Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[curious chickee]

I have one sitting on 7 eggs, I love January hatches, but we don't get very cold only about 25 degrees at lowest

 

[NysiaAnera]

I am always fretting about the chicks, but especially right now, our winters get bitter cold. So far, so good though. The mommas take good care of them. I just put 12 eggs under another one last night, too. So I have two right now. First ones due to start hatching Wednesday.

 

[h2oratt]

I am always fretting about the chicks, but especially right now, our winters get bitter cold. So far, so good though. The mommas take good care of them. I just put 12 eggs under another one last night, too. So I have two right now. First ones due to start hatching Wednesday.

Oh you are close to rockland, Idaho.. that's where my family is from. Sounds like you have some good Brodie's.

 

[NysiaAnera]

Oh you are close to rockland, Idaho.. that's where my family is from. Sounds like you have some good Brodie's.

I have never heard of Rockland, but I just looked it up, and yep, it is about an hour from us, over and through the mountains (like everything else!). Pretty cool!

So far we have had pretty good broodies. A couple have been kind of iffy mommas at first, but they have all done great raising their babies.

 

[h2oratt]

I have never heard of Rockland, but I just looked it up, and yep, it is about an hour from us, over and through the mountains (like everything else!). Pretty cool!

So far we have had pretty good broodies. A couple have been kind of iffy mommas at first, but they have all done great raising their babies.

Very nice glad you found rockland. I think my family still has a house there. All my family is buried there. If I every come out that way again I will look you up. Gods country. I love it.

 

[BirdieBirdie]

I am always fretting about the chicks, but especially right now, our winters get bitter cold. So far, so good though. The mommas take good care of them. I just put 12 eggs under another one last night, too. So I have two right now. First ones due to start hatching Wednesday.

ooh... keep us posted! We don't get too cold but I still get nervous.

 

[BirdieBirdie]

I have one sitting on 7 eggs, I love January hatches, but we don't get very cold only about 25 degrees at lowest

glad to hear you've had good January hatches. I came home to 4 broody hens. 2 are pretty serious (1 is my serial mama, this is her 4th in less than 12 months) so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[Carol1948]

Hi,

I am pretty new at the "backyard chicken" project, but have had pretty good luck so far

soooooooooooooo I have one little bantam cochin that has been broody for the last three months and has me wanting to let her hatch a few babies fer company - BUT -- yesterday she was outside with the others almost all day and a while the day before -- is this the end of her broodiness ???
Thanks -- Carol Edwards

 

[NysiaAnera]

This one hen has the worst luck! She was 5 days away from chicks hatching when another hen (Buffy) took over the nest. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that she got kicked off till the next night, when we were setting eggs under what we thought was a new broody. When we realized what happened, we switched the eggs, so she was on her original clutch (just in a different nest box). The next day she was off the nest, all 15 eggs ice cold and developing chicks dead. Then she decided to start over in a different nest box, and was given 12 new eggs... and was kicked off the next day by another new broody! SO, she was given 12 new eggs, and we have three crazy hens brooding is this frigid cold!

 

[fisherlady]

Hi, 

  I am pretty new at the "backyard chicken" project, but have had pretty good luck so far  soooooooooooooo I have one little bantam cochin that has been broody for the last three months and has me wanting to let her hatch a few babies fer company - BUT -- yesterday she was outside with the others almost all day and a while the day before -- is this the end of her broodiness ??? 
                                                                                               Thanks -- Carol Edwards

She may have finally given up for this cycle and you will need to wait for the mood to come back. 3 months is too long to remain broody without risking health issues so her body may have shut off the hormones and allowed her to resume normal activity. 3 months would normally be the length of time needed to brood eggs and raise a clutch of chicks to weaning age....