Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

laughingull, are you absolutely sure she hasn't gotten off? I have one that is sitting for the second time and I have only managed to see her off a couple of times, when chicks hatch and she takes them out for the first time usually around day 3. you can go in and give the nest a good cleaning. My hen is only sitting on 3 eggs, hey for a first time mom thats enough. They have what to do instilled in them, hopefully she'll be fine. I did take mine off the nest today and she walked straight up an into the pop door and right back on to the nest. hatch day the 19th. Please let us know how it goes and when they start to hatch

congrats!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I use a regular sharpie, guess it wouldn't hurt to use a food grade marker but i haven't seen any problems with the regular.

 

[laughingull]

Quote:
Thank you Miss Lydia! Yep, pretty sure she hasn't budged from the nest. At first when I put her in the hutch she was scared to walk on the wire bottom so I covered it w newspaper for her and the newspaper is still completely clean. The food remains untouched untill I hand feed her and no water vanishes unless I beg and hold it to her beak - then she humors me with a few sips. I would be more worried but she does perk up to eat fresh baby chard leaves.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well she only has a few more days and then the fun begins, try getting her to eat some scrambled eggs and yogurt and mine love mealworms. all have protien which they need right now. and possibly tomorrow you might be able to hear chicks if you put an egg up to your ear. let us know.

 

[laughingull]

Quote:
Great- thank you! Will try meal worms, yogurt and eggs this evening - maybe that will get her motivated for a real meal. Afraid she will be so hungry she will either be too weak to care for the wee ones or that she will eat them as they hatch! I will keep my ear out for peeping eggs - I tried candling one at around day 8 but could see nothing through the thick green shell - havnt touched the eggs since, though I peek under her each day just to make sure there are no broken messes.

 

[Miyashi]

Thanks, I figured it was okay...I just wasn't sure and I wanted to be sure!

 

[stonykill]

Quote:

I just love that! I only peek when my Broody's are off the nest. My Sumatra's LOVE to peck me HARD if I try to move them. I wear thick gloves to handle them.

My 1st broody this year....one of her eggs YELLED at me when I lifted it to put it to my ear.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

I just love that! I only peek when my Broody's are off the nest. My Sumatra's LOVE to peck me HARD if I try to move them. I wear thick gloves to handle them.

My 1st broody this year....one of her eggs YELLED at me when I lifted it to put it to my ear.

I do too, last year i never thought to listen, then someone mentioned it on here and when i heard the chick peeping i almost dropped the egg. It was so cool~

 

[laughingull]

Quote:

I just love that! I only peek when my Broody's are off the nest. My Sumatra's LOVE to peck me HARD if I try to move them. I wear thick gloves to handle them.

My 1st broody this year....one of her eggs YELLED at me when I lifted it to put it to my ear.

Wow- Yelled? I might just have to pick one up. My hen very cooperatively stands up when I lift her and watches me check her eggs (grumbling only slightly)- she has made no move to peck me at all and seems to like getting treats and her head scratched and generally being spoiled while she holds steadfast to the nest. Hope this doesnt mean she wont be good at defending any wee ones that might hatch out?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Oh yes she will. kinda like a mama bear.. unless she low hen on the roost then she might not be as fiesty. But my smallest frizzles chicks are 5 weeks old and she is still jumping on anyone who comes around her babies.