Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

leave some eggs in the nest box she uses if you haven't already that may spur her on. My little hens hatch day is the 19th so maybe we'll be hatch buddys on this one..

 

[stonykill]

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my 3rd Sumatra broody's hatch is the 16th. Close enough!

 

[Miss Lydia]

sure is, we'll be showing off those baby pics again..

 

[stonykill]

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as soon as mama S lets me see her babies....I'll have pics. In the next few days I'm sure I'll get a peek

All she will let me see now is a few egg shells

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I have 2 hens both sitting on 10 eggs each...one D'Uccle is due on the 21st and the cuckoo Maran hen is due on the 22nd....also a duck on 5 eggs due the 19th....I can't wait... I will get pictures out immediately afterwards...
Good Luck to all of you also.!!

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

I was lucky enough to have my Grandma be my day care giver years and years ago when I was growing up. I spent hours as a child watching her help Mother Nature along. She moved broodie's all the time - if they were early in their cycle. Once the hen was moved, Grandma would always put a bushel basket over them to let them settlle in on the new nest. Worked every time. This afternoon, after I moved my Broodie - I used a box. I'll leave the box over her for the next day or so. I have two broodie's set up in one of my goat barns. The barns can be locked for the night - to keep the girls safe. I'll remove the box tomorrow evening before nightfall and she how she does. The girls have food and water available at all times. The first Broodie in the goat barn - set up housekeeping and the nursery on her own. It is a near perfect environment for a hen and hatching chicks. Smart hen. She is a Bantam Salmon Faverolle. The second hen that I moved today is a Bantum Cochin sitting on SF eggs that I won on Feather Auction. Wish me luck...

Joni

 

[chickette]

Good luck

It sound like you had a great grandma and chicken mentor for broodies!

 

[chics in the sun]

I'm so upset. I swear it looks like not one of the 11 Speckled Sussex eggs I put under my two broodies is developing.

How will I break them out of their broodiness if the eggs never hatch? Sigh......

 

[Domestic_goddess]

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You could try to buy some chicks to put under them...that will make them happy!

 

[mskittydjs]

Hey everyone...congratulations to all those having a pip/zip or hatch and still praying for those that are oh so patiently waiting!!!

Well, I had to clean up some of the stinky poo in the brooder coop so I thought that Cinderella would like to stretch her legs for awhile. I put her on the ground and man, oh man...did she give herself a dirt bath!!!

I didn't think she was ever gonna stop! Well, she was clucking and then the babies started hollering.....Mom...where are you??? Decided to put them down and see what happened. Boy did they have a great time exploring close to her and over her and under her!!! One of them even gave themselves a mini dirt bath just like mom!! I didn't think they would do that yet!

They are so awesome and I am so happy with hatching 7 out of 12 for our very first time! I went out tonight to check on everyone and quess what.......I think I have my RIR girl Nutmeg trying to go broody now!!!

I hope it isn't tooooo contagious since I have a total of 29 hens!

If it is, I guess hubby won't have to worry about getting a bator!!! I left 3 eggs under her just to see and if she is still there in the morning/afternoon, I will put a few more there and let her just do her thing! I might have to move Cinderella out of the broody cage and move Nutmeg in! Say a prayer for Nutmeg! Please post photos as you see developments! I love the pics!