Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[azhenhouse]

Love all the pictures.

 

[stonykill]

whew...... glad I got home when I did. Black Broody abandonned her ramaining eggs, and was teaching the little guy below to eat. The trouble is...ONE OF HER ABANDONED EGGS IS HATCHING! So I distracted her with one of yesterdays newborn (incubated) Sumatra's, and took her last 3 eggs. She called her 3 chicks (yes 3, I was too busy to get the pic) and the 4th, the one I added didn't know what to do. So she let me tuck the baby under her wing. I told her I'll bring her her babies after they hatch. The one in the pic was born on day 19, today is day 21.... So I feel she only left her eggs, because she had a little rascal who wouldn't sit still. This is the little girl (I hope) that I saw earlier.

 

[Miss Lydia]

very pretty looks just like it's mom

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
thanks! I've never hatched a Black Sumatra that had so little white on it as a chick. All my Roo's are Sumatra's, so dad is definately Sumatra. This one is a little trouble maker for mom. It 40 out, and this one is CONSTANTLY not under mom. Always in the food eating.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thats another plus with mom hatching chicks they don't need the warmth as much as bator hatched. It'll get under her when it gets cold..

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
Thanks! Just went out to check and the other three eggs are still there. I was going to bring them in since I just put a 'bator in lock down, but the Silkie egg "yelled" at me, so I put it back!

I *think* the babies are partridge (roo is buff and, as you can see, momma is white), but maybe some of our Silkie experts can tell us more.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think you made a wise choice there quiltnchik, mama will take care of everything.

 

[GoChick]

Quote:
GoChick...if you or your husband are thinking it might be the Collie, then watch her poo over the next day or two...dogs cannot digest the shells and you will have tell tale signs. Also watch her poo for blood...she could have a problem if she did eat all those shells. One of my shepherds ate every bit of our full slab of fajita meat (over 2 pounds worth) and never would I have thought it was her. A dog could do it and not leave a trace behind
. I'll be watching for your post and will be praying for the momma and her new chicks!!

Ok... I need someone to tell me if my plan needs any tweaking:
my husband bought 6 day old chicks at the feed store today. He thinks I should put them under my broody now, so we can watch her during daylight and intervene in case she tries to kill them. My plan, however, is to wait until it gets dark and then take out the fake eggs away from my broody and put the chicks under her. I plan to cover the nest entrance with some cardboard so she can't go out during the night (I did the same when I put eggs under her). I'll take out the cardboard and watch her at dawn tomorrow. I have a feeder with starter food and a chick waterer ready to put in the crate.

So. Should I follow my husband's suggestion of putting the chicks under the broody now, or follow my plan of putting them under her at night? Any other suggestions? I so want this to work... Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I vote for night

 

[azhenhouse]

I went out to check on the news chicks, and they are doing great. Mom is awesome at protecting them. I picked her up, with one of the chicks tucked in her wing...oops, to check on the last two eggs and they are still there. She is faithfully sitting and protecting them along with the two chicks. It was my dumb mistake for adding two eggs to the ones she was already sitting on. I am learning

I believe they were only two days apart so they should hatch out tomorrow. The two babies she has now are very active, so I am hoping she can wait it out.