presume she is a Silkie and brooding is deep in her genes.

Keep us posted.

LofMc

She is a silkie, sweet little thing, I let my other little sillkie Cloudy brood for me last fall and mid brood Stormy thought she'd like to also, but I didn't let her, so she's been having the itch since then. I am excited for her to finally have her own little chicks. And also like you said glad I have my bator with other eggs in it just in case.....