Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Just open the door and let her bring them out, she'll take care of anyone who may get too close. be standing by just in case but it usually goes with out incident.

So how long do I keep Smokey and her clutch separated in the other side of the coop before trying to integrate them into the flock?

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have been trying to stay away from this thread because I'm not letting my girls set on any eggs this year. I'm excited for everyone who has new babies hatching.

Not even your chickens? oh come on kuntrygirl... I must be crazy because i catch the broody bug too. There are 4 duck eggs sitting in the chicken coop in a nest, noone has claimed them yet, and I have my first broody chicken, Spring is in the air. lol [makes you do strange things]

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have been trying to stay away from this thread because I'm not letting my girls set on any eggs this year. I'm excited for everyone who has new babies hatching.

 Not even your chickens?  oh come on kuntrygirl... I must be crazy because i catch the broody bug too. There are 4 duck eggs sitting in the chicken coop in a nest, noone has claimed them yet, and I have my first broody chicken,  Spring is in the air. lol [makes you do strange things]

Well, Miss Lydia, I'm sad to report but no new baby chickens this year ~ well almost no new baby chickens. I confess that I ordered 40 RIRs from Ideal back in December but they will be my layers. Egg orders have increased and I am not able to keep up with the orders, so I had to get more layers.

I have directed my broody bug to the turkeys, peafowl and geese this year. I have 8 turkey poults and more to hatch under my turkey hens. I have 10 turkey eggs in the incubator. Now, I'm waiting patiently for my pea girls to start laying eggs.

I'll just celebrate everyone else's excitement as far as new baby chicks.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Just open the door and let her bring them out, she'll take care of anyone who may get too close. be standing by just in case but it usually goes with out incident.

Really? No one is going to attack her or the chicks? I know when she rushed out to eat grass early on in the broody days - my AC came over and pecked the heck out of Smokey's neck - Smokey ducked her head down and kept backing away from AC. Smokey was #2 down from the top on the pecking order of pullets. But AC has sinced assumed that role - maybe she was just trying to force Smokey from her spot.

Do I let her out on the 1st day or try to wait until all the eggs are hatched? Smokey has chick food & water in there with her.

 

[littlecreekfarm]

maybe the smell of the egg shells then. I've never noticed any different smell but that doesn't mean there is something wrong by no means. have you put food close by for the chicks? maybe next couple of days if mama doesn't take them out take up the food and put it outside of the coop, she'll take them where the food is. Congrats on your big hatchling, do you know what breed your big one is?

Yes I figured that might be what the smell was. There is food in the house part, they stay there most of the time but sometimes in the nesting box. I might do that if she doesn't take them out within a few days. The big chick is a blue laced red wyandotte, which is what the others are. I think it's strange that he's bigger but no chick is the same. Acctually one of my other broodies stole him and put him in her nesting box

oh boy, all the hens want this one chick and all the eggs! The other 11 eggs are supposed to hatch Thursday. I plan on candling tonight.

 

[Tripp16]

Well tonights the night Im switching Gracies eggs. This is her first serious day of brooding I dont think shes gotten off that nest once. So I put food by the nest and left her some treats.


Im putting 4 EE eggs under her I hope she will be able to keep them all warm but she is managing to keep 8 bantam eggs warm that are unfertile so maybe we will have chicks in about 3 weeks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Really? No one is going to attack her or the chicks? I know when she rushed out to eat grass early on in the broody days - my AC came over and pecked the heck out of Smokey's neck - Smokey ducked her head down and kept backing away from AC. Smokey was #2 down from the top on the pecking order of pullets. But AC has sinced assumed that role - maybe she was just trying to force Smokey from her spot.

Do I let her out on the 1st day or try to wait until all the eggs are hatched? Smokey has chick food & water in there with her.

wait till all eggs that are going to hatch hatch, then maybe on day 2 open up the door and see if she wants to take them out. there maybe some pecking but most of the flock will most likely respect mama hen. they are a force to be reckoned with lol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well tonights the night Im switching Gracies eggs. This is her first serious day of brooding I dont think shes gotten off that nest once. So I put food by the nest and left her some treats.


Im putting 4 EE eggs under her I hope she will be able to keep them all warm but she is managing to keep 8 bantam eggs warm that are unfertile so maybe we will have chicks in about 3 weeks.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes I figured that might be what the smell was. There is food in the house part, they stay there most of the time but sometimes in the nesting box. I might do that if she doesn't take them out within a few days. The big chick is a blue laced red wyandotte, which is what the others are. I think it's strange that he's bigger but no chick is the same. Acctually one of my other broodies stole him and put him in her nesting box

oh boy, all the hens want this one chick and all the eggs! The other 11 eggs are supposed to hatch Thursday. I plan on candling tonight.

Aww it's a popular baby. how cute, did mama not put up a fuss? or was she to busy keeping the rest of the eggs warm? lol.

 

[Tripp16]

Just put the eggs under Gracie (My little BB Red hen) this is her first time so hopefully it will be a success! My friend owns her mom and she said she is a awesome mom so hopefully Gracie will take after her,

I put the eggs in and she looked like I was crazy for sticking my hand under her! LOL I put the 4 EE eggs underneath and she scooted them around until she was comfortable. I cant wait!! Hopefully in 21 days or so we will have some babies!!


Oh funny story, I was talking to my friend earlier and she said Gracies mom decided to set today too! So Mother Daughter hatchings!