Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Chicklette 1]

Quote:
this year I haven't had mamas sharing nest but last year I did, and they did fine shared in raising them and never fought over them at all. you can take them anytime from mamas, but if your friend isn't in any hurry to get them Maybe let mamas have them till they start to feather good 3 to 4 weeks old, that way mama has had a chance to teach them and cuddly them. I really don't think you'll have any problems out of the other chickens, they pretty much respect mamas and their chicks. hey how are your other chicks doing?

That is all good news. The other chick was a single and I put her in with the chicks I had ordered and she has done just great. I named her Peanut because she was only a day or two behind the others but she was very tiny. She has caught up and I can hardly tell her from the other white silkie. How is your hen with the weak legs doing?? So hard to see them when they are not perfect.

 

[mskittydjs]

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Miss Lydia...you crack me up!!! Love that!

 

[hokankai]

Alrighty, one more question for you guys! My broody's eggs are due on Thursday, but I need to add some chicks under her as well. The other chicks will be a few days older than hers...do you think there's a high probability she'll reject them? She'll be a first time BO mommy, if that affects anything.

 

[Chicklette 1]

Quote:
this year I haven't had mamas sharing nest but last year I did, and they did fine shared in raising them and never fought over them at all. you can take them anytime from mamas, but if your friend isn't in any hurry to get them Maybe let mamas have them till they start to feather good 3 to 4 weeks old, that way mama has had a chance to teach them and cuddly them. I really don't think you'll have any problems out of the other chickens, they pretty much respect mamas and their chicks. hey how are your other chicks doing?

That is all good news. The other chick was a single and I put her in with the chicks I had ordered and she has done just great. I named her Peanut because she was only a day or two behind the others but she was very tiny. She has caught up and I can hardly tell her from the other white silkie. How is your hen with the weak legs doing?? So hard to see them when they are not perfect.

Oh Miss Lydia.......I am so sad! Went out to clean the coop and found a perfect dead chicken in the middle of the coop floor. It had no marks on it or any other signs of abuse. I tried to revive it but it was stone cold and really dead. They weren't due to hatch until tomorrow. How could 2 mamas let their baby die?? I am now going to check every hour or so for more chicks as I could hear them peeping in the shell but no pipping yet. I don't know what to think about leaving the babies with them now. Eggs are from my grey blue EE and my silkie roo. This baby was grey and had 5 toes and looked like silkie feathers. If I had only caught it sooner, I could have rushed it to the brooder under the light. I really hate this part!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
That is all good news. The other chick was a single and I put her in with the chicks I had ordered and she has done just great. I named her Peanut because she was only a day or two behind the others but she was very tiny. She has caught up and I can hardly tell her from the other white silkie. How is your hen with the weak legs doing?? So hard to see them when they are not perfect.

Oh Miss Lydia.......I am so sad! Went out to clean the coop and found a perfect dead chicken in the middle of the coop floor. It had no marks on it or any other signs of abuse. I tried to revive it but it was stone cold and really dead. They weren't due to hatch until tomorrow. How could 2 mamas let their baby die?? I am now going to check every hour or so for more chicks as I could hear them peeping in the shell but no pipping yet. I don't know what to think about leaving the babies with them now. Eggs are from my grey blue EE and my silkie roo. This baby was grey and had 5 toes and looked like silkie feathers. If I had only caught it sooner, I could have rushed it to the brooder under the light. I really hate this part!!

But Chicklette 1 maybe something was wrong with it and thats why they got it out of the nest. especially if it wasn't due to hatch till tomorrow. I agree keep an eye on things but do not get involved unless necessary. just my opinon. you make up your own mind of course. so sorry

 

[Chicklette 1]

I thought about them culling it because something might have been wrong but it sure did not look like it. I will just keep a watch on them until bedtime and again early in the morning. Thank you

 

[stonykill]

it is possible they didn't kill it, and it just died. Then they moved it out of the nest.

I mess with broody's as little as possible. They have been hatching eggs for thousands of years longer than we have.

 

[Chicklette 1]

You are right, Stony, I really didn't think about it just not making it. My hens seem very used to me putting my hands under them......they don't even complain anymore but I am just peeking to ensure the safety of the babies. I'm sure they will hatch when I least expect it!

 

[Chicklette 1]

Hundreds of people on line worrying about their hatches...........I had 4 kids and nobody cared when I hatched!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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same here but thank goodness i only hatched out 2 whew!!