Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Terri O]

Well Mama hen still has her 8 today! SHe hs decided to go into the milk house with them at night. I am glad about that...at least they will be safe at night! Yesterday another muskovy came out with 10 new babies....*sigh* I might have to deal with frozen feet again....I think I will not lock them up this year. The only time they froze was when I decided where they would sleep....I do believe that they know better, even if they sleep in the snow! Terri O

 

[Miss Lydia]

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How pretty Jl, love the roo. he is such a handsome guy. To keep our chicks in the fence [bantams] we put up the plastic fence up against our regular fence. It's very inexpensive too. the kind that looks like hardware cloth buts plastic.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Aww congrats Terri O would love to see pics of your new ducklings, I love Muscovies, Just don't have the room in our coops for more than 10 so thats what I have. Do you sell yours, or process them?

 

[Jloeffler]

ML: I think that's exactly what I'm going to do. We have some of the plastic poultry netting in our garage loft so I may just run it and zip tie it everywhere there are gaps. Just to be safe!!

Terri o, congrats!! And x2 for pic requests!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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good idea. I thought I saw some on one of your pics.

 

[Animalian]

I candled for the first time today and clearly saw veins and an air sack in two of my four eggs!

WOO for my little first time broody Echo!

One was clear and the other had a dark mass in there, could that one still be ok?

 

[Jloeffler]

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Congratulations on the two developers!! Yay!

I'd give the clear one a few more days if you haven't removed it yet- but I'm a glass half full kinda girl too! The dark mass in the other, if small, like bean sized, is probably good. If larger, like dime sized, it's probably the yolk. TBS I'd let them go a few more days and then candle again.

It's so cool to see the chick developing, isn't it!! I think that's my favorite part of hatching.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Congratulations on the two developers!! Yay!

I'd give the clear one a few more days if you haven't removed it yet- but I'm a glass half full kinda girl too! The dark mass in the other, if small, like bean sized, is probably good. If larger, like dime sized, it's probably the yolk. TBS I'd let them go a few more days and then candle again.

It's so cool to see the chick developing, isn't it!! I think that's my favorite part of hatching.

X2 all the above!

 

[heatherkh]

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Fantastic!! as others have said, couldn't hurt to leave the questionable ones just to be on the safe side.

We integrated the flocks today. GOD that is stressful!! But just as we were told, broody momma kicked some hen butt. There were a few harsh pecks to the chicks here and there, but for the most part the other hens and roo ignored them. And the little ones are fast enough to get away if anyone looks at them sideways. WHEW.

And I'm happy to say that our slow-to-develop little one we had to bring inside for a couple days because it was thin, lethargic, and had a swollen crop perked right back up in record time and is now holding it's own with it's siblings. DOUBLE WHEW as I thought we might lose it.

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

I managed to catch my broody-raised little stink pot yesterday. There is a reason she/he is named Houdini! From just a few days old Houdini has gone where Houdini wanted to go, especially outside the chicken run with Mama Hen yelling to get back here. I have never had a bantam blue Cochin before and Houdini is just beautiful. I finally managed to grab her (I really hope it is a she) and held her in my "calm down" position: firm against my chest. I like to think the chicks feel my warmth and hear my heart, but whatever it is it works on every bird except the guineas. Little Houdini cried and cried. I listened to her troubles then placed her in the baby run. When I went to lock up, Houdini was no where to be found.

Until I looked up. The stinker was on the inside ledge of the chick house. There is more than one reason I named this one Houdini!

Btw, the hatchmate is obviously a boy. I named him Eric. Eric Weiss was Houdini's real name.