Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[laughingull]

Quote:
bet you have pips during the overnight hours, so the quail that hatched didn't make it? if so i am so sorry.

Thanks Miss Lydia, will cross my fingers for pips followed by healthy chicks. Yep, the wee quail was the cutest ever -poor little one, wish i could have stopped whatever went wrong.

 

[sandracollins]

Hi sorry I havent updated in a while,the 10 call ducklings that I hatched with the B.O. have been in the house under a heat lamp for over a week now boy do then make a mess,I had to get the vet to put one to sleep on Thursday because he could never walk he rolled everywhere ,he was growing like all the rest but we had to make sure he ate and drank and the others were walking and picking on him,I tried the vitamins and niacin and the vet even did acupuncture for three days but there was no improvement. I have 7 more call duck eggs under a Silkie cross due today ,one is out already 3 had pipped externally and I just made the hole a little bit bigger so they can breath and the other 4 are in the air sac so I will be keeping a close eye on them today. I promise I will post photos when they stick their little heads out.

 

[featherz]

My little pullet broody is still sitting. She's kicked out several bloodring eggs, so she's a smart little broody too. Less than a week to go! I'm pondering on whether to separate her or not. I'd prefer to leave her with the flock due to space issues and set up a little nipple waterer close to the floor (I have several) and a little food dish. But we shall see. It's my first broody hatch so who knows what will happen. I also have eggs in the bator due to hatch in two more weeks JUST in case nothing she has hatches and she's still broody.

 

[AKsmama]

My cuckoo Marans that played around with being broody a few weeks ago (she sat 3 days and quit) is at it again. Maybe she will stick with it this time, after seeing my mama Black Star with her 5 chicks. This Marans can make herself flatter than any pancake I have ever seen!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Good morning everyone, Glad to hear from you sandra, congrats on the great hatch, sorry you lost one

keep us updated on the ones hatching out today.. and would love to see some pictures of these calls as ducklings.

featherz, she will probably do fine in with the rest, not many will mess with a mama hen and chicks. as long as she has a little privacy from the others in the coop.

Aksmama, hope your cuckoo means business this time, looking forward to hearing, and congrats on your blk star and chicks...

 

[VioletBlueIvy]

Hello, sorry to butt in here, I have a problem that you broody experts may be able to help me with. My OEGB hen went broody around Easter, in the most favored nest box , none of the eggs her own, and ended up with the other hens laying on top of her and causing eggs to get broken ect. so I put her, nest box and all into a dog crate. She has hatched 4, and I have taken two inside since they kept falling out of the nest and getting chilled, two died, one b/c it got behind the box so I couldnt see it to rescue it with the others and one was under her still all wet with most of the eggshell eaten-not sure what happened there. When I took away the two live ones ( 1 silkie and a silkie cross i assume b\\c there was only one silkie egg in the clutch) I gave her the day old that hatched from her egg in my bator. That one has been fine with her. Then because of the carnage I took the last 3 eggs and scraped the poop and mess off them and put them in the incubator. My problem is the SMELL. Those eggs really stink! I think due to the mess on them? I dont want to toss them if they are alive and if they are rotten i dont want them to blow up and ruin the others in there. WHAT DO I DO? Any advice regarding the rest of the problems would be welcomed as well... Thank you

 

[Bookworm chick]

I'm glad this thread was started. I've used broodies from the git-go. However, this time I've bought outside eggs to put under them. I realize that it's risky, but am willing to take the risk. Anybody else have experience with "mail-order" hatching eggs? Any tips?

 

[laughingull]

Day 22 and nothing yet. Also, my hen is still turning the eggs- is that bad? After I took a quick peek under her this am she decided to roll all the eggs over to re-situate them- ratz

I guess I shouldn't bug her, just so tempting because all I have to do is give her a gentle lift and she stands up for a 3 second inspection then re-pancakes, and I want to catch any problems early. Wish I had tried harder to candle them so I would know whether she was waiting for anything. Also, is it normal for a hen to eat the hatchlings eggs? There was no sign of the shell from the one quail chick that hatched (and sadly didn't make it) and the poor little one was in perfect condition, dry fuzzy but had a ruptured yolk attached to its belly. Does this mean my hen tried to assist its hatch by snacking its egg off??? Yikes. Really enjoying following everyones broody's and much thanks to those who have provided advice along the way!

 

[hokankai]

We go into lockdown tomorrow!

How does lockdown work with broodies? Just don't take them out for a break or what? 4 days without a poop is a loooong time!

 

[laughingull]

Quote:
Not sure- mine refuses to leave the nest for anything (you should see the icky poo pile!) Wish I could switch her to the "don't turn the eggs" setting though.