Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[itstartedwith2]

This is Phoenix sitting on her first clutch of eggs. She is a wonderful broody. She doesn't attack me when I touch her or the eggs, I can move her anywhere and she will absolutely not leave those eggs. I do have to hand feed her because of that, but I'm willing to do that.

That blue Orpington rooster is Lancelot, who may be the father of one of two of the eggs. He died two days ago, due to sour crop. I'm hoping to get one chick from him, so his legacy and go on.

The other daddy is a Red Sex Linked, so maybe Ill get some white peeps.

The mothers could be-
Easter Egger (Her egg was one of the good ones)
Red sex linked
GLW
Speckled Sussex
Buff Orpington
New Hampshire red
Lavender Orpington


Anyway, I put 9 eggs under miss Phoenix. It's her first clutch, and mine.

Two got cracked (both were thankfully unfertile) and one I had to chuck because when I candled today, it looked unfertile and what looked like the yolk was freely floating around w/ no veins. 3 of them I saw good air sacks, and embryo mass, but since they were a bit dirty and were speckled, I couldn't see veins. I wrote a "?" on them and stuck them back under her. The other 3 were perfect. Excellent air sacks, prominent veins and little (and very active) embryos.

I'm hoping I get some chicks! They are due June 18th

I'm sorry about you roo I hope you get a chick from him.

 

[StarMeKritten]

We had a rough night last night. I heard our new mom screeching while I was sitting on the porch. We've had some raccoon problems lately so my husband and I both ran for the coop. Two hens were hiding in the run. My husband checked in the coop and said that all was well. I double checked. There was one too many chickens in the coop. It took me a minute to realize that one of those hens on the roost had fur. An epic battle ensued. A few hens fled for the run and the rooster and one hen got out the door. The raccoon lost. I was able to catch the hen that escaped but my rooster ran off into the woods. My new mom never budged off those chicks. The incident seems to have broken her sister's brood though. Thankfully, my rooster came home this morning and is now back with his girls. We were very lucky that we were already outside and no one was hurt. That little broody is a hero. She saw him come in and sounded the alarm.

It looks like all the rain we've had washed away enough dirt to expose a small gap around the hardware cloth apron at the bottom of the run. It was still early and I hadn't closed the door to the coop yet. I will be doing that at sunset from now on. I've already fixed that spot in the run...

 

[Kaylish]

We had a rough night last night. I heard our new mom screeching while I was sitting on the porch. We've had some raccoon problems lately so my husband and I both ran for the coop. Two hens were hiding in the run. My husband checked in the coop and said that all was well. I double checked. There was one too many chickens in the coop. It took me a minute to realize that one of those hens on the roost had fur. An epic battle ensued. A few hens fled for the run and the rooster and one hen got out the door. The raccoon lost. I was able to catch the hen that escaped but my rooster ran off into the woods. My new mom never budged off those chicks. The incident seems to have broken her sister's brood though. Thankfully, my rooster came home this morning and is now back with his girls. We were very lucky that we were already outside and no one was hurt. That little broody is a hero. She saw him come in and sounded the alarm.

It looks like all the rain we've had washed away enough dirt to expose a small gap around the hardware cloth apron at the bottom of the run. It was still early and I hadn't closed the door to the coop yet. I will be doing that at sunset from now on. I've already fixed that spot in the run...

Scary! I'm so glad your Mama was able to alert you in time and everyone is safe.

 

[StarMeKritten]

Thanks! Me too!

In all this craziness (and WAY too many broodies), I forgot that I had another hen who's eggs were hatching in my main coop. I checked on her and saw at least 5 little heads peaking out from under her. She had a total of 12 BLRW eggs, so there might be even more chicks then that.

 

[Bushmansbliss]

Sorry to hear about your losses and predator problems. I've had a few extra long nights the past couple weeks dealing with predator problems, lost a great rooster and 9 hens, such a bummer. I also had a Sumatran broody with her chicks get attacked by a dog yesterday but I was within running distance and all ended without death and only a few lost feathers. But at least its broody season, softens the blow.

 

[Bushmansbliss]

 

[Majd]

Cute!

 

[itstartedwith2]

I think I have another broody one in my OEGB pen?! Does this normally happen they all start going broody around the same time? This is so much fun and sooo much easier then an incubator!

 

[itstartedwith2]

Love it all the babies with their mommas

 

[PD-Riverman]

I think I have another broody one in my OEGB pen?! Does this normally happen they all start going broody around the same time? This is so much fun and sooo much easier then an incubator!

It can be fun-----if you do not let things get out of control. I move ALL my broodies to a private pen/s----It becomes a breeze then---nothing to do but a little feed and water----look one day and she is off the nest with her babies. Then in a day or two---there is another one---etc, etc, I have had 45 broodies in the last year!