Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[AlienChick]

One of my Silkies went broody (again). This time she's in a nest that none of the other chickens use, so she can't steal any eggs.

It's a little crate sitting on the floor of the coop in the corner.

Well, I recently ordered some eggs, so I put three eggs under her since I figured she wasn't sitting on any (or maybe just one -hers).

Anyway, today she got off the nest while I was feeding everyone outside, so I seized the opportunity to rush inside the coop to see how many eggs she was on.

She was sitting on ELEVEN eggs!!! For the life of me I can't figure out how the eggs got there!
She would have had to actually pick up the eggs and carry them across the coop and then climb into her nest crate while holding onto the egg.

There were 10 bantam eggs and one Black Australorp egg in her nest.

I guess the other chickens were using her nest box after all . . .
(But I swear I have never seen any of the chickens use that box, nor have I ever had to retrieve an egg from that box.)

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote:
LOL... her girlfriends are giving her presents....

I had one broody bantam (medium sized not a tiny one) sitting in a depression under the rosemary once. I discovered her one day while working on the coop. I had this feeling I was being watched. I looked down, and heard a growl. It took me a moment to see her, then I laughed and left her alone. Periodically the other hens would plop right down on top of her and hunker in then get up and leave. I finally got a look in there and she was sitting on about twenty eggs. Only about ten hatched They were in the middle. The ambient temperature was about ninety Probably why the high hatch rate.

The extra eggs get rotated in in an attempt to get them warm. making the other eggs get poked out and chilled. I finally learned I needed to put a lid on the whole process to keep the other hens out. That momma hen raised four or five batches that summer till the coyotes got her.... Sigh. In the dirt under the rosemary. And to be honest I didn't know I needed to put out chick food either. I just put out mash and let momma hen pick out the small stuff for the chicks.

Gawd that was a long time ago. before BYC.

 

[CntryGrlFrmTheCty]

I plan on using this method to hatch my eggs in the future when I am finally ready to start my flock. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[lswatson111304]

Well I got home this morning and went to check on her. I picked her up to look for poop and put her in front of the food again and she tore it up! She must have finally realized she was hungry! Yay for her! I absolutely love watching her go back to the nest and how sweet and gentle she is when she snuggles the eggs under herself.

 

[lswatson111304]

Quote:
That is so cool. They continue to amaze me!

 

[silkie4]

Ok so maybe leaving my broody hen and her one egg in the coop isn't such a good idea. We now have the other 4 hens trying to sit in one nesting box with the broody hen and her egg. I think we'll move her tomorrow into the dog cage and put her in the garage. I had thought about the basement but we have 2 cats and curiosity may get the better of them and cause more problems. The garage does not get as cold as the coop so I assume she will be fine. Will the activity in the garage bother her? Moving in/out of cars etc.??? I planned on putting a blanket over the cage to give her some privacy. Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[lswatson111304]

Quote:
My broody is on my porch and my kids and I are up and down it all day and she doesn't seem to be bothered. We don't go out at night so surely she gets rest then. LOL

 

[silkie4]

Thanks lswatson111304, that's what I wanted to hear. Moving day tomorrow, she is only sitting on one egg so hopefully in a few weeks we'll have a baby chick!

 

[Miss Lydia]

So looking forward to hearing about new chicks and seeing pictures. feeds my addiction

AND where is stony he should have peeps by now I think???

 

[newlyweds]

I just hatched 14 chicks about a week ago in my incubator and they are now in my brooder. I forgot how much work that is, I am totally missing my broody hens, can't wait till spring when they do all the work, lol!!