Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Sailing Dede]

BROODY UPDATE

Well its day 21 for me. I set eggs at 10pm on the 5th so there is still another 10hours before precicely 21 days is up.
I have 12 eggs under my two broody Pekin/Cochin Bantams, 6 eggs each.
I saw one egg had pipped yesterday when Bess got off the nest to drink some water. Both hens haven't seemed to get up since so I wasn't able to see what was happening.
Well I got up this morning to check on them and saw that they were both shuffling about on the nests. Still couldn't see anything but could hear chirping!
Checked on the girls a few hours later (its just past midday) and saw some action over by Bess (the one who's egg pipped early). Silvia is very protective and nips me if I float my hand near her so I have again left them to it. I hope she gets some chicks too.


Bess the buff/partridge mix Pekin Bantam on hatch day

 

[stonykill]

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[Miss Lydia]

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Hatch day is so exciting, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Congratulations!!! and hopefully more to come

 

[stonykill]

finally a few pics. My camera is not cooperating, so the quality isn't as good as it could be.

1st Black Sumatra broody and her little fuzzy butts

now my BEAUTIFUL Blue Sumatra who is simply named "Mama". This is her 2nd brood of the year. She had 5 little ones in the spring, and last week hatched 6. Yes there are 7 in the pic. Yesterday she stole a baby from the other broody

A blue one, guess she figured it was hers......

 

[Miss Lydia]

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They are georgeous stony, Congrats on the chicks too. I love the blue, maybe one day

 

[Tiss]

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My son just said "We need one of those". Beautiful birds!

 

[Fuffy]

On Sunday night I moved my babies and mama (Nearly 6 weeks already!

)

They are still together for now but next to the grown up birds.

On Monday they spent their time exploring and meeting the grown ups through the fence. Unfortunately I was out last night, but when I got home everyone was all tucked up nicely in

bed.

Let them out this morning. Well....

The babies have discovered that they can fit through the fence into the horse paddock.

This is NOT good!!! My shetland likes to stamp on things!!!!

However I did have this problem last year, and I know it will only be a few days before they can't do it anymore. And they are sooo enjoying having all the space and varied surfaces to play

in....I know...It's just me....Which hasn't stopped me running around like a yo yo trying to put them back all day!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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and look at all the exercise your getting..

 

[Layira]

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Thanks!!! I'm so impatient for the rest of them haha

And congrats everyone who has had safe hatch!!