Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

perchie.girl :

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How adorable is that.

Pretty adorable....

 

[HetaChick]

Just thought i'd share this here, my first time mama hen

LOVE BROODIES

 

[stonykill]

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thats just about the cutest pic ever

 

[HetaChick]

Aww thanks! She looks so happy doesn't she?

 

[stonykill]

2 of my 14 successful broody's from this past year. "Mama" (yeah that's her name) the blue hen, had 3 broods this past year. This is her 2nd brood pictured, with another broody who hatched her brood 3 days after mama. They hung out together everywhere, and somehow everyone knew who's chick was who's. Can't wait for spring!

 

[HetaChick]

AWWW!!! What an appropriate name then too XD

They'e so cute and very pretty! Also my chicken's name is Chicken. *shrugs* at least it's accurate XD

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I love the pic. Congrats!! and hoping you have many more broodys.

 

[CheekyMare]

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Awwww.


My last one hatched! 6/6! Good momma! We thought these were due next week. I was planning on candling tonight. lol

 

[HetaChick]

Ohhhh! I get that! These all hatched on day 19, bar about 5 that hatched EARLY on day 20. There are 11 chicks in all but only 10 stay with mama.
The last five actually needed help out of the egg because my broody got so excited after the first 7 she got impatient and didn't keep up the heat and humidity. Thank goodness for the incubator I JUST bought a few weeks ago!

Either way the one that hatched 3rd to last was really REALLY tiny and frail. Mama kept stepping on them and I feared the worst so I kept it myself. WOW so much better now.
This is Aiko the lovable outcast.

Everything is great except when she is with the others now she just stands there and looks at me like "Uhhh what are these?" and pecks their faces when they come close (or their toes ) even though she's half their size XD That's a game fowl for ya.


I feel like i had as much to do with their success as the mama, which is probably a huge stretch but all chicks are alive and well so i feel pretty good about it, however i don't think I'll be hatching one bantam with a raft of standard breeds again.

My broody is really young too, I got her last may at about 3 or 2 days old and hand raised her. She's never been around other chickens before except when she hatched and her chicks, I'm glad she's finally with other birds. I felt bad, but I wasn't gonna risk her health bringing in one.

Thank you for all the comments! I'd like to see pics of all your broodies and chicks too!~ Seeing the happy faces of mom and chicks alike is so adorable. and you gotta love the 100% hatch rates too… you know. Why is it that broodies seem to have it so much easier hatching when they get off once or twice a day and we try our best not to touch the incubator more than we have to? AH, the love of a mother.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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What a precious face

and love the story. now you are an offical broody mama! Congrats on the Great hatch!! Most of us are waiting a while to let our girls start brooding It's hard to do but with the weather for myself I feel it's best.
It's so much fun to come on here though and live through others that are still getting broodies and chicks in the dead of winter..