Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[featherz]

Quote:
She looks so sweet under there.

She's only 8 months old, so we'll see if she sticks to it, but she loves that under the box space! Good thing, as I only have three boxes in that coop and need them all.

 

[Chicklette 1]

Well, my 1 silkie chick that I have from a hatch is doing great with all the other chicks I had ordered. It was so much fun watching and waiting that I decided to put 3 blue eggs under my broody black and silver cochin bantam. I realized her eggs are probably fertile because I saw my silkie roo catch her. Started on the 26th and counting. Thank you all for your help with the first hatch earlier this month. It is somewhat stressful thinking about where to put them and when to move them, etc, etc. but is is so much gosh darn fun waiting for them to hatch. Problem is that I don't really need more chicks but couldn't resist the temptation to use the broody. Hope everyone else out there has a good hatch! To be continued........

 

[Miss Lydia]

Chicklette I need more chicks like I need a hole in the head, but it's so hard to say no when they are so persistant.

Happy to hear your little silkie is fitting right in.
hippiehen, I thought 7 was alot, but spring has just sprung so who knows. well keep us updated on who and when.. after yeateday I'm thinking spay and neuter for chickens might be in order

I just did another float test and only had to toss 1 the other 6 still floating. so if my calander is right, tomorrow is the day.

we're up to 10 new chicks since April 6th.

 

[mel1236]

hi, i'm very new to this, 2 of my 3 hens got broody, i have two chicken coops one large and one smaller, they have never layed in the smaller one, they took up home in the large coop, yesterday we found 2 empty shells, this morning i found a newborn dead, this afternoon i have a day old chick in their enclosure, i have a cock that keeps pecking the newborn, what do i need to do, i was thinking i could move the larger coop that they are in upto the summer house, not sure what to do really, should i be using heat as i had presummed she would keep them warm herself but now i'm worried that maybe the dead one had got to cold, any advice or help would be much appreciated, i never planned to have babies but i guess mother nature had other ideas

 

[Miss Lydia]

can you move either mama and chick to the smaller coop and keep them in for a few days with food and water? or move the other ones to the smaller coop, most of the time roosters don't bother chicks but yours is so i would do something before this ones dies. Is she sitting down letting it go under her? also be sure to feed the chick chick feed not layer feed.

 

[featherz]

well, my bird is still flattened under the nestbox, panting due to the heat. You'd think she'd go cool off with the others, but noooo. She's 6 inches from the water, but I put a dish of water and a handful of food under her nose and she's chowing down and looks better. Also put a few fake eggs under her to see if she'll stay broody. I suppose I should have an incubator ready just in case she quits on me but I have a few mutt eggs I'll throw under her if she's really broody and stays there!

I wish the heat would make up its mind. 80 one day, 22 the next. argh.

Anyways, so far I still have a broody!

 

[AKsmama]

Four of mine have pipped! I know we have a long way to go, but I am as excited as if my own sister were giving birth or something

Now if they all just make it out ok. . . gosh, how do they get dried off under the mama? It's so smooshy and hot under there. I've asked DH togo get the brooder from the storage building so we can have it if we need it. Gotta go get chick food. . . clean up the brooder. . . tear up some sheets, boil some water. . . (not really, but that's what I feel like as I sit here and think about it!) I am going crazy, how do you guys hatch so often, I'd be a nervous wreck, and I'm not the one doing any of the work this time!

 

[michpetea]

We're waiting on a hatch (7/8 developed). I have 3 broody girls. I have another hatch (8 eggs x 5 days) that I divided between the other girls. They are banty crosses that I adopted last summer. Seem to love the job of egg sitting. I have a question about my chick that has pipped today. Noticed the egg pip and peep early this morning (6am) and by lunch it was a triangle. Now she is about 20% out, but a lot of membrane still remains (seems thicker than normal and very white) We also noticed a bit of blood, should I be worried? the mama has been eating little bits here and there. I figure she knows what she is doing. Anything I can or should do?

 

[Miss Lydia]

michpetea, one of mine was doing the same last Sat. and I was so close to helping but my dh says wait till in the morning andif still the same then help and on Sunday there was the chick ,so might want to just sit on your hands. and blood is normal too. What you said is right mama knows what she's doing.
AKsmama, congratulations on pips!!! don't think you'll need the brooder unless you just want to take the chicks from mama, she'll do fine, they have been hatching longer than us..

Best to just leave them alone and let them take care of it. Go boil some water and have a nice cup of tea..

or coffee.

bet when you go out tomorrow you'll have chicks!

 

[michpetea]

Chick is out, but still has part of shell attached. I see the umbilicus with a little bit of yolk sac still attached. She is drying out under mama, but not as vigourous as I hoped. I'm just leaving her there with mama, but am worried that the other eggs not hatched will be rolled onto her tonight.