Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[harewizard]

Quote:
Anna,

Great Pics!

Thanks for sharing.

How old are the chicks? I'm sorry if you've stated before, I'm rather new here and haven't read thru all the posts.

They all look like a happy family!

Ernest and the Aunt don't bother the babies or Momma?

Lisa

 

[harewizard]

Quote:
KYChixMama,

What a wonderful experience! Oh, Thanks so much for sharing. This is my first time with a broody and you've eased alot of fears!
PLease get a pic of Bob... I would love to see "Bob the baby chick Sitter!"

Lisa

 

[broodytood]

Quote:
I saw a vid the other day about a 8-12wk old roo that had eaten something moldy. He was wobbling like a drunk. He made a full recovery but I'm not 100% sure what treatment was.

 

[harewizard]

Quote:
Miss Lydia,

I found this on another forum concerning wobbly legs. Maybe it might be of some help?

http://www.thepoultrysite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12786

I'm sorry Momma is having a hard time and you are worried.

Hopefully, she just needs to stretch out her leg muscles after sitting for so long?

Lisa

 

[Sudsy Chick]

I am adoring the pics of new chicks on here!

And would also love to see Bob the chick-sitter!

I tried candling last night; looked at two and wasn't sure what I was seeing? Honestly - the shells are so dark all I could see was a blob - no veins or anything. And Miss Panda was not happy with my taking eggs from under her, and I was sort of squeamish to tell the truth. What if I dropped one? What if I think it is no good and get rid of it when it is? Ack! I decided to let mom be mom and push them out if they are bad! They both seem to be pretty smart about the whole thing anyway... and I've got none of the genetics to help LOL

ps - I used a cardboard box with a circle cut out of it and a super bright headlamp. perhaps just did this incorrectly? Still more afraid of my fumbling than mama not knowing what to kick out!

 

[Equine_Angel]

Wow...I did not think that I was going to have a broody hen, but low and behold.....I HAVE A BROODY HEN!!!! How exciting!! She is sitting on 9 eggs and I noticed that this morning she was off of them to go and eat/drink and possibly go to the bathroom. Of course, she has become broody in the highest nesting box there is, but I do not want to move her and cause her distress, since this is her first time.

I am unsure of what day she is on, possibly Day 6 or 7. We still have a long way to go. When she was off the eggs this morning, I did put more bedding around the eggs to keep them warm. It is amazing to feel how hot those eggs are.

Here is the thing though...would the chicks be deformed if they are bred within the same family lines? We have one SLW rooster and two Australorp roosters. The hen is an australorp and I am worried that if she was bred with the other two Aust roosters, the chicks may not be okay. The breeding thing is new to me. Any advice on this?

Anyhow, I am quite excited, but I told Mamma that she must take care of the chicks. I am already taking care of 65 new chicks myself, including my own pregnancy

HA HA HA HA...

Pics of the new Mama to follow..

One more thing...should I tag her somehow so I know that she is a broody girl? Put nail polish on her comb?

Here she is:

 

[farmerChef]

Don't mind the little blue in the back, she

is BBean's chick from my 4/21 hatch, she's as big as the little ones. One of the BR chicks died, found it cold and almost dead, mamma ignoring it, and tried to save it, but, it died. I think BBean is 1/2 banty because all her chicks are small.

 

[Zoomom]

Hatching started! I had a pip lat night around 7pm, then the chick hatched around 9 pm and was peeping his head off, then this morning at 6 am there were two chicks.

Both are Easter Eggers from either a blue or green egg. They are both yellow chicks. One shell was green for sure as I saw it.

Hopefully the pic works....

 

[Zoomom]

Great pics everyone! Love seeing the mommas doing such a good job.

 

[BarefootMom]

So funny thing happened...

Iris my EE that we had to remove from the baby chicks...well she flew into the coop with my 100+ 6 week old pullets and is happy as a lark. Whatever. lol

My silkie is being a great adopted mama and both ducks are doing well on their nests.