Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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stony i am sorry to hear your little chick didn't make it,

but want to congratulate you on #12 broody and the chicks too...

 

[Miss Lydia]

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looking forward to seeing the new fluffy butts

 

[hillbillycitygirl]

candled my broodys eggs last night, one was rancid and stinky but the rest seem good. only about a week left! cant wait!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Exciting is'nt it.. Congrats!!

 

[BooBear]

Well Rita did not want to cooperate in the big brooder hutch.
I came home to find Rita pacing. However, Blueberry pulled the eggs out of the nest box I had for them and was in her broody trance on the spot she choose.
I took Rita out so that Blueberry would not be disturbed. Blueberry is on 3 eggs that are on their 19th day.

Rita found her way back to the most favored catbox and flatted out as wide as she could on an empty nest. So I took 6 of the shipped eggs that were now in the Brinsea marked them, gave them to her and slide them under her. OOOO how she got excited! She even tried to peck me while I was giving the eggs to her!

(The other 7 eggs are still in the Brinsea. I was not sure she could handle all 13 large BLRW eggs)

Rita is now a very happy broody in her favorite spot. I will leave her be till the eggs start hatching.

The catbox (both are in there in this pic. Blueberry is peeking out)

Rita happily back in her catbox nest:

The ramp that goes into this catbox makes it easy for the Silkie girls to go in and out. They really love this box.

 

[BooBear]

Just went out to check the chickies this morning and one of Blueberry's eggs has hatched. I could not see the chick yet but will try to get a picture later.

 

[James_UK]

Hi guys.

A few questions.

I have two broody hens and i am expecting my first ever hatch next sat fingers crossed. I have candled the eggs and they have a dark mass that fills up the egg minus a small air pocket in the top. I'm presuming this is the norm? two have much less of a dark mass, it is present but it does not fill the whole egg like the others should i expect problems?

My two broodys are in the same hutch will they need to be seperated once the chicks hatch?

Will they attack each others chicks?

Will i need to seperate them from the rest of the flock once they've hatched too?

Thanks in advance guys,

James.

 

[stonykill]

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Your candling sounds completely normal. The mass is the chick.

Twice this year, this past spring and right now I have had 2 broody's hatch at nearly the same time, and in the same small general area. I have found they know who's chick is who's. I have seen them peck at the others chicks, but only if the chick tries to join her brood. I take it as a "go back to your mama " peck.

I have never separated broody's from the flock. I find it WAY to difficult to reintroduce them to the flock weeks later without problems. Other separate them without issue. That is up to you, and your situation.

 

[BooBear]

James_UK,

I setup an integration type pen inside the coop (my coop is 12 ft x 16 ft), placed some ground nest boxes in, put the broodies and their about to hatch eggs in there, and let them raise the babies in there. The rest of the flock could see the new babies without being able to hurt them and the mommas could raise their wee ones harrassment free for a bit.

Ofcourse, Little Momma whose 2 chicks hatched earlier then everyone else kept trying to dig to China. (sand floor) She would jump out and call the babies through the hole she dug at the fence. I gave up corralling them back as I noticed as long as the mommas were close no one dared mess with the babies. So I took the fence down and let them all mingle.

I have 1 Silkie, Blueberry who has 3 eggs that are now hatching. I went ahead and moved her to the brooder hutch as I have been having problems with ants and am worried that because she is smaller the others may not respect her motherhood as much as they do for the big Wyandotte mommas. (Plus Cinnimon is overly randy due to both his girls being broody.) The Brooder Hutch is right next to the main coop where the flock can see, hear, and smell whoever is in it. This helps integrating members back easier.

Alot depends on the individuals that make up the flock and how they interact with each other.

I do have 1 hen that is not good with new chicks at all: Mrs. Grumpy. She loves to brood eggs, but hates any chick that dares to hatch out! So I am mindful of watching her around any new arrivals and making sure chicks have a safe and happy start.

 

[James_UK]

Thats great. Thanks for the input i shall let you know how it turns out. Thank you for putting my mind at ease! I shall post picture when the newbies arrive

Sorry guys is layers mash ok for chicks or do i really need starter crumb?