Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[emmyeagle]

If they are so close to hatch I would not move her unless there is a problem with other birds interfering... she can easily be moved after hatching since the chicks rarely roam much the first day. her nest can be blocked with hardware cloth on hatch day if you are worried about chicks falling out of it. If you do need to move her I would do it when it is dark and quiet and hopefully keep her area dim for a while after the move. Watch her closely though because if she freaks too bad she could scatter the nest and eggs.

ok... the nest box is a medium dog crate. I could put the door on it to keep the other hens out. They all lay in her nest even though there are 3 other boxes! I have to pull eggs out every day.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

ok... the nest box is a medium dog crate. I could put the door on it to keep the other hens out. They all lay in her nest even though there are 3 other boxes! I have to pull eggs out every day.

Put the door on and let her have peace until she hatches as you are so close to lock down you do not want them disturbed, then after the babies are dried and stable, you can move her to wherever is best or simply let her integrate back into the flock IF she is a good assertive momma and the others are respectful of the chicks.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Frustrating day today....I looked this morning and heard peeping under momma but no other chicks...one has pipped and zipped a large hole so let momma back down gently. From what I can tell the bantam Cochin is exemplary...but I am not happy with my new set up with liner and shavings...the shavings kick off the liner too easy...my attempts to keep things more sanitary may have hindered things staying in place and keeping a more equal temperature...I don't know....might explain the odd hatching...although the last batch of Isbars did not hatch at all (egg-octopy showed no development or early quits) and I had my old set up then.

Baby #1 has survived with my help or in spite of it...the ICU bulb appears weak, and wasn't holding temp well...then I had one of those COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING as we had moved some stuff to accommodate a 2nd fridge...had to hunt for the heat lamp...then the clasp to hold it... then the silly cheap thermometer on ICU came loose from base so is or was not accurate...chick was either too cold or too hot...had to hunt down a science thermometer...finally got everything set up so that chick is now sleeping peacefully in make shift shoe box nursery with red heat lamp and science thermometer. It's very, very wobbly on legs but alive and vigorous at times. It is certainly better than last night. We'll see. I remain hopeful for it as it may be the only Isbar I get from this batch.

Boy, I am going back to regular type breeds for the next couple of hatches as I am tired of nursing along temperamental ones...and definitely re-doing the nest boxes again...I removed the wood insert as too many babies were falling out of it and getting stranded, and the bantam Cochins refused to use it but just layed on the shavings on bare wood...but the shavings kick off the nest liner too easy leaving the eggs on the feed bag liner and I suspicion not a good temperature barrier....I did way better with deep litter and alfalfa grass on top even when I didn't use a nesting box to try to keep stuff together.

Ah well...always a learning curve with each hatch.

LofMc

 

[Majd]

Done some research and found out that it's very hard to upload pics from iOS on here.... #ihatemyIphone5 :/ I'm gonna have to open my account on icloud on my laptop and upload.... Maybe tomorrow idk but I'll definitely try

 

[fisherlady]

Frustrating day today....I looked this morning and heard peeping under momma but no other chicks...one has pipped and zipped a large hole so let momma back down gently. From what I can tell the bantam Cochin is exemplary...but I am not happy with my new set up with liner and shavings...the shavings kick off the liner too easy...my attempts to keep things more sanitary may have hindered things staying in place and keeping a more equal temperature...I don't know....might explain the odd hatching...although the last batch of Isbars did not hatch at all (egg-octopy showed no development or early quits) and I had my old set up then.

Baby #1 has survived with my help or in spite of it...the ICU bulb appears weak, and wasn't holding temp well...then I had one of those COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING as we had moved some stuff to accommodate a 2nd fridge...had to hunt for the heat lamp...then the clasp to hold it... then the silly cheap thermometer on ICU came loose from base so is or was not accurate...chick was either too cold or too hot...had to hunt down a science thermometer...finally got everything set up so that chick is now sleeping peacefully in make shift shoe box nursery with red heat lamp and science thermometer. It's very, very wobbly on legs but alive and vigorous at times. It is certainly better than last night. We'll see. I remain hopeful for it as it may be the only Isbar I get from this batch.

Boy, I am going back to regular type breeds for the next couple of hatches as I am tired of nursing along temperamental ones...and definitely re-doing the nest boxes again...I removed the wood insert as too many babies were falling out of it and getting stranded, and the bantam Cochins refused to use it but just layed on the shavings on bare wood...but the shavings kick off the nest liner too easy leaving the eggs on the feed bag liner and I suspicion not a good temperature barrier....I did way better with deep litter and alfalfa grass on top even when I didn't use a nesting box to try to keep stuff together.

Ah well...always a learning curve with each hatch.

LofMc

can you get a shallow tray (such as a cookie sheet or similar) and fill it with play sand?.... Lowes sells it (usually nice and dry) in a 50lb bag for about $3.50-$4... one bag would work fine for what you are doing. After filling it about 1/2 inch with the sand then you can layer in some alfalfa. Even if the alfalfa is kicked aside the sand still helps provide a bit of cushion and can assist in temperature control since even though it warms slowly it also cools slowly. The sand has the added benefit of giving a bit of skid control/traction to the area. It can easily be sifted or replaced if it gets soiled and I have even heated it in the microwave to quickly warm some for emergency brooder area setup.

One of those low boot trays may work also... I have even used a low sided cardboard box (like a soda or water box) with the front side cut so it folded down into a ramp, they are easy to find and modify and are free.

 

[Majd]

 

[Majd]

Ikt worked!!!

 

[Majd]

But they're not as clear as on my phone :/

 

[vpatt]

Frustrating day today....I looked this morning and heard peeping under momma but no other chicks...one has pipped and zipped a large hole so let momma back down gently. From what I can tell the bantam Cochin is exemplary...but I am not happy with my new set up with liner and shavings...the shavings kick off the liner too easy...my attempts to keep things more sanitary may have hindered things staying in place and keeping a more equal temperature...I don't know....might explain the odd hatching...although the last batch of Isbars did not hatch at all (egg-octopy showed no development or early quits) and I had my old set up then.

Baby #1 has survived with my help or in spite of it...the ICU bulb appears weak, and wasn't holding temp well...then I had one of those COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING as we had moved some stuff to accommodate a 2nd fridge...had to hunt for the heat lamp...then the clasp to hold it... then the silly cheap thermometer on ICU came loose from base so is or was not accurate...chick was either too cold or too hot...had to hunt down a science thermometer...finally got everything set up so that chick is now sleeping peacefully in make shift shoe box nursery with red heat lamp and science thermometer.  It's very, very wobbly on legs but alive and vigorous at times. It is certainly better than last night. We'll see. I remain hopeful for it as it may be the only Isbar I get from this batch.

Boy, I am going back to regular type breeds for the next couple of hatches as I am tired of nursing along temperamental ones...and definitely re-doing the nest boxes again...I removed the wood insert as too many babies were falling out of it and getting stranded, and the bantam Cochins refused to use it but just layed on the shavings on bare wood...but the shavings kick off the nest liner too easy leaving the eggs on the feed bag liner and I suspicion not a good temperature barrier....I did way better with deep litter and alfalfa grass on top even when I didn't use a nesting box to try to keep stuff together.

Ah well...always a learning curve with each hatch.

LofMc

I hope that little chick continues to get stronger. Good luck! My three "orphans" have survived much to my surprise, especially making it thru the past two chilly nights.

 

[Majd]