Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[aussieheelr]

I have a broody BCM right now that I think has 11 eggs under her. She's in lock down now if I counted right. And I have 2 Hatchery RUNNER DUCKS that are broody on 7 duck eggs and 6 turkey eggs I placed under them. I've always heard that the runners are like the Leghorn of the duck world (Great layers and don't go broody) Well I guess when mother nature says hatch babies they don't care what breed they are

 

[CrazyerThanAverage]

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I have 1 month and almost 2 month old chicks (+ another just started broody) in with my flock, so I have been working on that issue. Currently I am still feeding my adult birds Layer pellets. My layer pellets are in hanging feeders that the chicks can't reach (yet). The chicks have shown no interest in the oyster shell/egg shell mix (which they can get to), but it is not a finely ground mix - I think the peices are big for them to eat. If I notice them eating it, I will have to move it out of reach. On the recomendation of my feed store, I give my chicks Turkey/Gamebird Starter crumbles. (Higher protein & minerals to get them off to a good start.) I keep the big birds out of the chick feed with a creep I built. The chicks fit under the bottom rail, but the big girls don't. (Although they certainly try!)

I found it wasn't quite wide enough (it is amazing how far they can strech their necks when food is involved!) so I placed it against a wall and put the food against the wall also. I use the waterer to pin the feeder to the wall so the chicks can't move it. Seems to be working now. After the chicks are 4 months old (or when they can reach the hanging feeders), I am thinking I will be switching the Layer Pellets to Turkey/Gamebird pellets. They are smaller than the Layer Pellets (so easier for the young birds to eat) and safe for everyone (older than 4 months including layers) to eat. They cost a little more, but that seems to be what I need to do to keep everyone healthy in a mixed age flock. I'd love to hear other folks solutions.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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OK when the chicks hatch they have medicated chick crumb. At this stage they are still alone with mamma.

At about 6 - 8 weeks I move them into a sectioned off bit of the main chicken run and swap the babies on to medicated grower's pellets. About now Mama decides to move out and the big hens start fluttering over the fence to enjoy the grower's. There is oyster shell on the big girl side of the fence.

By the time the babies are pullets (16 - 18 weeks), they have all spent time with each other, I'm fed up of feeding expensive grower's to the laying hens, and the teenage pad is getting awfully small

. So I just take away the middle bit of fence.

For a little while the babies aren't too sure about where they want to sleep, but after a week or so I can take away the teenage pad with ipod docking station and pizza menu!

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

Is it normal for a broody hen to have eggs in different stages of development?


I candled the 30 eggs that are under the two broodies in my barn and only two are looking like they are duds the other 28 are in different stages of development and at least two looked like they were very close to the end of development.
So will those # do you think my broodies will continue to sit even after they hatch out a chick or two (only two looked like they would be close to lock down)?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Most hens once the chicks absorb all the yolk will leave the nest which takes about 2 days. They need to start eating and drinking then.

 

[AlbionWood]

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Why medicated chick starter? I thought you didn't need that for broody-raised chicks.

I am hoping for a method that avoids keeping the young ones separated from the main flock for that long.

 

[Chicklette 1]

Anybody out there near Lex. Ky have a bantie baby they can part with. Had to bring one in the house and the other eggs did not hatch. The mothers were not watching it and it started to keep walking where I think it would have been a big problem. Now I need another 2 day old or so to keep with it. My other chicks are a month old and are way too big. I do not care what kind just so long as it is small. Hurry please........thank you

 

[featherz]

I am just feeding everyone flock raiser now that I have mixed age groups with oyster shell for the layers. So far, so good.

 

[NellaBean]

Here is chick #3 under the broody.

Chick #4 was zipping earlier also.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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they are adorable, Be interesting to see what the light one with the blk dots on it will look like.
I went out to takes pictures of the ones that hatched yesterday and today and one was zipping so left them alone till tomorrow.