Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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Well you have a healthy chick and thats what matters.. where is Poultry Anonymous? never heard of it although I need to join, too bad you didn't have your camera ready when DH came running [just to have in case he e ver says NoMore Chickens] you know kinda like bribery but of course it's not.

Looking forward to hearing how broody hatch goes how many eggs under broody?

 

[snaphu]

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thanks Miss Lydia! I thought the same! but why are the eggs that the broody cochins not healthy, and the ones I incubate are 90% successful?? I'm giving her a try again, but I keep looking at her and she doesn't seem too interested??? it's like she would rather just sit on air/nothing?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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thanks Miss Lydia! I thought the same! but why are the eggs that the broody cochins not healthy, and the ones I incubate are 90% successful?? I'm giving her a try again, but I keep looking at her and she doesn't seem too interested??? it's like she would rather just sit on air/nothing?

How many eggs was she sitting on? and i can't tell you why they were not healthy, the same as i have no idea why the ones here weren't when i had other broodys that hatched healthy chicks, I guess it just happens sometimes and do you think all of her eggs were unhealthy? so you have given her more eggs? was she still sitting from this last brood? are you positive she is okay health wise? how long has it been since this happened with the chick she was eating?

 

[stonykill]

We are going camping for few days. I'm going to miss my babies

. Broody update. Mama (black) Sumatra with her "little tiny babies" (it's what I say to her everyday) has her "little tiny babies" (that's what I say to her daily.."hi mama with the little tiny babies") on roost tonight. I am very happy. She is the one who was nesting in parts unknown. I have no idea were her ferrel little butt was nesting. The other 2 Sumatra mama's, Blue "mama" (yes that IS her name, mama) and the other black Sumatra are still nesting nightly in my shed. At least I know they are safe.
My mom will be caring for my 80 plus chickens, and 11 Pekin ducks when we are away. They are in good hands.

 

[kgdubois]

hello all! i will be setting my very first ever clutch of eggs on Saturday under a broody hen i've borrowed from a friend. she's currently in my nursery (large dog crate) on falsies getting all settled in. she is sitting very tight & has been there since last night. she has eaten & drank & pooped (outside her nest, thank goodness!)

i have read through pages & pages of this thread and feel pretty confident, but wanted to go over everything just to be sure -- any feedback (positive or negative) for what i list here would be so appreciated! thanks in advance!

1 - my eggs come in from okiehen tomorrow, and i need to let them sit for 24 hours to settle, at cool room temp & out of drafts
2 - i put the eggs under the broody at night - being quiet & disturb her as little as possible. eggs should be warm so she doesn't break her setting because of cold eggs
3 - i count 21 days from Saturday (when i put the eggs under her) for the hatch date

i will be getting 18 eggs from okiehen, how many can i put under my broody?! she is a good sized EE hen, and i was told she hatched 21 (??!!) chicks a couple month ago! i'm going to confirm this with the lady i borrowed the hen from, but that sounds pretty incredible to me

i am SOOOO excited

 

[BarnGoddess01]

So we're 5 days old here and my broody finally decides to leave the nest and venture out. A genuine comedy show ensued. Miss Lizzie (the first time Red Sex Link broody) makes a rather loud barking kind of noise when she shakes which she felt the need to do as she found herself free of the nest. She managed to literally scare the crap out of her kids. 2 ended up in the back corner of their box - trembling - and one simply flattened on the ground where she stood. I think poor Miss Lizzie thought she'd killed all 3 of her babies. She high-tailed it straight back to the nest clucking like mad and I actually had to restore the flattened chick. No harm done but I imagine it will be another 5 days before she tries again!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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you need to write a book that was so funny.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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stony hope ya'll have a great time and a beautiful non rainy weekend!

 

[snaphu]

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the last time it was only three, that was last spring, that's when she ate the eggs/chicks... she doesn't get out of the nesting box until I put her in a broody pen... now she is sitting on 5 eggs, sort of... I see a couple off to the side :|

 

[Miss Lydia]

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the last time it was only three, that was last spring, that's when she ate the eggs/chicks... she doesn't get out of the nesting box until I put her in a broody pen... now she is sitting on 5 eggs, sort of... I see a couple off to the side :|

so you have her in a broody pen in a nest box on 5 eggs? and she'll move them around alot she knows which ones are too hot or too cool and will move them as needed. Maybe she just needs some time to adjust if you have just moved her. I hope this time all will go great for her and you. They do like their privacy so as long as the other chickens can't mess with her hopefully all will go well..

keep us posted.