Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

I know what you mean stony, I probably have a few more gray hairs after this month is over. One of the chicks trying to hatch seems to be stuck, I'm torn between doing something to help or just waiting till morning and seeing what has happened during the night, It had pipped this morning and when i went to lock everyone up the whole was bigger and I could see the membrane and her the chick but it seems it should have hatched by now. I have never helped a chick before and my dh says leave it alone.

I'm worried. I have 6 Brahma hens and only one has ever gone broody and it was the one hatched here, and the girls that are sitting were hatched here. Guess it does make a difference, my other 5 brahmas are from hatchery stock and my 2 LO are from private breeder but she hatched them in a bator. so it will be interesting to see if they go broody, their just 3 months now.

 

[stonykill]

I've helped a few bator born chicks. One was partially shrinkwrapped, and a wet warm paper towel, held on it for a few minutes freed the little Sumatra up. She is 5 days old now and quite healthy. I would have a hard time not intervening myself.... but would probably wait until morning.

I'm keeping some of my incubated Sumatra's. They are hatched from eggs of broody born girls. So I'm hoping they also become broodys. It is all very interesting. I do like the idea of my personal flock being born from broodys.

 

[Hope119]

Quote:
Thank you!

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I wanted to post an update on the grafting of 1-week-old chicks under my broodies. I put two of the chicks under them after dark last night. The chicks peeped a bit, and the broodies clucked softly. This morning, two little heads were popping out from under the mamas. By afternoon, the chicks were climbing all over them. I am calling it a resounding success!

Tonight, I will put my other four chicks under them, and turn off the brooder light. I look forward to a night without lights and chick sounds in my bedroom.

 

[AlbionWood]

We thought the eggs under our Speckled Sussex broody - a first-year bird - weren't going to hatch, for several reasons, so we got 4 chicks from the feed store, about a week old, and put them under her. At first she just looked confused, but soon settled down on them and now they are all comfy:

She even lets them peck at her:

So my wife went out to check on them, and found a broken eggshell sitting in front of the hen. Empty, no yolk... because the chick hatched and was under mom! No pics yet... too shy...

We left the other 4 eggs under her, hoping for more Easter chicks!

Now we have to fret about whether she will show the grafted chicks where to eat and drink, while waiting for her other eggs to hatch... always something to worry about, innit?

 

[azhenhouse]

Quote:
Isn't that the truth.

 

[mskittydjs]

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Here's hoping you had a quiet night!!! Congrats on the grafting!

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Latest baby pics. They are 2 Polish Mix, 2 RIR/Cochin, and 1 Dutch Bantam. Mom is amazing and she has been teaching them all to be chickens. So cute

I have alred detrmined their sexes, one boy and 4 girls, and named them

The two Polish are Billy and Bijou
The 2 RIR are Winona and Ginger
And the Dutch Bantam is Cricket

 

[Miss Lydia]

Orpington Manor, I was thinking about you last night wondering if you had tried it, thats great news. and congrats Albion Woods on the hatched chicks and the adopted ones.

Have a Great Easter everyone and Happy Hatching!!!

and Notingham Chicks, that is the sweetest picture.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

so, 5 out of 6 chicks grafted without incident. The smallest, youngest chick became the object of much pecking, and I found it huddled up in a high corner of the nest box. It is now back in a brooder box with another one of the chicks (so it will have a buddy.) So much for a quiet bedroom. It was nice while it lasted.