Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ameliadanielle]

Because the silkies were playing musical eggs and chicks, I had to keep removing chicks and putting them in the brooder until they all hatched, then I broke the mamas from being broody. That was my last experiment with attempting to allow silkies to coparent. Lol. It was like I'd go out and get one or two chicks a day. The mama's were reaching over when one would get off the nest to poop and eat, and they'd take some of her eggs. When they got up, she'd do the same. Since they all didn't go broody on the same day, none of the chicks were set to hatch at the same time. There were 3 nests and 3 mama's in the same box, by the time it got close to hatch, 3 more silkies joined in. So we had 6 hens stealing eggs and babies from each othet, crammed in the same nest box. Chaos. Lol.

 

[ameliadanielle]

Now my silkies get the same treatment everyone else does. Moved to the garage or into a separate pen.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Well, shoot. I am not sure what is going on with this broody... lately she seems to be getting confused and getting back on the wrong nest. I found the eggs cold today. I candled and removed 4. The remaining 5 (one got broke a week ago) may not have made it, but I left them just in case. I sure hope she hasn't given them up.

They may still be okay if they are cold. Sometimes they are cool to the touch but still warm enough inside. Did you put the broody back on the right nest or did you put the eggs in an incubator?

Quote:
That's so annoying when they get on the wrong nest. So far I have been able to catch them when they do that. If you chicken has lice, I have had great success with using Vetrx on them. It may work for lice as well. My broody who just hatched out the turkeys was badly infested. The poor thing, I thought she had skin flakes or dirt around her eyes (and in her cheek muffs). After a few drops for a week or so of the Vetrx on her face, around her vent, and under her wings, she was bug free when the poults came. I had originally bought that stuff for respiratory problems with other hens, and then I noticed how effective it also was on the lice. Love that stuff, I went online and ordered the BIG bottle!

Left coop dried out nicely, fresh bedding down and fluffed, Olive is peaceful in her new private nest (in a coop and nest she has been familiar with before...she barely flinched with the move), 9 eggs are set...about half hers for F2 olive eggers (Isbar/Marans/Barnevelder) and the others from the Splash Marans/Barnevelder daughter who has an especially nice terra cotta egg color.

Marking my calendar for..."set day."

This *should* work out nicely.

LofMc

Best of luck on the new set!

Speaking of co-parenting, my broody hen has "shared custody" with the broody turkey hen. The turkey seems to have almost completely adopted them. She keeps them at night, they respond to her calls. It seems they both watch the poults during the day. Here's a pic from this morning. The poults are playing, and the two moms are watching below.

 

[NysiaAnera]

Left coop dried out nicely, fresh bedding down and fluffed, Olive is peaceful in her new private nest (in a coop and nest she has been familiar with before...she barely flinched with the move), 9 eggs are set...about half hers for F2 olive eggers (Isbar/Marans/Barnevelder) and the others from the Splash Marans/Barnevelder daughter who has an especially nice terra cotta egg color.

Marking my calendar for..."set day." 

This *should* work out nicely.



LofMc

Yay! Sounds like we may have chicks on the same day, although mine are in an incubator because I only have the one broody right now.

Because the silkies were playing musical eggs and chicks, I had to keep removing chicks and putting them in the brooder until they all hatched, then I broke the mamas from being broody. That was my last experiment with attempting to allow silkies to coparent. Lol. It was like I'd go out and get one or two chicks a day. The mama's were reaching over when one would get off the nest to poop and eat, and they'd take some of her eggs. When they got up, she'd do the same. Since they all didn't go broody on the same day, none of the chicks were set to hatch at the same time. There were 3 nests and 3 mama's in the same box, by the time it got close to hatch, 3 more silkies joined in. So we had 6 hens stealing eggs and babies from each othet, crammed in the same nest box. Chaos. Lol.

That is totally crazy! I am still giggling, but wow! I understand your frustration with the whole situation. Those poor chicks! The only time I have had to take chicks away is when a momma is not being a good momma. Never because I had too many wanting to be mommas and chicknapping.

 

[NysiaAnera]

They may still be okay if they are cold.  Sometimes they are cool to the touch but still warm enough inside.  Did you put the broody back on the right nest or did you put the eggs in an incubator?

I left the 5 with the momma. I have found cold nests before, and have still had chicks hatch that I was sure were gonners, so I knew it wasn't hopeless. The ones I removed were not fertile and early quitters (stopped around days 5-8). We will see in the next 3-5 days if they made it.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Quote:

 

[sjturner79]

Because the silkies were playing musical eggs and chicks, I had to keep removing chicks and putting them in the brooder until they all hatched, then I broke the mamas from being broody. That was my last experiment with attempting to allow silkies to coparent. Lol. It was like I'd go out and get one or two chicks a day. The mama's were reaching over when one would get off the nest to poop and eat, and they'd take some of her eggs. When they got up, she'd do the same. Since they all didn't go broody on the same day, none of the chicks were set to hatch at the same time. There were 3 nests and 3 mama's in the same box, by the time it got close to hatch, 3 more silkies joined in. So we had 6 hens stealing eggs and babies from each othet, crammed in the same nest box. Chaos. Lol.

Wow! Most I've had is 3 Broodies per nest. But mine seem to do that okay with that. I just leave them be and a few days after the last one hatches all the girls are out and about still trying to steal the chicks of each other. By about 2 weeks the babies have each picked which hen they prefer.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Last night I candled eggs to see if there were any bad ones (there weren't) and one of the eggs has two chicks in it! I can see two black blobs moving around in the egg, it hatches the 31.
So exciting!

Here is a video of the twins being candled

 

[matthewr73]

I have a blue Wyandot that has been broody for a few weeks now and is always sitting on a clutch of eggs. Normally I just move her out of the way to collect, which she doesn't like. Four days ago I decided to let her sit on a clutch. The first day she had 5, the next day she had 10 eggs. Her egg count has stayed at 10 for the last few days. I've contemplated moving her out to the brooder, as it is clean and just waiting for the new chicks I get from Runnings in May. Or I could move her to the storage room that is part of the main coop. I'd just have to clear out a corner and make a nest box. Any thoughts?

 

[TeeMom]

I have a blue Wyandot that has been broody for a few weeks now and is always sitting on a clutch of eggs. Normally I just move her out of the way to collect, which she doesn't like. Four days ago I decided to let her sit on a clutch. The first day she had 5, the next day she had 10 eggs. Her egg count has stayed at 10 for the last few days. I've contemplated moving her out to the brooder, as it is clean and just waiting for the new chicks I get from Runnings in May. Or I could move her to the storage room that is part of the main coop. I'd just have to clear out a corner and make a nest box. Any thoughts?

I'm new to this thread and just came here to share, but my first broody is a little Isbar pullet and I have moved her to one of our brooding pens. There were too many scuffles when the other hens would come in to lay. Being little, she would get pushed out of the nest box and then she would settle in another box. I decided it would be a far less stressful experience for her if she had her own space. I have 3 brooder pens, though, so it doesn't tie up space that I need. I plan to keep her there for the first week or two after her chicks hatch and then will let them back in with the flock.



I have tubs in each box for easy cleanup, but it sure made it easy to just transfer chicken and eggs to a secluded brooder!



Started with 7 eggs...one was infertile and she cracked one, so 5 are due tomorrow-ish! So excited!