Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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Oh please rethink taking the chicks away from their mamas, they have faithfully sit on those eggs for 21 days then you go and take their chicks, how sad. sometimes they get stepped on but more times they make it and mama does such a great job...

 

[countrygirl911]

hi my girl is doing a good job from the day i noticed her sitting she should have 9 more days unless she started sitting before i saw her which should only be by a day or two so we are close and i am so ready to see her with her babies she has 4 eggs i hope she gets at least one baby. would have gave her more but there is only enough room for 4 more chicks in the coop will post a picture of her later

 

[Miss Lydia]

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[kannna]

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hey just wondering if the chick hatched out yet?

Not yet. Still hopeful though. It's day 21 today. I am determined to stay out of it and let nature take it's course. The little one born yesterday is doing great. She's all over the place.

So.....The other egg did not hatch and is very quiet.

It never pipped. I am sad but am happy we got at least 1 out of the three we had. I have left the egg in there and will probably take it out this afternoon when I get home from work. The one chick that did make it is doing great. She was taught how to eat and drink yesterday by mom Betty which was the sweetest thing to watch. She is totally not afraid of me and will run right up to me. She also has some sort of fascination with pecking Betty in the eye.

 

[retiredwithchicks]

OK, checked on my 3 boodies sitting on one nest this morning and about a dozen babies are running around in there. I tried to put in some chick feed and got about flogged by 2 mommies. Spilled the food but maybe there is enough in there for them to eat until they are taken outside to forage around the fenced in area when I can safely add some to house. Like I needed more silkies, have them coming out everywhere. Got to sell some chicks!!! I have about 50 right now plus about that many buff orps.

 

[L0rraine]

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Glad to have found this thread and hear that others play musical chairs with their broodys' eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Glad to have found this thread and hear that others play musical chairs with their broodys' eggs.

I always play muscial eggs with my broodys the chicks never look like their mamas. lol

 

[Chicklette 1]

I have had musical nests and musical broodies for two months now and I am exhausted from it! I still have 2 that insist on sitting on air in a nest together and every day they steal all the eggs from the other hens. I take them both out to the pen and put them in front of the treats I bring just to air them out. While they are out, I pick up all the eggs. It is very warm here now in KY. and the two of them are making each other even hotter. I set up a fan in the coop for them (and the others). This is my first broodie season and I am amazed by the hens! It is like a 3 ring circus. I managed to get 2 chicks out of it but it was a first time for all of us and the 2 are from different hatches. All these problems that everyone is chatting about are sooooooo familiar. I do believe that next year will be easier for all of us!

 

[Equine_Angel]

How long will Mamma hen keep the chicks underneath her? I have only seen one chick peep out of the chest, but I have not seen them come out completely.

 

[stonykill]

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I've had them stay under for around 48 hours. Some roam around sooner....giving mom a headache. Others sit tight for up to 2 days. Be patient...she will let you see them.