Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

ohh, she will. My Blue Sumatra chose to nest on our enclosed front porch. Well her AND the 3rd broody who hatches soon. Anyway, Blue Mama B puffs up and attacks our legs once in a while as we walk outside. My 18 year old son found it so funny he made it his Facebook status.
My little blue Sumatra Hen "blue" tried to dustbathe near Mama B yesterday. Mama B ran her off pronto!

 

[laughingull]

Quote:
I hope so, though yes she is definitely the bottom of the pecking order in my coop of three (the funny part is that she is twice as big as my other hens- a gentle giant who gets kicked around by my fiesty little leghorn).

 

[laughingull]

Quote:
Fiesty! I saw your pic of Mama B - she is lovely!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
Fiesty! I saw your pic of Mama B - she is lovely!!!!!!!!!!!

TY, she is a beautiful girl. "blue" looks just like her, but is a Bantam Sumatra.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

I don't mind the broodys going broody. But the production BR? She's broody even after 3 ice clutches. So her sister is broody also. Argh! They are moving tonight. Now to get them eggs.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

My broody momma is doing perfectly raising her five baryard mixes within the flock. Here are some pics from this week.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

Quote:
Lucky you

 

[annaraven]

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

So, the chicks were born on or around cinco de mayo. Aunt Stella loves Buffy and can't stand being separated from her. She even goes in to the brooder pen when it's open for Buffy and the chicks to go out and lays her egg in there. Buffy doesn't seem to mind Stella or Ernest around the chicks. The other chickens though - watch out. She'll go after them if they get too close.

Yesterday, Ernest was laying in the run watching the chicks, and Buffy walked up to his side, scratched his side a couple times, and then hopped on his back! (I didn't get to my camera quick enough cuz I was laughing too hard.) At one point Ernest was being a little insistent on sniffing the chicks and Mama Buffy pecked his nose and he backed off FAST. He respects Buffy!

 

[Terri O]

I heard some peeping under my moskovy yesterday. She has hatched a tiny little chick (of the chicken variety I believe) She had chicken, guinea and duck eggs under her! A hen sometimes shares the nest so I hope she will be the one to take the chicken babies off and let the duck sit long enough to hatch her babies. It is so hard when all the birds want to use the same next...
Well I better fo lock up for the night! Good luck hatching! TErri O

 

[harewizard]

Quote:
Hi Dawng,

I'm just now catching up on the posts. I'm sorry you had a hard time candeling.

I was hoping you would share all your expertise!!

I keep going back and forth with the idea of candeling vs. letting Momma just do her thing. I mean this IS the circle of life, right? We are on Day 5 today!

Why does it take so long?? LOL!~

Lisa