Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

How certain are we that a 1st time broody pullet will know when to stop sitting on the remaining nest eggs and start taking care of her chicks? The 3 chicks hatched out Tuesday and she's still sitting on the other 5 eggs this morning. Is it still likely that a chick will hatch this late? Should I go remove the rest of the eggs? Candle them? Leave them alone and trust her?

Yesterday evening I took the babies out from under her one by one and dunked their beaks in the water - but I haven't seen them come out and eat food - and there's no evidence of her having gotten up to do the same. I put a dish of food in front of Smokey and she eat a little and took some food and splashed it towards herself with her beak - maybe she was saving it for them for later?

 

[countrygirl5]

I would love thos links. I have wanted ducks for awhile. I am looking into muscovy's cause they are supposed to be great for insect control, but don't require alot of water like some ducks. My main concers about the breed however are their sharp toes, and the poo. Do they have yucky slimy poo like all other ducks? I only have 1 acre so I'd probably only get two ducks, and I really don't want the eggs, so would I be able to have 2 drakes or would they fight and try to fly off to find hens to reproduce with? Plus I don't have any place other than my chicken coop for them at this time so would I have to build a new house for them? I could put them in my greenhouse, but. . .so many questions. . .

I don't think I'd want to try shipping. But Charlotte is about 21/2 hrs from us. But if you can get what you want at TSC then that would be better. Best thing to do is read up on how to raise ducklings I can find some great links for you if your really interested.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well, today I got my answer about when she'll leave the unhatched eggs.

I was out there cleaning up the coop and I checked on her. She stood up and walked over to show the babies where to drink and eat. She did not return to the nest and the eggs were no longer warm. I removed them & the ones from the bator. It was an expensive lesson - but I now know not to put more then a few eggs under a new broody and to keep the incubator humidity & temp levels correct just as a back up. Also I will chose to use a broody before I use a bator in the future.
We celebrate the 3 new baby chicks- 2 Welsummers and 1 Ameraucana! Praying that they are all pullets!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I opened up her side of the coop while I was cleaning out the other side - in that brief amount of time a Lavender Orpington pullet climbed inside and sniffed around I shooed her away, then the White Leghorn rooster got into the corner of her coop and was making his "treat" cluck sound so 2 Lavender Orpington pullets got up in the doorway and peered inside. Smokey looked agitated and puffed up and the babies stayed under her for the most part. But I got scared - so I shooed the LOs away and then the WL roo acted like he was going to go over to Smokey so I removed him from her side and closed the door. I didn't know what his intentions were. He and Smokey were communicating because I heard her cluck something at him and he clucked something at her. It didn't sound threatening - but I felt unsure about it.

Phew! Such drama! I guess I know she'll protect those babies with her life - I'm just worried about her and all those curious/jealous pullets/roos. I think I'll give it another day or two before I let her out with them for my own sanity. She's protected and they seem happy under her wings.

 

[JakRat]

I would candle them at day 7 of her sitting on them - toss the clears and keep the rest. Let her sit on them and see what happens.

Will do! I am dying to candle!!!

Right now she is in the top of our coop with a heat lamp (they are the weirdest chickens and love that heat lamp). We have weather proofed it so there is not much light up there other than the lamp. Is it ok for her to be in that much darkness all day?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Will do! I am dying to candle!!!

Right now she is in the top of our coop with a heat lamp (they are the weirdest chickens and love that heat lamp). We have weather proofed it so there is not much light up there other than the lamp. Is it ok for her to be in that much darkness all day?

She will be fine. She probably prefers the dark area for her nest. At least that's why they say to have a dark nest box for the layers.

 

[JakRat]

She will be fine. She probably prefers the dark area for her nest. At least that's why they say to have a dark nest box for the layers.

Great thanks!

BTW I love your avatar picture. Love the colors! It is just beautiful

 

[Niss]

Thanks for all the photos! I'm having cuteness overload.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Quote:


Thanks! Foghorn is a beautiful rooster.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Here are the babies getting a lesson on eating from Smokey she attracted quite a crowd