Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

yep I have peck marks also. Don't ya love it. this is more fun and fulfiling than going shopping[which I hate anyway].

 

[Zoomom]

Now I have both D'Uccle girls gone broody sharing the 6 eggs. Poor Aniera the Silkie is all alone outside, calling and wondering what to do. I hope she doesn't try to fit in the nest as well- there isn't quite enough room for all three girls to be comfortable together. They would be quite squeezed in there, lol....especially when the babies start to get big. (if they hatch!)

 

[Miss Lydia]

after what has been going on here I wouldn't put it past her to try to squeeze in. they are nutty this time of year

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
that's an understatement. I got my Sumatras early this past september. By mid september I had a broody hen on eggs. I had them 2 weeks! Mama S who is sitting now, went broody last fall! I pretty much expect to deal with this until snow flys again......

 

[Whimsy]

To make a long story short, I went back to a part time job two weeks ago. Left the chickens n the care of DH. I knew I had a broody Wyndotte but I had kept her off the nest for two days. DH didn't think to keep Patsy off the nest, so when I discovered her she had been sitting for two days.

I took all her eggs away and a friend and I placed bantam eggs under her. (I have a bantam roo and don't think he fertilizes the LF hens) We marked all the eggs. Fast forward>>>>>I went on a Mission Trip last week for 4 days. Needless to say DH didn't check the broody and when I got back there were 6 eggs that were not hers. I removed them.

I was afraid to move her (actually wasn't prepared) so she is in the regular coop. Hatch date should be May 4. Do you all think I should move her once the chicks

hatch? She is a lower ranked hen and this is the first time I ever had a broody.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's up to you, my hens and chicks are in the main coop with the flock. except for 1 and it's because she wanted to trade her eggs in for already hatched chicks [long story]

 

[azhenhouse]

Our EE egg didn't hatch, and Broody being such a good mom has been sitting on it for for 26 days, while trying to take care of the three that did. So, I went to the feed store, and got two of the only chicks they had left. A Buff Orpingtom and a Wyandotte, both Bantams. I decided two get two since they are so small. Also, if I need to separate them for whatever reason they would have each other. I took away the egg, and put these two very confused chicks in with her. I put them as close to her as I could, and she pulled them in under her. They're hers now, and she is very protective of them. Just ask my hands

They are a little nervous of her, and don't know yet to follow her lead. Will they learn to do so? Will they warm up to her and follow her around like the others do? Also, I have them separated from the other chickens by a baby fence/gate that has no top. Do I need to put something over the top so that the other hens and rooster don't jump into where she, and the babies are?.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I think they will follow her lead in just a couple days. My grafted chicks are now fluent in Chickenese. When the mamas speak, the chicks come running, pronto!!

 

[azhenhouse]

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Well, the grafting thing didn't work. She excepted them at first, but about six hours later she didn't want to have anything to do with them. She kept trying to get them to follow her, but they wouldn't. I guess she just gave up on them. They are in the house now.

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Quote:
Well, the grafting thing didn't work. She excepted them at first, but about six hours later she didn't want to have anything to do with them. She kept trying to get them to follow her, but they wouldn't. I guess she just gave up on them. They are in the house now.

sorry to hear that. the mamas here were teaching bug-ology today. the chicks were very dutiful. too bad I still have two in the brooder.