Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[BarnGoddess01]

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Congratulations on washcloth baby! Well done.

Sorry to hear about the your chocolate baby.

 

[drdoolittle]

Fuffy wrote:

How old were the BO's babies when you put the poor little one under?

The BOs first 4 hatched between during the night Thurs. night to Friday morning/afternoon-----I put the chocolate one (who was in the process of hatching back under her Friday after noon. He was one of the eggs she had been sitting on, but had moved off the nest with her 4 babies sometime during the day Friday, and I found the situation when I got home from work late Friday afternoon.

I removed the few remaining eggs from the broody pen this morning-------they were scattered about and cold. I feel sorry for the one hen, as she doesn't seem to know what to do with no chicks to care for. Just kind of hanging around the 2 hens who have chicks----like she wants to help but has no clue about caring for chicks. I'm afraid to put the 3 I have inside out there------no sense in getting them killed. Ideas?​

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Babies are 48 hours old and Red Sex Link Broody Momma is doing a SUPERB job so far with her 3 chicks. Everybody is growing and looking very perky. Such a treat to see her showing them where the food is and calling them back when they wander. She seems happiest when she has them all tucked under her, out of sight. And the way they peck at her eyes!!! Sheesh. She's gonna be blind by the time this is over.

What fun to watch them.

 

[Fuffy]

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We sooooo need a 'LIKE' button!!!!

 

[Fuffy]

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The BOs first 4 hatched between during the night Thurs. night to Friday morning/afternoon-----I put the chocolate one (who was in the process of hatching back under her Friday after noon. He was one of the eggs she had been sitting on, but had moved off the nest with her 4 babies sometime during the day Friday, and I found the situation when I got home from work late Friday afternoon.

I removed the few remaining eggs from the broody pen this morning-------they were scattered about and cold. I feel sorry for the one hen, as she doesn't seem to know what to do with no chicks to care for. Just kind of hanging around the 2 hens who have chicks----like she wants to help but has no clue about caring for chicks. I'm afraid to put the 3 I have inside out there------no sense in getting them killed. Ideas?

That is a really tricky one!

I guess I would be inclined to keep the little ones separate. Could you rig up an area where they can be in the main coop but self sufficient and separated. Maybe a wire dog crate or one of those triangular arcs? Or even a rabbit run like mine? I guess you'd have to keep them separate until they are able to defend themselves (12 to 16 weeks)

Seems to me that no matter what you decide to do, you will get to learn for next time!

Good luck!!!

 

[drdoolittle]

I'll probably just raise them like I did my hatchery chicks and keep them in the house and then the garage until they at least feather-out.

Oh, my silkie hen------who is in a different pen than the other three----has had one egg hatch so far and at least 2 others are peeping, so I know more are on the way!

 

[Jloeffler]

My broody has been such a trooper! Between being moved twice and hurricane Irene I figured we'd b lucky if she sat when we put her back in her normal coop this morning. Eggs transferred just fine. She ate, reestablished her place in the pecking order, ate, drank, and scoped everything out, ate and drank some more, then back onto the eggs she went! Hopefully shell be as good of a momma after they hatch too!!

Thanks so much for the help with panicked questions and advice!

 

[member 104844]

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She laid another egg, in the nest today

but she is still not sitting

At least they aren't breaking anymore or orphaned under the shrubs

Hopefully she'll get the idea soon!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Haven't heard from Miss Lydia for a couple of days. I hope all is well and that Hurricane Irene hasn't hit you.

 

[SadieSue]

A few questions. This is my first time attempting to hatch with a broody hen.

I have a broody Light Sussex setting on what was 8 fertile EE eggs borrowed from a friend for purposes of hatching. Natch. So long story short, one day after I had moved the broody to her own little coop and run and she had settled in nicely, DH decided to "help" and opened the coop for her to free range. In her confusion she forgot where the eggs were and returned to the big coop and an empty nest. I had not been home all day and was unaware he'd done this. He didn't tell me until we were on our way home last night from an event that he had let her out and she was no longer setting because "he couldn't find her".

By this time they had been left unattended for at least 5 hours. At 10 PM I moved her back onto the nest with the eggs and this morning she still seemed good, but I just went and checked on her and she'd tossed 5 eggs out of the nest.

Needless to say, I'm a lot disappointed and a little freaked right now. I've fired up the incubator (Brinsea Eco 20) because I don't know what's going on with these eggs. Did she kick them out because they were no good anymore? I was 4 days away from hatching! I just candled and all I can see is solid mass with air sac. Can't determine any movement.

What do you think? Is this the best chance they have right now? Is there any chance of them hatching? It WAS pretty hot yesterday here in the Northwest, but it's cooled down considerably today which was another reason I just put them in the incubator. Since they are so close to hatching I didn't bother with the turner and am thinking it would have been lockdown about now anyway if I'd been hatching in the house.

AND, what if any in the house do hatch? Can I put them under her if the remaining 3 that she has hatch as well?
I'd appreciate any opinions and advice. I had a broody hen and was doing a friend a favor. Of course I was naive enough to not expect trouble.