Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Spitman]

Well another hatched out of incubator today, I put her under my broody hen tonight. She excepted the 2 I put under her last night . Total of 5 chicks now . It's Awsome to watch them come in and out from under her it's so cool and the chicks seam to be way better ajusted , ( confident ) then when I have raised them. Hope she will start bringing them out of the box soon

 

[dkcrumly]

Here are the first 3 chicks hatched!

I have had 5 out of the original 9 hatch and they are doing great! (After candling, I disposed of 4 of the eggs this past week) I hope to get a good photo of all 5 tomorrow. These are from shipped bantam Araucana eggs, hatched by my bantam Cochin

 

[broodytood]

Quote:
Just popping in from lurking and wanted to say that your pic is sooo nice! Great color and detail! Beautiful babies!

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
Congrats!

How is it that baby chicks just keep on making us smile?!

My little ones are 4 weeks old today. And they are REALLY ugly: All leggy with bits of down and feathers sticking out at odd angles.

All doing really well and very active despite yesterday's monsoon-like weather!

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
Congrats!

How is it that baby chicks just keep on making us smile?!

My little ones are 4 weeks old today. And they are REALLY ugly: All leggy with bits of down and feathers sticking out at odd angles.

All doing really well and very active despite yesterday's monsoon-like weather!

ahhh, yes, the awkward teenage years....... I have 11 going thru them right now......

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:

great news again!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
That is a sweet picture, love it

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Congrats!

How is it that baby chicks just keep on making us smile?!

My little ones are 4 weeks old today. And they are REALLY ugly: All leggy with bits of down and feathers sticking out at odd angles.

All doing really well and very active despite yesterday's monsoon-like weather!

ahhh, yes, the awkward teenage years....... I have 11 going thru them right now......

I have them too and my duckling also.

I now have 7 roos out of 16 chicks hatched this spring. still not sure about the last 5 the youngest.

 

[Niss]

Quote:
I'm only on page 35, but I have a question I really want answered...feel free to refer me to the proper page if this had come up.

How big should the nest be? I have my broody is a 3x3 rabbit cage that is just high enough for her to walk around in. I have her nest in a box that seems the right size for her and the eggs, but the only one to hatch was dead when I found it. It was half out of the membrain...did she smush it? It didn't look pecked. Do I need to give her more room? What went wrong? I'm guessing the other eggs won't hatch, but every one seems to say it's trial and error learning, but if I know what the error is it will speed things up

Also, her comb is still nice and red. She gets off the nest daily to eat and scratch. Is it safe to give her new eggs? The only line I've found on hatchlings is bantums and I'd really rather not have more of those.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
ahhh, yes, the awkward teenage years....... I have 11 going thru them right now......

I have them too and my duckling also.

I now have 7 roos out of 16 chicks hatched this spring. still not sure about the last 5 the youngest.

I have a confirmed 5 roo's so far out of 12 that are old enough to sex. I have suspisions on others being roo's, but I need to wait a little longer to confirm that......