Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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Isn't it nice to be able to walk out the back door to get an egg when we need one.

please keep us updated on how it's going and congrats on the broody.

 

[kegbergman]

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Hi and congrats on your first broody! you'll enjoy so much watching mama and her chicks. Thats all you'll have to do is watch, except for making sure they have food and water of course. BO make great mamas. Pipping is when the chick breaks through into the air sac. you'll be able to hear them peeping probably Thurs. so listen it is so cool. If your other BO has been on the nest with the broody all this time I would just leave her, unless it's such a small area chicks could get smashed. I have had several mamas share chicks very sweet. Best thing to do is just let mama do it and when it's all over take your head count. of course go and look every once in a while. But mama has been comunicating with her chicks for quite a while now and they to her, so everything will be fine. Please let us know when they begin to hatch so we can be nervous with you. we never get tired of hearing about hatch day.

Well, My other hen has not been on the nest, only in the same coop. They each have their own nest, which they are very good about keeping thier own. SO, should I keep my other hen away from the mama while hatching progresses?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Hi and congrats on your first broody! you'll enjoy so much watching mama and her chicks. Thats all you'll have to do is watch, except for making sure they have food and water of course. BO make great mamas. Pipping is when the chick breaks through into the air sac. you'll be able to hear them peeping probably Thurs. so listen it is so cool. If your other BO has been on the nest with the broody all this time I would just leave her, unless it's such a small area chicks could get smashed. I have had several mamas share chicks very sweet. Best thing to do is just let mama do it and when it's all over take your head count. of course go and look every once in a while. But mama has been comunicating with her chicks for quite a while now and they to her, so everything will be fine. Please let us know when they begin to hatch so we can be nervous with you. we never get tired of hearing about hatch day.

Well, My other hen has not been on the nest, only in the same coop. They each have their own nest, which they are very good about keeping thier own. SO, should I keep my other hen away from the mama while hatching progresses?

I don't think your other hen will mess with mama during hatch.most mamas take care of situations like that. I really don't think you have anythoing to worry about. I had 3 hens hatching at the same time with all the flock there and nobody messed with them.

 

[stonykill]

well I came home today to Blue "Mama" Sumatra with 6 little fuzzy butts outside with her. Today is day 18. Or so I thought. Maybe she was sitting longer than I thought. $Her nest had 5 eggs left in it, 1 zippering, 3 peeping. They are under the OTHER broody in the shed. The one that killed one yesterday (yes it died today). My best guess is, it was Blue "Mama"s 1st born and jumped 18 inches down, and wandered off. Yes, all 6 little fuzzy butts had to come down 18 inches to leave the nest. The other broody sat right down on the eggs I gave her. I REALLY hope she accepts these. My wife and I have had enough of chicks in the house this year! I'll set up my incubator in my workshop on friday, just in case the other broody leaves any eggs unhatched . Whew....been a crazy broody year!

I probably won't be able to get any pics until friday....

 

[farmerChef]

Well the guinea eggs where clear(day 14). They where from a friend that had a pair and the rooster was killed about 3 weeks back. I thought the eggs would be clear. So she got 7 eggs from the chickens:
2 white leghorn/EE
1 Buff Orp/EE
1 SLW/EE
1 Dark Cornish/EE
2 Buff Game/Lemon Splash "Fuzzy"

 

[Layira]

So my first broody, a red leghorn hen is on day 16. She is a fabulous mama so far and doesn't want to leave the nest at all. It's been so hot here I make sure I kick her off at least once to drink. She's so dedicated, its adorable. I candled eggs last night and I saw one that definitely had veins and feathers!!!!! The others were dark but I couldn't see very well. But that's ok! Oh it was so awesome to see, I'm so very much excited to have my hen hatch chicks!!! It's kind of a test since I wasnt sure if they were fertile or not.

Yay broody!!

 

[stonykill]

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[Miss Lydia]

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Congrats on your 1st. green egg and Happy Birthday!! Sounds like you'll have a nice flock when these hatch!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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X2...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Evening all, tomorrow we will have to put 6 of our roos in the freezer. yep not always easy when we have enjoyed watching them with mama and now they are getting out of hand. We still have 5 that we aren't sure of yet and I want to give another some time, I know hes a roo but he is so much like his daddy very laid back and a gentleman with his few girls he's been hanging with. So will see how that goes when the others are gone. These last few days have been rough on the flock with roosters hanging all over the hens. Literally chasing them all over the place. So another year of fresh chicken in the freezer, I have to look at it that way to keep from crying. I love them all.