Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

Quote:

Good luck and keep us posted

And buying lettuce can be the highlight of any day!

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
Loook!!! Looook at the cute chickies!!!!!

Fab pics, as always, Barngoddess!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

The baby pictures are so inspiring!!! I can't wait!
(and in that vein...)
I moved my broody, AliceAnn to the broody pen last night. I just needed to know if she was going to accept the new space for setting.
At first, she ate, because she hadn't eaten all day. Then she wandered around the pen, a little surprised she hadn't been placed in the usual wire-bottom Broody-Jail. She tried to escape and return to her own nest box, third from the right, but I left her alone for a few hours, and lo and behold, she moved the golf balls to a new nest spot she created, herself, half in and half out of the cardboard box.
She is sitting, placidly (so long as I don't get too close), and purring to herself.
As always, she is a dedicated broody-pants, but I am hesitant to giver her any real eggs to sit on. Don't know why, exactly...we have both been waiting for 10 months for this (she has gone broody every 5-6 weeks since she layed her first 30 eggs, and it takes desperate measures to break her up).
Once your broody is setting where you want her, happily on golf balls, how long do you lot wait to put fertile eggs beneath her?

Thanks, again, as always, and in advance!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Seriously cute little buggers!! I'm ready for another batch ...

Thanks for sharing

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rachel'sFlock :

The baby pictures are so inspiring!!! I can't wait!
(and in that vein...)
I moved my broody, AliceAnn to the broody pen last night. I just needed to know if she was going to accept the new space for setting.
At first, she ate, because she hadn't eaten all day. Then she wandered around the pen, a little surprised she hadn't been placed in the usual wire-bottom Broody-Jail. She tried to escape and return to her own nest box, third from the right, but I left her alone for a few hours, and lo and behold, she moved the golf balls to a new nest spot she created, herself, half in and half out of the cardboard box.
She is sitting, placidly (so long as I don't get too close), and purring to herself.
As always, she is a dedicated broody-pants, but I am hesitant to giver her any real eggs to sit on. Don't know why, exactly...we have both been waiting for 10 months for this (she has gone broody every 5-6 weeks since she layed her first 30 eggs, and it takes desperate measures to break her up).
Once your broody is setting where you want her, happily on golf balls, how long do you lot wait to put fertile eggs beneath her?

Thanks, again, as always, and in advance!

I thought you were going to put fertile eggs under her when you moved her. If she's settling down then go ahead and give her some. do it this evening right at bedtime, then leave her locked up for a few days till she's comfortable with her new digs she should do fine.​

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Ok, Miss Lydia, I will do just that. She is sitting tight, and happier than I have ever seen her.
My plan was to leave her and the eggs in the enclosure until she is ready to introduce the chicks to the rest of the flock, ages from now. That way I didn't have to worry for the babies and the big chooks getting along.
I also imagine, if left free, she will end up right back up there in her favorite nesting box (2 ft off the ground).
Winging it, to be sure, but loving every minute of it.
This is better than wrapping Christmas gifts for my loved ones, and that is just about the best thing there is, for me!

Thanks, again!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Rachel'sFlock :

The baby pictures are so inspiring!!! I can't wait!
(and in that vein...)
I moved my broody, AliceAnn to the broody pen last night. I just needed to know if she was going to accept the new space for setting.
At first, she ate, because she hadn't eaten all day. Then she wandered around the pen, a little surprised she hadn't been placed in the usual wire-bottom Broody-Jail. She tried to escape and return to her own nest box, third from the right, but I left her alone for a few hours, and lo and behold, she moved the golf balls to a new nest spot she created, herself, half in and half out of the cardboard box.
She is sitting, placidly (so long as I don't get too close), and purring to herself.
As always, she is a dedicated broody-pants, but I am hesitant to giver her any real eggs to sit on. Don't know why, exactly...we have both been waiting for 10 months for this (she has gone broody every 5-6 weeks since she layed her first 30 eggs, and it takes desperate measures to break her up).
Once your broody is setting where you want her, happily on golf balls, how long do you lot wait to put fertile eggs beneath her?

Thanks, again, as always, and in advance!

I put the fertile eggs under my first time broody girl as soon as I moved her. No experience, no science - but it DID work for us!! (No choice, really, because she was on them before I moved her!!!

)

Good luck!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Thanks, BarnGoddess, I am so excited I could burst!
Eggs under, tonight!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rachel'sFlock :

Thanks, BarnGoddess, I am so excited I could burst!
Eggs under, tonight!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:

Good luck and keep us posted

And buying lettuce can be the highlight of any day!

I must be one of those ones that gets excited about buying lettuce ...