Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[BullChick]

I checked yesterday, and checked them again half an hour ago. I removed and candled the two eggs. Don’t ask what happened, and I won’t have to tell you that I just got out of the shower and started laundry. They do make the coolest sound when they pop.

 

[BullChick]

Feed store chicks tomorrow. It was the original plan, but it didn’t hurt to give the girls their own eggs. The next broody cycle I’ll incubate in the house.

 

[fisherlady]

Feed store chicks tomorrow. It was the original plan, but it didn’t hurt to give the girls their own eggs. The next broody cycle I’ll incubate in the house.

We mostly incubate our own eggs in the house also. We only give eggs to a few of our most senior broodies since they all remain in general population. In fact we currently have 12 newly hatched waiting to go out to 4 hens who have been sitting and waiting.

 

[BullChick]

Eight chicks are under Moms (happy Mother’s Day, huh?). I said six. Duckling and the woman were having fun together, and six almost became nine before I heard “one more of those…”

 

[BullChick]

While I was at the feed store, two girls were in with the broodies. I meant to put them back in the main coop, but forgot to. I think that is obvious when you look in the back of the cage. I wasn’t going to bother the moms for the eggs yesterday. I needed them calm to take the babies.

 

[BullChick]

See the LH resting on both backs? I said I’d never have LH in the house again, but a broody can have ’em! Duckling ended up getting (I actually just realized it a few minutes ago) two black, two white (LH are the only ones I know the breed), two grey, and two brown.

 

[Faraday40]

I wanted to ask about chick poopy butt. I have not experienced it for a long time.... until my last 2 hatches.
I had 3 out of 4 from my May 23rd hatch (1 died, 1 all better, 1 less poopy)
and
2 out of 4 from my May 30th hatch (still washing and drying daily)

In both hatches, it's seramas (They're more delicate as chicks)
Also, these are hatches without a broody to adopt them.

For the past couple years, I simply added whatever hatched under a broody and let her do the work. It's strange, but I don't have any broody hens right now. I must use a brooder plate for these 7 chicks, and I'm getting tired of washing chick butts every night.

My questions:
Does a broody hen somehow prevent poopy butt? (Like I mentioned I usually have the hens adopt.)
Is there a treatment (like something to add to water or food) to help them get over it faster?
What might be the cause?

 

[BullChick]

Too much heat. Raise the plate. Adding vitamins is always good.

 

[fisherlady]

Got broodies?

 

[BullChick]

Shhhhhhh! The three hens that were still sitting seem to be content co-brooding Cher’s hatch now. I have not seen them on their eggs in days. Instead they are all outside when I go outside. The two SPR with 2-month-olds have been laying almost two weeks. I would like another couple of weeks before they sit again!