Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[nchls school]

Good Morning
I hope everyone is staying warm we are at 32 deg F. this morning. Burrrr

That's a heat spell; lucky, lucky. We're at 9 degrees F. I keep hoping we'll get a 32 degree day!

 

[vpatt]

Well, Scarlet went out to eat and i turned the crate on its side. She went right back on her eggs. If she sticks tight then maybe tomorrow i will switch eggs. She is half sticking out of the crate.

 

[nchls school]

Well, Scarlet went out to eat and i turned the crate on its side. She went right back on her eggs. If she sticks tight then maybe tomorrow i will switch eggs. She is half sticking out of the crate.

If you feel the hen is not protected from the elements enough you should be able to switch to a similar larger box/crate as long as it is in the same location. I try not to move broody hens as it, all to often, causes problems.

 

[vpatt]

If you feel the hen is not protected from the elements enough you should be able to switch to a similar larger box/crate as long as it is in the same location.  I try not to move broody hens as it, all to often, causes problems.

She is on the porch. I am thinking i will leave her in the milk crate, but maybe after dark i will move the dog kennel there and set her milk crate in the kennel. Then i can cover the whole dog kennel for more darkness and also wind protection. That way she will be in the same spot and i can lock her in at night. I hope that won't upset her....if only they would choose nesting spots to suit us, lol.

 

[nchls school]

She is on the porch. I am thinking i will leave her in the milk crate, but maybe after dark i will move the dog kennel there and set her milk crate in the kennel. Then i can cover the whole dog kennel for more darkness and also wind protection. That way she will be in the same spot and i can lock her in at night. I hope that won't upset her....if only they would choose nesting spots to suit us, lol.

Sounds like a good plan. If the hen refuses to brood in the dog kennel you can put things back the way they were, but there's a good chance the hen will be OK with the change.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wisconsin-20 to 30 below-serama/Japanese bantams. Serama/Japanese and Wisconsin winter do not work as these birds are not cold hardy. I also have other bird species that can not take severe cold. Electric-sealed oil heater placed inside a cupboard and cleaned often. During our coldest weather I have the heater set so the temperature does not drop below 40 degrees F.

Well that makes perfect sense then. I guess that's the most economical heat method you've found?
And perfect temperature too.
So your birds don't have outside access in winter?

It can get to -20 here but usually 0 to -10 F is as low as it goes. My bird have huge combs so the cocks are susceptible to frostbite.
Occasionally I'll put them in their own building and raise it to 30 or so. But I've never heated any hens' quarters.

 

[nchls school]

Well that makes perfect sense then. I guess that's the most economical heat method you've found?
And perfect temperature too.
So your birds don't have outside access in winter?

It can get to -20 here but usually 0 to -10 F is as low as it goes. My bird have huge combs so the cocks are susceptible to frostbite.
Occasionally I'll put them in their own building and raise it to 30 or so. But I've never heated any hens' quarters.

No winter outside access and limited in warm months too. Some of my serama are not replaceable to trust the great outdoors very much.

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Question please. I have Broodys with chicks that are just over a week old. One was looking poorly yesterday so I brought inside. She had pasty butt and once warmed and some warm Gatorade she has rebounded.

While inside I noticed little crawlies on the paper towel. Momma & the chicks are obviously infested. What can I use to safely combat this???
Thanks

 

[Alex1010]

Question please. I have Broodys with chicks that are just over a week old. One was looking poorly yesterday so I brought inside. She had pasty butt and once warmed and some warm Gatorade she has rebounded.

While inside I noticed little crawlies on the paper towel. Momma & the chicks are obviously infested. What can I use to safely combat this???
Thanks

Diatomaceous Earth

 

[losttexan]

Question please. I have Broodys with chicks that are just over a week old. One was looking poorly yesterday so I brought inside. She had pasty butt and once warmed and some warm Gatorade she has rebounded.

While inside I noticed little crawlies on the paper towel. Momma & the chicks are obviously infested. What can I use to safely combat this???
Thanks

Be aware that Gatorade can contain levels of sodium harmful to chicks. I would stick to Sav-A-Chik electrolytes or use one of the many homemade receipes available here on BYC. Many have had luck in your situation with NutriDrench as well.

I would recommend dusting the the chick LIGHTLY with poultry dust - a dab under each wing and under the vent. You may need to clean out your brooder/nesting box and replace with clean bedding with a bit of poultry dust sprinkled in. Your broody hen needs to be treated as well.

Here's a link to help you ID the mites: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html