Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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I'm sorry to hear that. Have you candled again to see if anyone is viable? Do you have a broody chicken by chance?

No, I haven't candled...she doesn't like me, so I'm tring to keep away as much as possible, and, unfortunatly, no, no broody chickens. If I let the duck out of the cage what are the odds she'll make another hidden nest? I would hope she would either come back to the cage to set or deside she's done till spring, but I don't know ducks all that well.

Heather, thanks for the pics.

Today Fluffy and the kids were hanging out at club hen (under the pines) and 3 of the little ones were perched on a branch about 8" off the ground while mama had her bath...too cute!

Are you saying she isn' isn't sitting on her eggs now? They are so crazy when beoody who knows what she may do. If she is not sitting on the eggs then you might as well let her out, but as far as making a nest somewhere else I have no idea about that.

 

[Niss]

less than half the time when I look at her...nothing like the two chickens I've delt with...I must have broke her when I moved her

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Maybe but usually if you move them and lock them up they settle down if serious about brooding. How old did you say she is? It's up to you as to let her out or keep her in there, you might decide to throw the eggs away and keep her penned up for a while longer to make sure she won't run off again. Can you keep her contained in your yard or lot? fenced in.

 

[Niss]

I have a fenced run...if I clipped her wing I could put her in there...I would feel a little bad though as she wouldn't have anyplace to swim...not that she does in the cage. Are ducks just up more frequently than chickens? I know I scare her a bit too...

She is this spring's duckling, 7 months old.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Do you have this link? and your only keeping her there till she is not wanting to brood again. You could put her mate with her just leave her for about a week then she would probably be okay to let out. And a small tub of water would be okay. I really don't know that much about mallards but she might just be too young to get serious and the time of year too with daylight getting shorter and shorter.
oops forgot the link,

http://www.cornerstonefarm.net/wingdemo.html

 

[shellyk]

Just joining in on this thread, My little bantam white cochin hen has only been laying for about 1 1/2 months and has gone broody. She was sitting in the nest box all night for about 3 nights in a row and when I lifted her down to the ground she would just sit there like she didn't know how to walk anymore. I've let her have 7 eggs to sit on, all from different breed hen's and the rooster is a white frizzled bantam cochin. I'm not sure how many of the eggs are fertile but hopefully she'll get a few babies for her efforts, she's been sitting for 6 days now and just getting up once and a while for a giant stinking poop!! Not sure how much she's eating and drinking but hopefully it's enough. If I reach in near her nest I get a good peck but she's not as scary as she thinks she is, lol.
I'm totally new to chickens, just got them in June so I'm very excited to see how this all works out, thanks to BYC for all the great info, Shelly

 

[Miss Lydia]

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AND your in the right place. Congrats on you first broody, it is so much fun and enjoyment to watch mama and chicks together. I hope your hen does real good and she is blessed with some great chicks. [ I am partial to frizzles since I have a Blk bantam cochin frizzle hen who is a wonderful broody and mama] Please keep us updated and let us know as hatch day gets close, and if you have any questions feel free to ask, theres a bunch of seasoned peeps on here to help you out.

Happy Hatching.

 

[perchie.girl]

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and pix please.....

Ooops Pix please after you reach your ten posts.... Got a hair trigger here..... LOL

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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My first frizzle (bantam white rock) hatched at the end of August. I'm TOTALLY hooked!!!

and

 

[shellyk]

I took some pictures of my broody hen on her nest today but it looks like i can't post them yet

I guess I need to do a few more posts. Is there a thread that shows how to post a picture??