Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

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Aw poor baby. I hope that you turkey heals 100%.

We really have no idea what happened to her. Neighbor found alot of feathers but no body. Counted and all were in the barn. Next day he found her with a HUGE hole in the middle of her back. He was able to spray her w/ the purple stuff to keep the others from pecking at her, but that was it. When I got home, she was in the stock tank that I use for a brooder. She was laying an egg.

I put the lid on and she's been good. I have since found some more wounds on her, but they're not as bad as the big one. DH and I saw 4 Bald Eagles a couple days after we got home. They were just down the road a little bit. 2 were young, still had brown heads. Could be that they tried to make a grab and didn't realize how big she really was?

She's doing very well. Just about took my arm off when I was giving her eggs. I had to pull the sweatshirt clear over my hand and I'm still bruised. I'd say she's good.

Hope your turkey gets better! Sounds like she is a real fighter

At least sitting will give her time to heal...Good luck

 

[yotetrapper]

I'm slowly making my way through this thread... it is outstanding. I've tried hatching with broodies on a few occasion with poor results. If I tried to move the mama, she'd stop sitting, and if I left her, her eggs would get kicked out and mashed by the rest of the flock. But, reading this thread has me determined to try again! Thanks for the amazing thread!

 

[quiltnchik]

Well, I ended up hatching 2 chicks inside yesterday - one black as coal with little black feet (one of my Silkie boys apparently got to one of my brown egg layers, though this little one only has 4 toes), and the other yellow - so I took them outside and put them under my broody at dusk yesterday. I peeked in on them this morning and mama and her 8 chicks all seem to be doing well. I was worried most about the little black one because s/he sticks out like a sore thumb against the 6 meaties and the other little yellow chick, but it seems all is well

 

[Suechick]

Hi

I have another question for the broody experts. A second chicken went broody in my flock, and today is day 7 of incubation. Can I just give the 2nd broody eggs from the incubator that are already 7 days along? Will she be ready for chicks to hatch in 2 weeks?

 

[Fuffy]

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Sounds perfect!!! Well done

 

[Fuffy]

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Well it seems like it would be worth trying. I can't think why it wouldn't work.

Mine was sitting for a week on falsies before her eggs arrived, so all-in-all she's been sat there for a month.
Day 21 tomorrow. Have just peeked quickly and nothing is happening but I'm still sure I hear peeping

 

[Fuffy]

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Hi

I love doing the broody thing.

I have never used an incubator, but it seems so much more natural to use the broody hen. And as mine is such a nice little person it seems more fun

So please don't give up!

 

[Miz Mary]

perchie.girl :

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Wow that is a HUGE chick

... or is it an optical illusion?

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Thats a CLOSE UP !!! They are SO tiny !!!

 

[phasianidae]

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[ldrwnorman47]

Well today I threw out the 8 eggs my broody didnt hatch out. Started with the 14 got 6 chicks. I eggtopsyed I found 6 full term dead chicks and 2 rotten (ready to explode) eggs.
What on earth happened to my chicks that didnt make it. My chicks started hatching ion day 22 and i let the other eggs go until today day 25. I thought for sure with a broody hen i would have a good hatch rate

SO sad about the lil chickies that didnt make it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!