Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Booswalia]

Thanks for the info. I guess I better pick up some chick feed and a chick feeder. I think I will keep the door close for a while and just see how it goes. Perhaps I'll make a hide for the chicks to run into should the "clowns" go after them.

 

[mrsmaonaigh]

Quote:
Thank you!

 

[stonykill]

I went on the porch at 10:15pm to listen. I heard a peep! Off to bed...... Maybe she will let me see something in the morning.....

 

[stonykill]

well I took a peak this morning. All she will let me see is a 1/2 of a zippered egg shell she kicked out from under herself. There was a lot of nest sharing and nest stealing at the beginning.... so this hatch will most likely last all day today. Mama S is on high alert. No one...not even me, is going to bug her today! I'll still peak at her later though

 

[harewizard]

I believe I have my first broody!!

She has been sitting in the nest box for 5 days. On day 2, I put some fake eggs under her to see if she would sit. She has been in the nest box ever since. I'm sure she comes out for food and water, as I check once a day and there is always an 'extra' egg under her from one of the other girls! Broody Girl is in the favorite nest box.

So Wednesday night, I bought some fertilized eggs from the auction here and they are on their way!

Last night I moved 'momma to be' to a small coop I had saved in cases like this! She has a brooding area, food and water close by and access to the outside.

I've been reading up alot about this process and am really excited!

Is there anyone that wants to join in hatching?

Momma is a BA.

Lisa

 

[harewizard]

Quote:
Congratulations!

Wow! This is your 3rd broody? I just had my 1st go broody and I'm tickled! This is so exciting!

Lisa

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congratulations harewizard, we all have some in progress I am on my 7th broody hen of the season and first broody duck, so we'll be hatching right along with you. lots going on here so stay in touch and let us know how it's going.

 

[mrsmaonaigh]

Quote:
Congratulations!

Wow! This is your 3rd broody? I just had my 1st go broody and I'm tickled! This is so exciting!

Lisa

It is exciting! This is our first time having broodies too and they hit all at once. Right now we have 8 little fuzzy butts roaming the yard and its so cute! Good luck with your broody!

 

[lockedhearts]

I have 5 broodies right now. 4 Orpingtons and a Coumbian Wyandotte. I have all kinds of eggs shoved under them. The orps are causing the most problems , started out 2 were nest sharing, I finally got those split up, then the second 2 started sharing, I have split them twice and the go back, trying it again. They have broken several eggs doing this

 

[sandracollins]

Well I have had a long week,sorry I haven't kept you posted on the chicken duckling hatch but I have had a really busy week. Sunday night I candled and 2 had pipped into the air sac, I left them until late Monday and made a small hole to let them breath,on Tuesday they had not progressed so I helped them another bit . Late Tuesday they were half out of the shell and she stood on one so I brought 2 into the house.I dont have an incubator as I thought the broody was going to do it all for me

.I put them under a heat lamp and wrapped wet tissue around the shell to try and keep the humidity up. I put a hole in any that had pipped the air sac for longer than 24 hrs and watched them .I have read since that if you have duck eggs under a chicken you should mist them everyday and I didnt do that.The membrane was very dry but all the yolk had been absorbed and if I saw any blood I just stopped and waited a few hours, on Wednesday she pushed 2 out from under her and when I found them one was dead and the other died later,I think they just got too cold

. I left the last 3 eggs under her on Wednesday night and when I checked on Thursday morning they were not progressing with opening the egg so I peeled more shell and 1 popped straight out it had been stuck the next one was out about an hour later but the third one seemed week so I brought it in half out of the shell, it took its time but is fine.I checked on the two with her an hour later and she had stood on one so I took the other one off her, I felt so bad she was clucking and clucking looking for them every where so I went and got her 3 orpington chicks and she took to them fine.So I now have 10 ducklings under a heat lamp in the house 9 are fine but one just keeps falling on its back its 3 days old today I have given him niacin and thiamine in his water but it dosent seem to be helping he just keeps flipping over ,he is strong and manages to eat and drink but I dont know what to do with him

. I know some people say never help but if I didn't I have no doubt I would not have the 10 little fuzzy messy ducklings that I have today but I will never use a B.O. to hatch something so small again she was just too big she squashed 2,pushed 2 out, and 1 died a day after it hatched it was just weak Any one have any ideas on my poor little Flip ?????