Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

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

You're welcome. I'll stop now so others can have some space to post their pictures as well.

 

[JakRat]

Yall will not believe this. I think I have a second broody hen, in the same nest box........

 

[countrygirl5]

Once the chickens hatch, how long do you keep them away from the flock? And do you have a seperate dish for mamma to eat? Cause new chicks can't/shouldn't eat laying hen food, correct? I plan to have them in a chicken tractor in the beginning so they can forrage and get good and healthy, and get used to the flock. I plan to put it right next to the chicken run so they can see each other. But my chickens are not free-ranging, (unfortunately I have a black lab that would love to eat them for lunch everyday). And I'm not too worried cause all of the ones that hatch are gonna be for eating, but they'll need to co-exist for a few months at least. I plan to set my mammas on the eve of March 16th! Very excited!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Okay last one I promise -

Here is Smokey teaching the babies how to eat the scrambled eggs I made for her. There was quite a commotion and everyone was very nosy. The lead pullet, Snow White was so jealous and she eventually interjected herself into the picture - that's when I called it quits.

 

[stonykill]

Okay last one I promise -

Here is Smokey teaching the babies how to eat the scrambled eggs I made for her. There was quite a commotion and everyone was very nosy. The lead pullet, Snow White was so jealous and she eventually interjected herself into the picture - that's when I called it quits.

that is one mellow mama! My broodys don't allow me to touch them! Well at least not without drawing blood. She is really mellow around the others too. She is very beautiful!

 

[Tripp16]

Okay last one I promise -

Here is Smokey teaching the babies how to eat the scrambled eggs I made for her. There was quite a commotion and everyone was very nosy. The lead pullet, Snow White was so jealous and she eventually interjected herself into the picture - that's when I called it quits.

That is very nice looking roo you got there! The whole flock seemed to be over there welcoming the newcomers!

 

[bobbieschicks]

That is very nice looking roo you got there! The whole flock seemed to be over there welcoming the newcomers!

Thanks, but I think they just wanted the scrambled eggs - LOL- I had fed them a plate and then had a small plate for Smokey. They gobbled up theirs and then came for hers.

 

[bobbieschicks]

that is one mellow mama! My broodys don't allow me to touch them! Well at least not without drawing blood. She is really mellow around the others too. She is very beautiful!

Thank you - she is beautiful. She wasn't so mellow a few minutes ago when I went to check the Wellies for stripes down their backs LOL. She pecked me good. I'll have to check in the next week or so when she lets them come out from under her more. She's missing quite alot of feathers on her underside. I never realized how much feathering they pluck away to hatch those babies.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank you - she is beautiful. She wasn't so mellow a few minutes ago when I went to check the Wellies for stripes down their backs LOL. She pecked me good. I'll have to check in the next week or so when she lets them come out from under her more. She's missing quite alot of feathers on her underside. I never realized how much feathering they pluck away to hatch those babies.

Love all the pics and the video, they are adorable.. 1 thing you don't have to do when you have a broody is show chicks where food and water is, mama will take care of it all. Congrats on the new chicks..

 

[Miss Lydia]

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. . .

Why not duck eggs they are great for using in baking, and alot of folks eat them, I don't cook them because my dh won't eat them but i use them in cornbread and breads and cakes brownies etc. the reason i am asking is because 2 girls would be better than 2 boys. I'll get you those links.

http://feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKRaisingDucklings.html