Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[AKsmama]

Awww, Miss Lydia! What beautiful babies!

I'm tentatively posting here. . . we may have a broody on our hands! This morning my DH said when he closed up the chickens last night, one of the Black Stars was in a nest box, so he moved her to the roost. He said, "She has pulled out on the feathers on her belly," and I went

He was like, "What, does that mean she has mites?" And I said, "Maybe, but it sounds like a brood patch!" I immediately went out to check on her. When I picked her up she puffed up at me, so I put her on the rail in front of the nest boxes and she chose one right away and hasn't moved since. I see absolutely no evidence of mites on her or anyone else. It's hot here today, so I offered her water and she drank contentedly while I held the bowl and she ate a bit too. We would love to have a mama hatch out some chicks, so

that she sticks with it! I know she may not, so we'll have to wait and see. If she is still sitting tonight, I'll mark the eggs that are under her. Right now there are 5 eggs, so I may add a couple more later today. I'm going to try to convince DH to build a broody house like krcote's- he won't be happy about it, but I feel it needs to be done.

I must say, I am impressed by her brood patch. That area is as smooth as a baby's behind!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I didn't know it was called that...."a brood patch"!

I have two broody Barnevelders sitting for the first time. They have been at it for 2 1/2 weeks, so we are nearly there! They only have two eggs left under them, though.

I put 4 eggs from AmCanyonStables under my first broody girl, and immediately, her sister joined her. I thought she was just a poser, but has never left her sister's side, and has that "brood patch."

The first night, there was jostling by the other birds who wanted to lay in the nest, and one egg got broken.

Then, the broodies ate one of the eggs.

Then, the alpha hen decided to start a war with the expectant ladies. They successfully fought her off, with everyone, alpha and omega, losing lots of feathers, but still got themselves very upset and ate an egg. It had an embryo in it. I wrote it off to being really upset.

I gave in, and sectioned off the nest box so the rest of the flock couldn't get to them. I took a chance and put two more eggs under them. (I started a batch in my incubator at the same time as I gave them eggs.) One of them they kicked out of the nest twice, so I stuck it in the bator. The other one they accepted. (I wish I could have set them up in their own little coop. I'm still thinking about it.)

That would mean there are two eggs under them. They both candle as being viable. My fingers are crossed

If nothing hatches, I will try grafting a couple of chicks from my hatch in the bator.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This evening the mama of of our 2 new chicks pushed the last 3 over out of the way, so I guess she felt 2 days after the first 2 hatched was long enought to wait. She's a good mama and I trust her judgement, I took the eggs and opened them to see what was going on, sometime during development they quit. We have 6 more broodies sitting, and each have 3 eggs. So happy hatching to you all. I enjoy so much watching mama and chicks, much more intertaining than TV.

 

[NotAFarm]

Quote:
I agree!! I just love watching them show them whats good to eat and how the chicks climb on mom and snuggle with her.

 

[GoChick]

My little Australorp has not left the nest since last Sunday. She has water and food right next to her, but yesterday she has not eaten at all - I'm not sure if she had any water. She hasn't pooped for a week now, unless she's done inside the nest, but I guess she didn't, as there's no foul smell at all. Should I pull her out of the nest so I can check out if I need to do any major clean up there, or do I just let her be? So far I've not interfered, just gave her some boiled eggs, left chicken feed and water nearby, but one week without her pooping is starting to worry me... She's inside a nest box within an extra large dog crate, so I know she hasn't gone out... What should I do?

 

[eleanorkay]

Here are some pictures of the new chicks with their mamas enjoying the sunshine with their mamas (less than a week old). I want to thank everyone on this thread that helped me so much.

 

[SarahIrl]

Here you go: my two broodies: one has her own chicks, one I have bought chicks for as her eggs weren't going so well..

Mama with her own two (one hidden but identical)

and sitting on eggs-now-chicks:

 

[Miss Lydia]

very sweet pictures. love to see mama's with their babies

 

[stonykill]

My Broody Sumatra (Black Broody) is on day 10. Almost 1/2 way there!

 

[Miss Lydia]

can't wait to see more baby pictures..