Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[NotAFarm]

ebf

And your post is exactly what BYC and this thread are all about.....chicken addicts helping chicken addicts by sharing their experiences.

None of us, well I suppose a few would

, consider themselves experts here. We do consider ourselves enthusiasts though and welcome other enthusiasts to join in. I hope you'll be sharing more of your experiences with us.

Your successful and unsuccessful grafting is the perfect point that many often fail to get, every person's situation is different and the same thing doesn't always work every time. Trial and error is what we all have to perfect!

 

[Marion565]

My first broody (RIR) is almost done, her day 21 is tommorrow (Easter Sunday

) I don't know what to expect, it is kind of nerve wrecking for me. As far as I can tell she has not moved in 21 days so I am a little worried about her. She has water and food available to her at all times and I have kept her seperate in the barn since she was chased off her nest by a snake. I think that was on day 4 of her first try.
Now my other broody (Buff O) is still in the coop, she decided that the highest nest was the one that she would like to raise her babies in, she has only been sitting for 8 days and I caught her off the nest two days ago. The eggs did not get ice cold but she did stay off the nest for about an hour. Now I am not worried that the babies won't hatch (i only gave her two eggs) I just worry about her since she is only 35 weeks old. I want her to be successfull in raising her babies, I ead somewhere that young pullets usually don't have enough bodyfat to sustain them on the nest for that long so I am sure to give her food everyday, along with some tasty treats. She growls at me alot but the treats seem to disappear LOL.

This is a great learning experience for me and I am hopeing that I will continue to have broodys once or twice a year so I can have a self sustaining flock in my yard.

 

[elbowbayoufarm]

Notafarm,

Thanks for the welcome! We originally got chickens beacause my youngest daughter was crazy about them. Now my husband says that I like them more than our daughter. They sure are addicting!

Marion565,

Two of my broodies that hatched chicks were under a year old, both about 7-8 months old. I worried about them too as I wasn't sure they were getting up to eat and drink. I finally managed to catch them at different times during their daily feeding/drinking/bathroom trip. They look fine now that they are up with their chicks. My third broody that did not manage to hatch any chicks did get off her nest more. She was also in a higher level nest box, and I think other hens were running her off the nest. Next time I would definitely try to move her as I think the eggs got cold too many times. Who knows though then she might not have stayed on the relocated nest. Good luck with your hatch! It definitely is nervewracking, especially for us first timers!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey ya'll I have to tell you how awesome it was to go out to the coop a few minutes ago and look under one of my 5 hens who is brooding and see a new chick and also see a pip and pick up another egg [which I about dropped because the chick was peeping so loud inside the egg] I have never heard that before. this is so exciting.. I heard a chick inside another egg under another one of my broodys too. Oh my gosh How amazing. Congrats to everyone whos' hatching and already hatched and who is hatching to come !!! God Bless you all

honestly I'm not crazy just eggcited..

forgot to say welcome to elbowbayoufarm!!!!

 

[mskittydjs]

Congratulations Miss Lydia!!! I can't wait to see little faces peeking out and hear those little (or in your case, loud) peeps!!! Please post some photos if you can! Love to see the newest additions to a family!!!

 

[Zoomom]

Congratulations on all the new chicks!

what a fun Easter present.

Now I am a bit worried about my 6 eggs as I have a second hen trying to take some eggs and share the nest box, then when she got up, the original broody didn't take the 2 eggs under her right away. I stuffed them under her - they were still warm, but I hope this doesn't mean I won't get a hatch.

 

[Miss Lydia]

you'll still get a hatch, at the beginning some of mine were doing that too, I just checked on the often[ one nice thing about being retired] and put them back.

 

[stonykill]

so one of my 8 black Sumatra hens has been giving the broody signs, and laying ON TOP OF Mama S...my blue Sumatra broody. At 7:30 this morning Mama S got up for her daily run. The Black one took over her nest and is still there. Mama went to the other nest in the front porch. UUGGG! I've decided if the new potential Black Sumatra broody stays on the eggs, Mama S get 5 eggs from the incubator that hatch tuesday. Well tuesday is day 21. They will most likely start hatching either tomorrow or monday.

It's like a chicken soap opera!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Them girls are crazy stony kill.

I have a big Brahma hen who was determined to knock another off her nest but I was more persistant than her. At least you have a consolation prize for your girl. I didn't. Happy hatching. Hey and how bout your ducks that are hatching?

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
They are crazy girls! The 1st broody this year "Black Broody" or Mama B as I started calling her, was EVIL whenever ANYONE came near her. She chose the favorite nest box as hers! No chicken dared to come near her. Mama S is a mellow girl. She gets pushed around.

My duck eggs are peeping, a few a wiggling, and still the 3 pips. They are due on Monday. I suspect a few will be out later today. They are Pekins from a friends ducks.

It's hatch craziness around here