Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Chiko]

I have a question. My Japanese Bantam hen seems to be abandoning her chicks. They are about 4-6 weeks old and aren't fully feathered. She's setting on other eggs. I don't think it's her fault because she was very desperate for chicks and super serious when she was incubating but the chicks didn't listen to her. Since they didn't hatch under her; I put them under her at night. So could that be the reason she is deciding to set again?

 

[joycenjohnb]

My broody hen usually only sticks with her chicks about 3 to4 weeks and then she lets them go on their own, and they seem todo fine.

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
same here

 

[Niss]

Boobear--thinks for the pics, I needed the encuragement this morning!

Poor Wiggens is down to 2 eggs. She kicked one out and twice now when she's on break a leghorn has snuck in and eat some

The bright spot in all this???
Hubby said "If you're serious about this we're going to have to build a second little coop." Too many projects to do before winter to hit it now...but you can bet I won't forget those words. For those of you who set up a compleatly seperate brooding area, what size is the minimum workable space? What type of door do you use? Would something like a small dog house with removable lid for cleaning work? If a close the box up at night is chicken wire suficant to keep the hens in their respective areas durring the day?

 

[BooBear]

I use the foldable pens for dogs to make a temp pen. Also have a huge brooder hutch.

I kinda feel silly as I got my eggs crossed the other day. The first chick in the pics is the blue wyandotte from Saphire. The 2nd chick that hatched is one of the Silkies. The last egg Blueberry is brooding has not hatched yet.

Blueberry was up n about more with the 2 chicks that already hatched. She was showing them the food n water and how to dust bathe in the sand I gave the little family to play in. Blueberry is very protective of her babies. I will get some more pics when I get home from work.

Rita is happily on her nest with the BLRW eggs. I get so tickled as she moves the eggs from one spot to another in the cat box. I think it is cus of the heat. I hand fed her some chilled watermelon yesterday.

 

[kegbergman]

I'm so depressed. Friday has supposed to be hatch day, but none of my 5 remaining eggs hatched. I decided to "sacrifice" the one egg that I was suspicious of and check the developent process. When I cracked the egg open, it was obvious that although there was some development, it had not gone full development before it died. I still have 4 eggs under my hen, but nothing has happened. I considered ordering day old chicks to let her raise, but, the cost of shipping for only a few chicks is astonomical and I really don't want lots of chickens, because I just don't have the space for more than 5 chickens and really 3 more is more the right number.
Anyone out there going to have hatchlings in the western New York area within the next few days that I could pick up? Don't wish to be picky, but I would prefer breeds such as BO, Red Star, Easter Eggers, or similar breed. Do prefer the brown egg layers.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Karen

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
So sorry none hatched, if you don't find any here go to the Buy, sell, auction, thread on BYC you might find someone in your area with chicks. Hope you do!

 

[dconf]

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
??

 

[Layira]

Success!

My broody is now a proud mama of one lil chick!! I went into the coop and mama was off the nest for a moment so I was able to get a good look at the chick and it's looking good! And peeping loudly for mama to come back and keep it warm haha

No pics yet because my hen doesn't particularly want me poking around, but not that I blame her. Can't wait to see if any more hatch!!!