Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[michaelinnc84]

Yeah these are the ones. I want to keep the blind roo, my wife is attached to him and I'm afraid another rood would attack him. However I am looking for more hens.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Probably would seems like they always go after the weak ones, but I guess it's just part of nature getting rid of the weak.

More hens in what breed? cochin?

 

[michaelinnc84]

I am thinking Cochin yeah so I can focus on one breed since I don't have breeding pens setup.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

So now my poor broody mama with her week old chicks is moulting. There are feathers literally flying!! Is it common for broodies to moult after they brood?

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Probably catching up with the rest.... and inactivity maybe also kept the feathers from falling out? Just a couple of thoughts from a lurker.....

who cant wait to be in the position to have a broodie, again.

 

[Miss Lydia]

perchie.girl :

Quote:
Probably catching up with the rest.... and inactivity maybe also kept the feathers from falling out? Just a couple of thoughts from a lurker.....

who cant wait to be in the position to have a broodie, again.

hey deb where ya been, when my last broody hatched out her 2 and being a game hen has nice tail feathers, well she lost everyone of them boy did she look funny nothing there but butt. I'd never seen her do that before, now they are back and she looks normal again

 

[macdoogle2]

Hello everyone, mind if I join in? I had a hen go broody as soon as some of my incubated eggs grew to be boys. I sold one and rehomed the rest and she went back to laying. When the sold boy was returned she went broody again. I finally bought her some fertile eggs to sit on and she's been happy. Been sitting on them for 2 weeks so they should hatch next weekend. All the eggs are different so I'm excited to see what she will get. She seems to follow the pattern of what I've been reading. Not getting off her nest unless prodded. Then she eats a little and drinks, makes a huge racket and goes back on her nest. I seperated her from the rest of the flock so she is in her own pen. When I free range the rest some come visiting. What should I do when the chicks hatch? (hoping they hatch) Will she mind the visitors and will they try to hurt the chicks?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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She won't let anyone near those chicks, and most of the flock should respect her wishes. I'd continue to let her and chicks out so all can get use to each other or they may have some problems when going into the main coop. Congrats on the broody and let us know when the big day comes..

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
Probably catching up with the rest.... and inactivity maybe also kept the feathers from falling out? Just a couple of thoughts from a lurker.....

who cant wait to be in the position to have a broodie, again.

hey deb where ya been, when my last broody hatched out her 2 and being a game hen has nice tail feathers, well she lost everyone of them boy did she look funny nothing there but butt. I'd never seen her do that before, now they are back and she looks normal again

You know it also could be the stress of brooding come to think of it. Low food and water and low activity.... the body would want to shut down unnecessary functions while that was going on. At the expense of growing feathers. Then when the full diet resumes Voila.... new feathers start growing and push out the old....

Probably would be a good idea to boost the feed quality that a broody gets.... With scrambled or hardboiled eggs? maybe mixed with a little knox gelatine....? Gelatin is mostly protien.

Sigh I been battling predators. Out of forty keets I have seven left and one that is missing a leg. Shes resting comfortably in a nursery cage but I don't have the heart to cull her she still buckwheats very softly... so sad.

I wont be doing chickens at all until I get the new poultry house built and I wont be replenishing my guineas till then either.

 

[kgdubois]

Transfer was successful!!

I put the eggs under her yesterday evening, went off without a hitch (well, except a few pecks & one nasty mad poo on the part of Miss Broody Pants)

She is still sitting tight on them, and seems to be doing well!

slurrywidow, your hen sounds just like mine! the only way i know she gets up at all is because she is eating & drinking a little. When I put the eggs under her, I could feel that she had some feed in her croup.
I have never actually seen her get up, and I haven't taken her off the nest because I was afraid it would break her from sitting. I may try getting her up in a few days & letting her out, but I'm nervous because I've borrowed her from a friend -- what if she runs away or gets confused & doesn't go back on the eggs?
Do they need to dustbathe while they are broody, or will she be okay just in the dog carrier?

The rest of my eggs are in the incubator, and seem to be doing okay. I was curious about the humidity in there -- does anyone know what it should be? My temp is right at 99 - 100 degrees and the humidity seems to be hovering right around 60%, is that good?

Thanks in advance, y'all