Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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stony, I was beginning to think that way too, but the other egg was pipped so i thought it would probably be a while till it hatched, took the grandkids to the river to swim for about an hour, when we got back I went straight out to see how things were going, chick was already out and mama had already begun to peck at it. I grabbed it up real quick, brought it in and put it in the plastic container I had the duckling took it out, sprayed vertrycin on it head where the wound is. I don't know what is going on, I have on the calender for the hatch to be this tuesday, could they be early and she just freaked out? I have never had anything like this before. Why would she freak out? So what i need to know is what to do for a brand spanking new chicken still was wet I have it under a heat lamp at 90* do I need to do anything else? it looks pathetic with it's wet feathers doesn't hardly look like it has any. and it's little head got pecked. it did have some blood but the spray washed it off. Is there any thing else I need to do? Thanks. Mamas have always taken care of everything so I am at a loss to help.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
stony, I was beginning to think that way too, but the other egg was pipped so i thought it would probably be a while till it hatched, took the grandkids to the river to swim for about an hour, when we got back I went straight out to see how things were going, chick was already out and mama had already begun to peck at it. I grabbed it up real quick, brought it in and put it in the plastic container I had the duckling took it out, sprayed vertrycin on it head where the wound is. I don't know what is going on, I have on the calender for the hatch to be this tuesday, could they be early and she just freaked out? I have never had anything like this before. Why would she freak out? So what i need to know is what to do for a brand spanking new chicken still was wet I have it under a heat lamp at 90* do I need to do anything else? it looks pathetic with it's wet feathers doesn't hardly look like it has any. and it's little head got pecked. it did have some blood but the spray washed it off. Is there any thing else I need to do? Thanks. Mamas have always taken care of everything so I am at a loss to help.

having incubated enough batches , I can tell you sometimes they come out with few feathers. I've had them come out with basically naked backs. They do look pathetic when they are all wet. It can take 12 to 24 hours before it looks fluffy like a "normal" chick.
So far you have the bases covered. It is warm, and it just needs to dry off and get it's strength up. It will mainly sleep right now. Get up, fall over, stumble, and just look pathetic for a while. Tomorrow teach it to eat and drink. I always do to incubated chicks at the 24 hour mark. I don't know why....but I do and it works.
As to why she would freak out...I don't know, I have never had that happen.
So today is day 19? I have a lot hatch on day 19. Mama has never freaked out. Did you say she is a 1st time broody? And is she from a broody? Just trying to put the pieces together........

 

[NHchicks]

Adding my chick pix, they hatched 3 days ago, but this was them at day #2. Mom is an EE, the eggs were pure Dominique. 4 out of 5 hatched, and I have another broody sitting on 6 bought eggs that are a barnyard mix.

I'm thinking - what am I going to do if these 2 broodies decide to hatch again in the fall? It's going to kill me because I can't keep these chicks as it is, I'm going to have to give them away because I don't have enough coop space, but I don't want to deter broodiness. Last year I had one broody who hatched a large clutch in the spring, and then went broody again in the fall and I just basically shut her out of the coop repeatedly, etc. until she changed her mind about being broody. But it seems so mean when they have their heart set on hatching those eggs...

 

[stonykill]

Lydia, I almost forgot. If you don't already, you want paper towels lining the bottom of the plastic container. Not newspaper or anything slippery. Paper towels work great and make for easy clean up.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Thanks stony about the paper towels, i did remember that from all my reading, I was so stressed out about the duckling and then this I am surprised i remembered my name, she is a first time mom from a broody mostly American Game, looks alot like the Key West chickens if you have ever seen them, high strung but her grandma was an excellent mama, Now that I have had time to look the chick over and see what kind of wounds it has, It actually looks like the skull isn't closed up I don't think it's brain matter that I am seeing but I don't think mama did it either. with her beak she could have put holes in it's head . there was a small amt of blood but it had just hatched so It could have been from that. It has a very strong peep, and has been moving around alot I put the paper towels down then put a small cloth hand towel down to make a little nest for it. it's about 95* in the brooder now is that too warm. I have been keeping it about 90* for the duckling and it's been fine. I think it will be a miracle if it makes it, but the strong peep gives me hope. I guess we just wait and see now. I have the duckling in a plastic container and the chick in another one side by side, I thought it wouldn't be a good idea to have the duckling in with it, she has really gotten so much stronger from her rough start on Friday. Goodness what we go through for our animals.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I am calling it quits now, it's very hard for me to say no, but like you NH I am running out of space, have 2 ducks in a xlarge dog crate in the feed room and I don't have much room to go from there. So they will just have to become unbroody.

Those pictures are very sweet, My problem is I don't want to give them away:/

 

[Mrs. Feathers]

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Mrs. Feathers you are as normal as the rest of us

Thank goodness!

Glad to be in good company.
I think my hubby thinks I am losing it!

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
Thanks stony about the paper towels, i did remember that from all my reading, I was so stressed out about the duckling and then this I am surprised i remembered my name, she is a first time mom from a broody mostly American Game, looks alot like the Key West chickens if you have ever seen them, high strung but her grandma was an excellent mama, Now that I have had time to look the chick over and see what kind of wounds it has, It actually looks like the skull isn't closed up I don't think it's brain matter that I am seeing but I don't think mama did it either. with her beak she could have put holes in it's head . there was a small amt of blood but it had just hatched so It could have been from that. It has a very strong peep, and has been moving around alot I put the paper towels down then put a small cloth hand towel down to make a little nest for it. it's about 95* in the brooder now is that too warm. I have been keeping it about 90* for the duckling and it's been fine. I think it will be a miracle if it makes it, but the strong peep gives me hope. I guess we just wait and see now. I have the duckling in a plastic container and the chick in another one side by side, I thought it wouldn't be a good idea to have the duckling in with it, she has really gotten so much stronger from her rough start on Friday. Goodness what we go through for our animals.

95 is concidered ideal for newborn chickens. Ducks naturally run a high temperature and don't require as much heat.

I keep my incubated chicks in a tote at 90 to 95 degrees for the 1st few days, then gradually drop the temp down. After about 2 weeks I just pull the heat away. I feel, and noticed it seems to help them feather out faster.

I agree, the duckling will be too big to stay with a tiny newborn chick. Maybe in a few days when the chick gains some strength, you can mix them.
We are thinking of you. Good luck!

 

[fish n cheeps]

My sweet little polish girl, Hattie, has been sitting diligently on 9 eggs for three weeks. Went to check on her today and look what I found. My first broody, and first chick hatched here on our little farm, hopefully the rest will hatch also.

apologies for Hattie's sparse topknot. Our roo is no gentleman.

 

[Cindilou]

A few times my broody knocked an egg out of the nest. I originally was putting it back in but today I just threw one out thinking maybe she just has too many under her. She's only had the eggs since 6/1; are the other 2 eggs I put back going to be duds most likely?
Other than that she seems to be doing well. Got off the nest twice today to stretch, eat, drink, poo, then back to the nest.