Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

It sounds so exciting! I sure hope Gracie can hatch some! Its not pouring down rain here but last night it rained pretty hard its just really damp and the humididity is about 50 with the temp. being 50F

Will she handle all the humidity/ heat issues? Because when I hatch with the bator I know I dry hatch but its definetely not dry out. Did your spokey take care of everything?

Mama hens have been doing this alot longer than us and know just what to do, she'll move the eggs around so they all have diff temps cooling and heat, she will be fine and so will the eggs/chicks. Try not to worry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It is damp, pouring down rain and 45F, so I decided to turn on the heat lamp. I have it about 30" away angled towards Smokey and her nest. The thermometer reads 47F right now. I will check her again after lunch. What temp do you think I should keep it dialed to? I have a dimmer on the 200watt red heat light.
She looks like she's still trying to hatch more eggs as she is rotating them under her breast. I didn't see the babies this time as I didn't want to keep bothering her. But she has them under her, I can tell by her moving feathers and clucks

This is so exciting! I'm disappointed I messed up the bator eggs, but I'm very excited for Smokey. All the chickens are huddled under that side of the coop listening in on the new arrivals.

I wouldn't use a heat lamp at all, she can keep the babies toasty warm and they will be alot hardier if they aren't coddled. Hopefully you'll get more chicks today!!

Have you ever read this? http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[bobbieschicks]

I wouldn't use a heat lamp at all, she can keep the babies toasty warm and they will be alot hardier if they aren't coddled. Hopefully you'll get more chicks today!!

Have you ever read this? http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

Okay I'll take the lamp back off her - but leave it out there just in case it drops down colder. It's supposed to be in the 40Fs at night and a couple of nights coming up will be 30Fs.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I turned the lamp off and when I was there I got a visit from Smokey's 1st baby - see her peeking out from behind Smokey's wing.

 

[Tripp16]

I turned the lamp off and when I was there I got a visit from Smokey's 1st baby - see her peeking out from behind Smokey's wing.

Look at it. He just wants to see the world! Haha

 

[Tripp16]

Mama hens have been doing this alot longer than us and know just what to do, she'll move the eggs around so they all have diff temps cooling and heat, she will be fine and so will the eggs/chicks. Try not to worry.

Oh these last 19 days are going to so hard. I put a few treats near her food near the nest. She just stretched out and ate up some grass. I guess she knows its cold out so she doesnt need to get off as much as yesterday since yesterday it was in the 70s!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Oh these last 19 days are going to so hard. I put a few treats near her food near the nest. She just stretched out and ate up some grass. I guess she knows its cold out so she doesnt need to get off as much as yesterday since yesterday it was in the 70s!

Awwh she'll do fine. The time goes by fast. My hardest part was just leaving her alone. I wanted to help her all the time, but she didn't need my help.

Now that she's hatching I want to hang out inside the coop with her LOL. It's so cool to watch her move the eggs around to warm them and take care of the babies too. I loved seeing those little brown Wellies under her. I haven't seen them lately so they must be deep up under her drying off still. I'll check again in a little while.

 

[Tripp16]

Awwh she'll do fine. The time goes by fast. My hardest part was just leaving her alone. I wanted to help her all the time, but she didn't need my help.

Now that she's hatching I want to hang out inside the coop with her LOL. It's so cool to watch her move the eggs around to warm them and take care of the babies too. I loved seeing those little brown Wellies under her. I haven't seen them lately so they must be deep up under her drying off still. I'll check again in a little while.

I know! The time flew by last time in the bator. But like you said I want to sit out there and watch her the whole time I love seeing her turning the eggs and sttling down. It just shows how dedicated a mother hen has to be.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Serious cuteness!!

Thanks for sharing.

Without the lamp, if it's chilly, you will likely just find the little ones spend more time under mom which is as it should be. You may see heads from time to time but that's about it. You might even get to learn the "I'm cold" scream and watch mom scramble and scoop when she hears it!!

I turned the lamp off and when I was there I got a visit from Smokey's 1st baby - see her peeking out from behind Smokey's wing.

 

[Nimby Chickens]

I have a question for you guys. I have 2 broody hens right now, Black Betty and Midna. They are sitting on the same nest, stealing eggs back and forth. They don't get angry with each other and have sat about a week now on eggs together. I have already candled and removed the duds and there are like 7 eggs left.

Will they be okay? Will they raise the chicks together peacefully? I put all the eggs out there at the same time so they have the same due date.

These are my first broody hens and I am trying to just let mama do it.