Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Equine_Angel]

I noticed yesterday that my broody hen was off of her eggs for most of the day and then when i checked on the eggs at night, a new hen has taken over. Will the eggs be okay after so many hours of not being sat on?

Now all my other hens are getting all broody but not incubating any eggs. They are just sitting in their nesting boxes...funny girls.

 

[klf73]

well, my girls made the decision for me. went to check on her at 10a.m. and she was off the next. There was one poor little balled up wet chick in the nest. I thought it was dead. I picked it up and it gasped. I brought it in and put it in the brooder. thought it was dead and rubbed it, put it back and it gasped again. It started gasping more frequently and now it's hanging out with the oegb chicks that hatched a couple days ago (they have feed and water, I just need to shift my brooders around). I will probably put it back with mom when it can walk better. I checked the rest of the eggs a few minutes ago(they were cold so I just tossed them in bator till I got home) and all are still alive, one pipped the air cell and 2 look to be on day 18. So, she has 12 chicks under her, what is average? she is an ameraucana..

 

[featherz]

Well, so far my worries are unfounded, my broody has not left the nest all day today with her pips and none of the other hens have muscled her out yet. Maybe they know what's going on?

I saw more pips, too. She's only got five eggs and I think there are three pips. She's very nice, actually. She fusses and snaps when I check the eggs, but no screeching and I only get snapped at if I stay at it more than a few seconds.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Hermione is very pretty, and wish you luck that this time you get all the chicks you want. keep us updated!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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that sounds like alot of chicks, you mean she has 12 chicks under her now or 12 eggs? thank goodness you found the chick when you did it would have been a gonner probably.

 

[featherz]

Woot! I have a baby!

Peeked under mom again and saw a broken eggshell. Had to rummage around under her a lot and got pecked for my trouble but she's got a little fuzzy grey baby under there and another zipping.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey I just checked under my mama and found one hatched and one pipped and peeping!!!! tiny little bantam eggs.
Congrats featherz

 

[klf73]

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that sounds like alot of chicks, you mean she has 12 chicks under her now or 12 eggs? thank goodness you found the chick when you did it would have been a gonner probably.

she has 12 chicks, I have the the 13th in the brooder now and one is going to hatch later today or tomorrow....guess I should keep these guys inside? would the 2 more be too much?

 

[Chicklette 1]

Well, my one baby is doing good with it's 2 mothers and there are2 more eggs under them but I do not think they are good. Going to give them another day or two. I hope it will be ok to raise just the lonely chick with the mothers. I will definitely not bring it in because it would be alone. My others are a month old so I'm sure I couldn't mix it in now. Was hoping for at least one more to keep it company. My friend who was going to get this hatch is out of luck! Oh well, we'll hopefully give it a rest now. I'll try to post a photo of the little ball of fluff!

 

[Fuffy]

Awwww!!!!!

I WANY BABY CHICKIES!!!!!

Congrats!!!!!

And thanks, Miss Lydia