Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Niss]

Miss Lydia, you are great--thanks for the quick replies and endless patience for all the new chicken people.
I had a chick waterer in with her. A bowl will work better--the biggest issue with the chick waterer is that it was too tall and had an issue everytime I refilled it. Can't believe I didn't think of that. The cage is 3x3--big enough for that--and you would think big enough she could poop somewere other than ON the eggs. I can't remember how many I gave her, maybe 10 or so.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Sometimes if they aren't viable they will push them out too, but I had one hen that left her eggs for a couple of hours and they were cool to the touch and they still hatched, so I guess ya never know. I know my ducks will poo all over their eggs but most of my hens get up and off, but since Wiggens is confined maybe she doesn't think she has enough room, My goose egg that was given to me was filthy and the giver said Don't wash it so I didn't and he hatched out and is 4 yrs old. so they will probably be fine, you'll be replacing all the mess once the chicks hatch anyway. Anyway keep us updated on how it's going. Happy hatching.

 

[Sailing Dede]

Well the broody hens have been sitting patiently for 16 days now, just 5 more to go and the wait is killing me!
These girls are my first broodies (I'm so lucky they went broody together), little Pekin or Cochin Bantams, as you American's like to call them

and they are sitting on 12 cream legbar cross black rock or brown hen. They should lay blue or green eggs so I guess that makes them non typical EE's!



This is a pick of the ladies, Bess the buff (with partridge) and Silvia the silver partridge

They are good broodies. Bess will get up on her own, but I have to give Silvia some encouragement!

 

[TexGardenGirl]

I originally posted this on the guinea forum, but one of the responders there thought this thread might help too! (I am pretty sure this hasn't been answered here, but if so please point me to the right place as I couldn't find it. BTW, does BYC have a "search this thread" feature? Because I couldn't find it and a thread with this many posts is really hard to scan quickly...)

I know I've seen this discussed, but I can't find it now, and I've searched for literally several hours...
Anyway, I know the standard figures for incubation time are 21 days for chickens and 28 days for guineas, and I know that chickens often hatch a day or two early under a broody, but rarely in the incubator, and it seems from what I'm reading that guineas often hatch as much as 4-5 days early, even in the incubator? So, how long should I wait after placing the guinea eggs before I add the chicken eggs? I actually put 4 guinea eggs under my broody 2 days ago, and am wondering when to add chicken eggs (and how many). My chicken is a Catalana, so maybe slightly bigger than a Leghorn, but smaller than my Rocks.
Thanks! And someone wants to just share a link where this has been discussed before, I'm fine with that, I just couldn't find it!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Looks like the are very serious, love both, let us know when hatch day arrives, and we love pictures!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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TexGardenGirl, I tried to find the info for you but couldn't, and I don't have the answer, I know there are ppl on this thread that have guineas and chickens so hopefully someone will be here to help. If you'll look at the upper right hand of this page you'll see Google custom search that will take you to the BYC archives. Type in your question and hopefully it will help. I tried it but maybe I didn't post my question right.

 

[Chiko]

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I absolutely love LOVE Bess.

 

[BooBear]

The shipped BLRW eggs arrived today and I have moved Rita and Blueberry to the big brooder hutch so the other girls will not mess with their nest.
Rita pitched a fit which upset Blueberry.

If Rita would have stayed quite Blueberry would have stayed in her trance!

I made sure they were settled down on their new nest. They are locked in the brooder hutch safe n sound.

I am hoping all goes well and the girls cooperate for me.

I really would prefer to let these silly Silkies handle the brooding; however, the Brinsea will be on standby just incase.

Ofcourse it was fun to cuddle with them till they calmed down.

They really love their catbox nest so I am afraid I will be getting some serious stinkeye for awhile.

 

[stonykill]

I'm going to try to get some pics today of Blue "Mama" Sumatra and her brood. Her 2nd brood of the season thus far. I think she has one more in her this year

. The 2nd (or actually the 12th) broody has hatched a few chicks thus far. Yesterday she let me see 2 of them. A blue and a Black Sumatra. She is still sitting tight on some eggs. I can't wait to see what she has!

 

[Niss]

Dede--What lovely ladies...be sure to post more pics in 5 days

Miss Lydia--She had the same egg rolled out this am, I will discard it. I'm glad she knows what she's doing...I was worried for awile. But yesterday was the quickest she came back to the nest since I started keeping the door closed (stupid leghorns

). I gave her a fruit pop yesterday too...it's been so hot here...She does have a bowl in with her today.