Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Violetsfeathers]

So sorry your hen is having a rough time.  At least now you have a little chicky, hopefully two.  Has this hen been broody before?  Has she successfully hatched out chicks before?

The hen that hatched the chick that died had been incubating the eggs. After the chick died we put the eggs under a different broody hen and brought her whole nest (a cat carrier) inside in case the chicks got too cold like the first one. Well, when the second chick hatched she tried to kill it, luckily we heard it and came to the rescue and set up a brooder inside until the third one hatches. Then they will go to an outside brooder in the coop.

The first broody has not been broody before she is a Pullet.
The second broody that tried to kill them before went broody last year but I broke her. This year she was broody for a week then quit, then less than a month ago she went broody again and I gave her eggs but it hasn't been 21 days since she's been broody so I wonder if that's why she rejected them?

 

[Violetsfeathers]

The chick is sleeping in my room and is actually sleeping. Not screaming for its mommy/me like I thought it would. It only peeps if it's too hot or too cold and then I adjust the heat lamp.
Best sleepover ever!

It's 3/4 Cochin bantam and 1/4 brahma bantam.
Also our fat, lazy house cat who I trust to watch my dwarf hamster run around the house is sleeping on the bed with me like she always does.

 

[sjturner79]

The hen that hatched the chick that died had been incubating the eggs. After the chick died we put the eggs under a different broody hen and brought her whole nest (a cat carrier) inside in case the chicks got too cold like the first one. Well, when the second chick hatched she tried to kill it, luckily we heard it and came to the rescue and set up a brooder inside until the third one hatches. Then they will go to an outside brooder in the coop.

The first broody has not been broody before she is a Pullet.
The second broody that tried to kill them before went broody last year but I broke her. This year she was broody for a week then quit, then less than a month ago she went broody again and I gave her eggs but it hasn't been 21 days since she's been broody so I wonder if that's why she rejected them?

She probably doesn't recognize that it's her babies, thinks they are intruders so is trying to kill them.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

The other chick hatched this morning and the older one is walking now.
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Momma hen is back in the coop sitting on fake eggs

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote: It probably is because it hasn't been 21 days. I think they have a pretty strong internal clock, and they know when the eggs are near hatch time. I have a chicken that went broody last week, and I had the chicks that hatched the other day. I considered giving them to her under close supervision, but I decided it probably wouldn't work because she hasn't had enough time yet. She got fresh fertile eggs Wednesday night.

Quote: x2!

The other chick hatched this morning and the older one is walking now.

Momma hen is back in the coop sitting on fake eggs

Awesome! Do you ended up with 3 chicks?

 

[Violetsfeathers]

It probably is because it hasn't been 21 days.  I think they have a pretty strong internal clock, and they know when the eggs are near hatch time.  I have a chicken that went broody last week, and I had the chicks that hatched the other day.  I considered giving them to her under close supervision, but I decided it probably wouldn't work because she hasn't had enough time yet.  She got fresh fertile eggs Wednesday night.

x2!



Awesome! Do you ended up with 3 chicks? 

No, the first one died then we put them under a different mamma and moved them all inside.
Just two, and seem to be happy and healthy

My mom just sent me this pic

(This is the one that hatched this morning)

Also, those of you who have hatched chicks, have you ever noticed them... shedding? Dropping little hairs and stuff all over your hand? I had this happen last year too.

 

[skgray]

Also, those of you who have hatched chicks, have you ever noticed them... shedding? Dropping little hairs and stuff all over your hand? I had this happen last year too.

Yes I noticed this on those chicks that hatched late so I had to let them dry out in a brooder before returning them to the hen. I didn't notice it on the chicks that dried out under the hen. Maybe the down has some kind of sheathing that comes off as they dry out.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Yes I noticed this on those chicks that hatched late so I had to let them dry out in a brooder before returning them to the hen. I didn't notice it on the chicks that dried out under the hen. Maybe the down has some kind of sheathing that comes off as they dry out.

Yah it does, I looked closer and the fluff is in little tubes like feathers are when the chickens molt. But there are also hairs that drop in my hands along with the sheathing.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

 

[Curnow]

They're AWESOME!