Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

They look snug as little bugs in there, Miss L!

Love the idea of using the plastic stacking boxes as nest boxes!

Easy to clean and no mites!

[Filed for future reference!]

 

[Tiss]

Quote:
So glad to hear everything worked out. I know mama has her feathers full of chicks and sounds like she is up to the task. We all learn from our mistakes so next time you'll be ready. I have 3 hens that are broody right now and they are in the same next box. To my surprise there was an egg in ther this morning, How another hen managed to lay an egg in that box is beyond me, but there was one in there and when i let everyone out this morning there wasn't. They can be pretty sneaky. The 3 broodys aren't laying. So it just goes to show ya, if theres a will theres a way. always mark those eggs.

Congrats and pictures when ya can...

well I had 3 hens brooding in the nest box this morning and just went in to check and 1 more has decided to join the girls. No eggs just sitting.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/42327_img_2223.jpg

That is too cute!!!

I lost 3 of my babies overnight Sunday night. They just vanished! All I can think is maybe a snake got in, but I can't see where it could have possibly gotten out with 3 chicks in it.

Off to convert the kids playground into another coop since DH just accepted 7 18-week pullets from a friend. I wish I'd read about quarantining before I accepted!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
So glad to hear everything worked out. I know mama has her feathers full of chicks and sounds like she is up to the task. We all learn from our mistakes so next time you'll be ready. I have 3 hens that are broody right now and they are in the same next box. To my surprise there was an egg in ther this morning, How another hen managed to lay an egg in that box is beyond me, but there was one in there and when i let everyone out this morning there wasn't. They can be pretty sneaky. The 3 broodys aren't laying. So it just goes to show ya, if theres a will theres a way. always mark those eggs.

Congrats and pictures when ya can...

well I had 3 hens brooding in the nest box this morning and just went in to check and 1 more has decided to join the girls. No eggs just sitting.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/42327_img_2223.jpg

That is too cute!!!

I lost 3 of my babies overnight Sunday night. They just vanished! All I can think is maybe a snake got in, but I can't see where it could have possibly gotten out with 3 chicks in it.

Off to convert the kids playground into another coop since DH just accepted 7 18-week pullets from a friend. I wish I'd read about quarantining before I accepted!

Oh Tiss I am so sorry you lost your chicks, I just removed a 5 ft. blk snake from my coop, he hadn't eaten an egg yet but was looking for one. I gave it a duck egg, that will keep it full for a week..

Do you have any oxine ah? if you can find some spray it on your original flock and the new comers in their faces, it's great stuff. i use it in my coops too. drinking water etc. www.shagbarkbantams.com/oxinehtm

 

[vegaschick]

Here's a few of my broodies + babies from this year... it's generally too hot to get good photos of babies under mamas here. Instead the babies play 'king of the hill' on mama and squabble over who gets to sit on her back. My broody mamas tend to teach the chicks to roost early too.

Casino (5 chicks/9 set)

Sunshine (9 chicks/10 set)

Lizzie (7 chicks/7 set)

Roulette (2 chicks/5 set)

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
I love them all BUT am VERY partial to Casino.

 

[stonykill]

ok, weird end to the day. I have been working 30 miles from home, which is weird in itself. Well I guess one of the ferrel Sumatra's has been nesting SOMEWHERE, and I didn't know it. I am walking across the yard after returning home, and a 2 day old Sumatra chick is walking and cheeping acrossed the yard. No mama in site. It is walking up to the roosters as if to say "are you my mama?" I picked the little fuzzy butt up, and offered it to mama with 3 little one. She wasn't having it (3 weeks old, been roosting with her for a week). Brought the little fuzzy butt in the house, fed and watered her (hopefully) . Cheeping SO LOUD. So I offered her to a mama Sumatra who will have her hatch any day now. So far so good. She spread her wings and took the little fuzzy butt.

Another crazy day in broody town. I guess I had 13 broody's so far, and didn't even know it....

 

[zebserema]

my silkie has 13 chicks how long will she keep them?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Hopefully anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks sometimes longer sometimes shorter depends on the broody. Congrats on the chicks too!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Pulled one over on ya

Glad to hear Mama S took it in, where do you suppose the original mama is? and with how many more?

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
Pulled one over on ya

Glad to hear Mama S took it in, where do you suppose the original mama is? and with how many more?

a missing nest..... ohhh boy, that could be A LOT of chicks! I found fresh broody poop

in the general area where I think her nest MIGHT be. Honestly, the weeds are so high on that part of the property, I'll never find her. If I were going to be home tomorrow I just would have kept the little fuzzy butt in the house for the night, and given her the little one back tomorrow when she was out with her other babies. BUT I won't be home all day until Friday. And my Sumatra's bring there less than 1 week olds in for the night around 4 to 5. When I get home.
So far so good with adopted mama Sumatra. I'll have to move her nest to the floor of the shed before I lock her up tonight. Being the little one will need to eat and drink.
Hopefully I'll catch a glimpse of the new mama soon, and see how many little fuzzy butts she has......