Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

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the day is going to come when I will have to do the same. It's funny...cause I hunt, used to raise turkeys for meat. But killing my chickens that I raised... well that's different for me. But I'm sure next year.... I'll have to.

 

[the1honeycomb]

Good evening all! HAppy Birthday and Happy Broody day, sorry you had to put your roosters in the freezer,
My broody got off the nest yesterday and the chicken that she usually hung out with before she went broody was evil to her!!!
pecking her away from the food and water, chasing her and pulling her feathers!1 I had to lock her up!! my Broody
was full of poo would have made an elephant proud, dusted and layed in the sand box awhile then went back she was out a long time I started to get worried.
all was OK. Looking forward to Aug 5, hatchday she is sitting on 18 eggs!!
hope everyone is having a blast
Love hearing about your experiences!!

e

 

[Miss Lydia]

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[straitcowgirl23]

I had a hen go broody and let her have 7 eggs, she's an egg thief and had 18 eggs last time she went broody. Which wouldn't be a problem except she's a a small hen and has a very hard fitting that many under her. So after I gave her the 7 eggs two of my other hens went broody. All 3 are sitting on the same 7 eggs, they didn't produce theie own clutchs. Is this normal? I wouldn't care but it cut me down to 1 hen laying right now, until my RIR's start laying which should be soon they are 19 weeks today.

 

[Chiko]

Quick question: Is broodiness hereditary? I have a young pullet that should start laying within a month. She is a cross between some kind of silkie mix, a silkie, and a buff orpington. She has more buff orp though. Her mom, and grandmas were all superb broodies, will she be?

 

[stonykill]

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most likely she will be

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Hi and

yes it is normal. I have had 2 sitting on the same eggs and after hatch shared mama duties. so if you don't mind and there is room in the nest box let them share or move them at night and give each one some eggs. you'll enjoy the experience.
this is what I had the other day,

 

[Niss]

Wow, I am really happy to hear so many folks are having luck getting new chicks! Thanks to all who have given us pics, keep them coming.

I am worried I won't be so fortunate. When I got home yesterday some of my hen's eggs had rolled out and were very cool compaired to the other eggs that were tucked nicely under her. I rearanged the nesting materials and put them all back together, but are those eggs toast?

I know my set up is less than ideal, but I do not see an alturnative right now, since my leghorns will eat her eggs if they get a chance. And the husband is so busy with other projects. Anytime I get Wiggens off the nest for a break those naughty leghorns run in to her cage and peck the eggs. So I keep the door to the cage shut, she can only get out to dust bath and walk around when I'm home then. The good news is that Wiggens looks better than she did a few days ago when I last posted. I've been putting more food in with her, but the water is kind of an issue still. I never saw her drinking from the chick waterer. Will she drink from a rodent bottle (with the ball thingy in it)? Could the babies?

I really hope some will hatch. The poor gal is on her second go round after the last batch failed to hatch. She isn't doing the best job (sioling the nest, grrr) but I still hate for it to be for naught and I don't dare try it again (when I gave she the second clutch she was still the picture of health but this time it's hotter and I can see it's taken a toll on my Wiggens).

 

[Miss Lydia]

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How many eggs does she have i can't remember. Maybe she felt it was too much and thats why she rolled them out. I'm glad to hear she's looking better. And as for those rodent bottles I know some people use nipple bottles on their chickens but It takes a while for them to learn to use them. Do you not have room for a small bowl for her to drink out of? After the chicks hatch I'd let her and the chicks out after a few day. She defend them if need be.

 

[Fuffy]

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It's a horrid part of what we do! But that's why I 'dealt' with my boys at 2 weeks...Didn't get so attached!

I have been getting the little girls to eat from my hand every day since then, and they are fine.

They will go next to the rest of the flock sometime this week... Into the teenage pad.

And they are almost sleek and beutiful now. Just a few funny downy bits sticking out at strange angles