Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
the one with her running with the feet hanging out of its mouth. is really funny.

X 2!!!!!

Okay, I came home today and had to dash out before the rain really let down (who ordered the rain again?? Shipping tomorrow cause I want it GONE!!) to put the now room temp eggs under my broody JB. As I open the front I find not one, but TWO broody hens!! Watching them fight over the four eggs (the JB laid one more today) was about the funniest thing I've seen. At least until Barngoddess' frog leg pic!!

. So, now that I have two, does anyone think it could improve the chances of one of them adopting a 4 week old?? This makes 3 broodies in as many months!! I don't even have as many birds as Stony and their trying to beat her record!!

Apparently, it is still very much broody season!
(my AliceAnn- every 4-6 weeks from the day she first laid an egg, spring, summer, winter and fall! Thank goodness that Mamma finally has some bairns!)

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
the one with her running with the feet hanging out of its mouth. is really funny.

X 2!!!!!

Okay, I came home today and had to dash out before the rain really let down (who ordered the rain again?? Shipping tomorrow cause I want it GONE!!) to put the now room temp eggs under my broody JB. As I open the front I find not one, but TWO broody hens!! Watching them fight over the four eggs (the JB laid one more today) was about the funniest thing I've seen. At least until Barngoddess' frog leg pic!!

. So, now that I have two, does anyone think it could improve the chances of one of them adopting a 4 week old?? This makes 3 broodies in as many months!! I don't even have as many birds as Stony and their trying to beat her record!!

13 of the broody's are from 10 Sumatra hens. The 14th was born in March, laid eggs for a few weeks, then went broody.

Adopting a 4 week old? I don't know if I personnally would try it. A week, yes. But I've never tried older.

 

[stonykill]

Rachel'sFlock :

Quote:
X 2!!!!!

Okay, I came home today and had to dash out before the rain really let down (who ordered the rain again?? Shipping tomorrow cause I want it GONE!!) to put the now room temp eggs under my broody JB. As I open the front I find not one, but TWO broody hens!! Watching them fight over the four eggs (the JB laid one more today) was about the funniest thing I've seen. At least until Barngoddess' frog leg pic!!

. So, now that I have two, does anyone think it could improve the chances of one of them adopting a 4 week old?? This makes 3 broodies in as many months!! I don't even have as many birds as Stony and their trying to beat her record!!

Apparently, it is still very much broody season!
(my AliceAnn- every 4-6 weeks from the day she first laid an egg, spring, summer, winter and fall! Thank goodness that Mamma finally has some bairns!)​

As I've said before broody season ends when the egg laying ends for the year.

 

[heatherkh]

Our chickens don't mine the construction noise of the garden shed being built just feet from the coop, but they do cluck a bit in the evening at the invading clam lights.

Heather, that's what I have been considering. I wouldn't mind a couple more JBs (a hen in particular but I'd rather have the chicks moved into a coop with someone who will protect them. The roo in the coop is one of the best I've ever seen and I think if she accepted them he would too. We'll have to see! I may try what you suggested... Maybe wait until the weekend when I can keep a better eye on them?

That's what I'd do. Honestly, I think you'll know right away if she'll accept them or not, but I'd want to keep an eye on them. When we put our baby back, I went back out to the coop multiple times before I went to bed just to make sure everything was fine, and was up at the crack of dawn to make sure the rest of the chickies we're picking on the injured one. It could be that they're just too old for the momma to accept, but it's worth a try!​

 

[Jloeffler]

When does egg laying end? Or am I being dense and your are creatively trying to point out that it doesn't?

Stony, pardon me for saying "her". I read your signature... Sir!

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
well I don't know about Sc but here it ends sometime late nov, early december when the days are short, and the weather is cold. It doesn't really stop, but slows to a complete crawl.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
X 2!!!!!

Okay, I came home today and had to dash out before the rain really let down (who ordered the rain again?? Shipping tomorrow cause I want it GONE!!) to put the now room temp eggs under my broody JB. As I open the front I find not one, but TWO broody hens!! Watching them fight over the four eggs (the JB laid one more today) was about the funniest thing I've seen. At least until Barngoddess' frog leg pic!!

. So, now that I have two, does anyone think it could improve the chances of one of them adopting a 4 week old?? This makes 3 broodies in as many months!! I don't even have as many birds as Stony and their trying to beat her record!!

13 of the broody's are from 10 Sumatra hens. The 14th was born in March, laid eggs for a few weeks, then went broody.

Adopting a 4 week old? I don't know if I personnally would try it. A week, yes. But I've never tried older.

Stony's apprehension resonates with me - I have NO experience (i.e. you probably should completely discount my voice) but I have an opinion, nevertheless - 4 weeks doesn't even feel so much like a "chick" anymore. My "kids" at 4 weeks seemed to believe they were pretty independent. I'm wondering if the chick would even go for it at 4 weeks. (Frog-runner is 2 days shy of 5 weeks. I'd NEVER convince her she needed a new mom. Ever.)

 

[Jloeffler]

Thanks for weighing in Stony and BarnGoddess . That is about what I was feeling myself, but somewhere I was hoping someone had tried it and been successful. It would be easier for the chicks if they had a mother to ease them into the flock, but they have bonded with each other very well which would cause them, as BG said, to not be interested in bonding with a mother now. Just wishful thinking...

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Just went out to gather eggs. As I left the house I promised I would not "stare at the broody", and come right back.
When I got there, I was greeted by the most adorable, tiny, yellow-and-black person standing in front of her Mum, and entirely out from under her.
I couldn't help but stare!!!!
There was also a heck of a lot of peepus ruckus coming from beneath her...a lot of noise for 2, but I didn't meddle!
I thought I was going to cry!
Hi New Friend! This is clearly yesterday's 10am hatch.
Pics, obviously, forthcoming.

 

[Jloeffler]

Rachel'sFlock :

Just went out to gather eggs. As I left the house I promised I would not "stare at the broody", and come right back.
When I got there, I was greeted by the most adorable, tiny, yellow-and-black person standing in front of her Mum, and entirely out from under her.
I couldn't help but stare!!!!
There was also a heck of a lot of peepus ruckus coming from beneath her...a lot of noise for 2, but I didn't meddle!
I thought I was going to cry!
Hi New Friend! This is clearly yesterday's 10am hatch.
Pics, obviously, forthcoming.

. Yay!! Congrats on your peeping peeper!! Can't wait for pics!​