Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Jabbok]

Quote:
I bought chick starter and that should be good for their food, right?

Thank you!

I use feed somewhere between laying feed and chick feed. The chicks will be fine with that type of ration as long as they are aloud to forage.

I have some scratch grains in a the nest box and the chick does eat a little of that and a little of the feed so far. They haven't been out yet. There's another egg or 2 to hatch tomorrow, then we are going to move the mamma and peeps into a bigger space. I'm worried about letting the mamma and babies out until they are quite a bit bigger because we have some crazy leghorns. I don't trust them at all. I know the mom will protect them, but they are outnumbered (there's 8 leghorns).

Should I worry? Sorry for all the silly questions. I have no idea about mother chickens and their babies!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Momma will take care of her chicks is what i have seen, my smallest chicken is a cochin frizzle bantam and she took care of all 5 of hers last year, everyone respects a mama chicken.

Speaking of mama chicken I have said frizzle in broody coop and so far 1 of 5 has hatched. today is day 21.. as soon as they hatch she will be able to bring them out among all the other chickens, Now I have 5 more that are broody so it's going to be busy arouind here in the next month. I don't candle eggs when my hen is sitting.

 

[SarahIrl]

Well I have two broodies right now, one on two chicks hatched today and one pipped out of four. Other broody on 2 brahma eggs and seven serama eggs, she's doing a fab job, but well agressive wit the others so have her on her own. Am delighhted for them, first time I used broodies!

 

[Jabbok]

We are up to 4 out of 5 eggs hatched now! I'm going to check a little later to see if that last egg is hatching. Since we homeschool, the kids got to see a freshly hatched chick! How fun and exciting - for them and myself!

I have a totally black chick and it's SO cute! I don't know what kind it is, I'm hoping it's a Dark Cornish, but I don't remember our D.C. chicks being that black when we got them. Our other 2 are definitely Leghorn/D.C. mixed and we have a Buff Orp/Barred Rock/Dark Cornish mix. Can't wait to see that newest chicks colors!

We have another hen that wants to brood, but I just can't let her. With the new chicks, we'll be up to 19 birds! lol

 

[phasianidae]

Quote:
I use feed somewhere between laying feed and chick feed. The chicks will be fine with that type of ration as long as they are aloud to forage.

I have some scratch grains in a the nest box and the chick does eat a little of that and a little of the feed so far. They haven't been out yet. There's another egg or 2 to hatch tomorrow, then we are going to move the mamma and peeps into a bigger space. I'm worried about letting the mamma and babies out until they are quite a bit bigger because we have some crazy leghorns. I don't trust them at all. I know the mom will protect them, but they are outnumbered (there's 8 leghorns).

Should I worry? Sorry for all the silly questions. I have no idea about mother chickens and their babies!

See how they get along but you will probably have to keep them apart. The chicks should be fine on that feed.

 

[Jabbok]

Quote:
I have some scratch grains in a the nest box and the chick does eat a little of that and a little of the feed so far. They haven't been out yet. There's another egg or 2 to hatch tomorrow, then we are going to move the mamma and peeps into a bigger space. I'm worried about letting the mamma and babies out until they are quite a bit bigger because we have some crazy leghorns. I don't trust them at all. I know the mom will protect them, but they are outnumbered (there's 8 leghorns).

Should I worry? Sorry for all the silly questions. I have no idea about mother chickens and their babies!

See how they get along but you will probably have to keep them apart. The chicks should be fine on that feed.

I think we'll just keep them apart for now.

Oh and my daughter and I were watching the hen and her babies today. The hen drank a ton of water and then kind of spit some up into the food dish to soften the chick starter for the chicks. Now we know how that works. lol

This has been such a fun experience! We have 4 hatched chicks and 1 egg that is not hatched yet, but due to some time today. One chick is totally black, I'm hoping that one is a Dark Cornish. The others are all mixed breeds.

Do you know a price for selling fertilized eggs? Just curious.

Thanks,
Emily

 

[SarahIrl]

3 out of 4!!!

 

[phasianidae]

Quote:
See how they get along but you will probably have to keep them apart. The chicks should be fine on that feed.

Do you know a price for selling fertilized eggs? Just curious.

Thanks,
Emily

You mean for eating? I sell mine for $2.00 a dozen.

 

[Jabbok]

Quote:
Do you know a price for selling fertilized eggs? Just curious.

Thanks,
Emily

You mean for eating? I sell mine for $2.00 a dozen.

My nephew wants to buy 6 to incubate. I sell my other eggs for eating for $2 a dozen too.

 

[jennifersmith326]

I had 5 out of 8 hatch and one of the eggs was leaking some stinky stuff.

HINT to anyone out there that notices anything leaking from their eggs. IT STINKS, don't smell it.