Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[SJensen]

That would have been so upsetting. Poor broodies.

We have a broody who finally got to sit on eggs this past month. The first chick hatched yesterday! It is a buff silkie! The others won't hatch for a few more days so we brought this little guy inside shortly after this photo was taken.

 

[Niss]

snaphu--ohman, how awful

cat1994--Lacy is sooo pretty. Are you sure you won't indulge her?
Plus all this talk about 2nd gen EEs makes me extra excited to see how Wiggens adopted EE chicks grow out

Right now they are funny looking--half feathered and wierdly long legged, ugly in a way my TSC tetra tints never were.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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So happy for you all, now we need some pics...

any signs of life from the 2nd egg?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I've candled them, and with the black cochin I watched one hatch one evening, then in the morning I went out to find blood splatters all over the broody pen and her munching down on some body parts!!! I saved the next one, and fired her from hatching again... she's sitting on some random eggs now, because i can't stop her!

Now I see what your talking about, I thought you meant the egg was still intact, your saying chick already hatched. Well that I can comment on, One of my broodys sat on 2 eggs and the brood went with out any problems other than being very hot, she got out at least once a day, but was game hen and very high strung, well eggs hatched 2 days before suppose to, we came home from Church and I go to check and find a chick mutalated by this mama hen, take it away not being able to tell if something might have been wrong with it, left the other one under her, go back in about 3 hrs. and the other chick has hatched and she has started in on it, so I snatch it up and bring it in, it really doesn't look like mature chick, but I try for almost 1 week to help this little thing survive, finally it dies. It wasn't right from the first and I believe she killed the first one because of the same. I had never had this happen before so I reacted before thinking. I should have just let mama handle it. So saying all of that, I wonder if your mama was reacting to the chick not being right and she was taking care of it, you know in the wild they have to do this to keep predators away from the healthy ones. I don't know but it is a possibility. Sorry you had to go through that, It is not pleasant for sure.

 

[Jloeffler]

Nothing at all from the second egg as of this morning. If there are still no signs of life this afternoon, the egg is out so I can turn the incubator into a brooder. (So cool that it converts, didn't even plan that!) Hope is not fond of the bright light as it interferes with her napping schedule. Its so cute to watch her get all energetic, then start to run out of energy, and finally fall over sleeping. Cute! Can't wait for the broody eggs to hatch!! Monday isn't coming fast enough!! LOL!!

Miss Lydia, I put pics up on Poultry Anonymous and North Carolina threads. I'm afraid of reposting again!! Do we have a limit on the number of times we can post the same pic?? LOL! I feel like such a dork, but darn was this cool! DH ran out to the workroom fast enough when I woke him up to tell him she was hatching last night. Didn't even stop to put on clothes!!

Good thing Hope's eyes weren't open yet! And he checks on her almost as much as I do. He just tries to sneak out to see her!

 

[slurrywidow]

Well the ol' switcheroo went off without a hitch, and I'm not even missing any fingers. The finger part was touch and go for a minute.

Mona is now sitting on 8 silkie eggs. I finally understand what a "pancake" chicken is. Are there any broody hatching buddies out there? cat1994...your EE would make a gorgeous momma!

Jloeffler, congrats on your new baby, Hope. Funny story about hubby's...um hatching attire. Love it!

 

[Niss]

Well Slurrywidow, mine were set Aug. 27, so due Sept 17th right? I don't know if anyone is closer...

 

[slurrywidow]

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I'd love a buddy, I'm game if you are.

It's my first time EVER hatching eggs, broody or incubator, so I'm really excited! As for the hatch date, I'm not sure if mine is the 21st or 22nd. I'm still unsure if I count today or not.

 

[Niss]

She just got them today, right? So if I'm counting correctly today is day 0 and they are due the 21st.

I tried before, but wasn't successful

This is a different hen, and I gave her less eggs, so I'm very hopeful

 

[heatherkh]

Is anyone else due on/around Sep 11? We're getting ourselves (and our coop) ready this weekend in anticipation. We're attempting to keep momma and babies in the main flock, but have an extra rabbit hutch ready to go should we need to move anyone.