Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[slurrywidow]

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Oh I'm sorry.

I hope you have much better luck in the spring.

 

[Jloeffler]

Slurrywidow I know exactly what you mean! It's worse with an incubator because all you can do is watch. With a broody you at least have the mooma you can fret and worry about! Makes the time go by a liiiiiiiitttttllllle faster. Can't wait to see pics of your babies!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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I was EXACTLY like you on day 6 (and all the way through to hatch - and - beyond

). I felt like a 5 year old waiting for Christmas that simply wouldn't come. (But it did - finally.)

Thinking all good thoughts and hoping for a fabulous hatch!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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yeah, michaelinnc, so eggcited for you, hope they hatch. hens make wonderful duckie mamas!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Forgot to share this but I think we have broken a record on here. stonykill has broody #14. and ya'll think your nervous. Hopefully he'll be here soon to fill us in on all the details..

 

[JHillgrove]

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I was just going to ask if it is nessessary to make her get off the eggs once in a while, but reading this answered my question. She is so determined, I dont know if she had eaten or drank anything sense this began. I set her just a few days ago, this is my first time. I am so nervous, just like I was when I was having my own first baby.

I am nervous to get her off the eggs, and freak her out enough that she wont sit back on them. She's a barred rock, raised her from a day old chick in Feb, she is still rather young to be broody isnt she? I hope she's a good mother.

 

[JHillgrove]

Oh no, I just made her get off the nest, I lured her out with some pieces of chicken, worked like a charm, but she had pushed all the hay away and had the eggs sitting on the plastic bottom of the dog house, and she had serpeated them so only 1 egg was directly under her and the rest were on the side of her, they were still kind of warm but 1 she had pushed into the corner it was completely cold. What should I do?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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You just need to let her choose which ones are good. she knows by instinct what to do.
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[JHillgrove]

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Ok, I guess I need to trust her.

 

[Jloeffler]

Wow! 14?!?! Do we have an award to hand out for that?? Or do we just offer condolences?