Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks everyone!!! I'm working, but I've been told that we've had one hatch. I'll post pictures when I get home later tonight!

 

[Miss Lydia]

My lil hen is on day 4 and she is only on 3 eggs but I'm pretty sure they are fertle, yesterday was the first time that i had let her out and boy did she do a broody poop looked like something my goose would have done. lol and yes has that distinct smell doesn't it. I love the pic. of your hen aoxa that is a great stink eye. when the weather clears uo I'll have to get a pic of mine posted, and I got my 4 EE today they are 2 weeks old and all girls so excited about them too, I'll post pics soon.

Here is my broody going on her 7th day sitting!

I am down to 6 developing eggs. I had to toss two yesterday, as they were not developing at all.
She's doing such a great job! A real trooper!
I know everyone mentioned how bad broody poops smell, but I really shrugged it off.. Oh wow. It's so bad..

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thank you

King George is in Northern VA - east coast. Probably 5 hours east from Charlottesville? I know it takes us about 4 hours to get to Danville VA. Then again we make alot of stops for our special needs son

Hey forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed looking at your page, beautiful coop and chickens too. And where is King George Va. I have a brother who lives in Charlottesville. just curious.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I don't know what is safe thing to do with broodies and chicks since this is my 1st time. So, please help me with this.

I was just out there checking on Smokey & her chicks when Foghorn (lead rooster) got up into the coop where she is with the babies. He was standing there nicely clucking. Everyone was quiet and peaceful. The babies were hopping around cutely when suddenly Foghorn bent down and picked one up with his beak and flung it. I don't know what his intentions were - but Smokey and I didn't give him a second chance. She flew at him and attacked Foghorn and I grabbed him and tossed him out!

What happened? Is the baby maybe a rooster and Foghorn was jealous/requiring respect? Is that typical rooster interaction with chicks? Should I keep them separated longer? I checked the baby - didn't see any visible cuts - momma and babies were upset but seemed okay by the time I closed the door. I'll check on them again in a little while when I close them up for the night.

Foghorn, Francis and Daisy are all being rehomed next week. Which - right now - is a week too long for me! I'm very angry with him and worried for those babies.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Chicken thinks: "get that camera away from me RIGHT NOW! or I'll rip your lungs out"
Human thinks: "oh look how cutely she is looking at me, she's such a sweet momma"

I know what you mean about the toxic smelling poo - hope your hatch goes well!

Here is my broody going on her 7th day sitting!

I am down to 6 developing eggs. I had to toss two yesterday, as they were not developing at all.
She's doing such a great job! A real trooper!
I know everyone mentioned how bad broody poops smell, but I really shrugged it off.. Oh wow. It's so bad..

 

[countrygirl5]

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

I guess I was thinking no eggs cause I already have 12 hens and more eggs than I know what to do with, but if I only had 2, it wouldn't add that much, and if we decided we didn't want/need them I could always feed them to the dog each day. He loves getting his morning egg. ;-) Thanks for the link, I'll have some good reading material now!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I don't know what is safe thing to do with broodies and chicks since this is my 1st time. So, please help me with this.

I was just out there checking on Smokey & her chicks when Foghorn (lead rooster) got up into the coop where she is with the babies. He was standing there nicely clucking. Everyone was quiet and peaceful. The babies were hopping around cutely when suddenly Foghorn bent down and picked one up with his beak and flung it. I don't know what his intentions were - but Smokey and I didn't give him a second chance. She flew at him and attacked Foghorn and I grabbed him and tossed him out!

What happened? Is the baby maybe a rooster and Foghorn was jealous/requiring respect? Is that typical rooster interaction with chicks? Should I keep them separated longer? I checked the baby - didn't see any visible cuts - momma and babies were upset but seemed okay by the time I closed the door. I'll check on them again in a little while when I close them up for the night.

Foghorn, Francis and Daisy are all being rehomed next week. Which - right now - is a week too long for me! I'm very angry with him and worried for those babies.

Last year when our chicks were hatched I never saw either one of my roos being mean to a chick, maybe a peck if it got too close but never picked one up and slung it. I
d say just keep him away from them till gone, that way you won't have to worry about it. Most of the time the roos will stay away from mama and chicks till the chicks are around 4-6 weeks then they start trying to mess with then hens again, but most of my hens were able to keep them at bay, one of my hens a frizzle cochin bantam kept her chicks with her for 12 weeks, she was a mama you didn't want to mess with. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

I guess I was thinking no eggs cause I already have 12 hens and more eggs than I know what to do with, but if I only had 2, it wouldn't add that much, and if we decided we didn't want/need them I could always feed them to the dog each day. He loves getting his morning egg. ;-) Thanks for the link, I'll have some good reading material now!!

Like Niss said drakes are okay together as long as there are not females, but I started out with 2 Muscovy drakes that we rescued from the river, and they were good friends till I brought home the girls. they don't use their claws to hurt us, most Muscovies are pretty laid back drakes more so than the females as far as laying around, the girls are always busy, lol the claws are because muscovies are tree dwelling ducks and use their claws for that purpose, neither one of my drakes have ever scratched me with their claws and I've had the oldest for going on 9 years. They do have messy poo more so than chickens. My chickens and ducks have the same coop but there is a wall separating them, ducks are way messier than chickens and it's not a good idea to put water in their sleeping quaters because you'll end up with wet bedding. Even saying all of this I could not imagine not having ducks in my life, they are funny and personable. Muscovies wag their tails like dogs and eat an enomorous amt of bugs including mosquitos, mine have even ate copper heads. The only draw back to having drakes is that when they become sexually mature they can become quite aggressive towards their owners my oldest drake has never been agressive towards me and hads always acted like a perfect gentleman, my youngest who is 9 months old now and was raised in our home because mama rejected him has been more of a jerk as far as grabbing ahold of my leg and just biting nothing serious but I have had to let him know it's unacceptable behaviour. Now that breeding season is well under way he is much better around me becaue he has his own girls now and is spending much more time with them, he still likes a cuddle once in a while though, I love that duck. I love them all but he'll always be special since we had him from day 1. . I am thinking if and when my drakes go on I'll just have females. the drakes we hatch this year will be sold or put into the freezer, 2 is almost 2 too many. when there are 8 girls to via for.

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[bobbieschicks]

Yes - I think I'll keep her in that wired off area until the roosters are rehomed next week. I was just shocked by it. I had read that the roosters would leave chicks alone and not see them as a threat. I was quite surprized to read otherwise once I did a search here on BYC. It may have happened because Smokey was so laid back about the babies being interacted with - I bet she won't be so laid back now. My guess is she will become very protective of them and probably attack me more too.

Of course the roosters aren't her only nemisis - she was #2 from the top when she went broody and the #3 pullet AC attacked her one day when she came out to take a break in the yard. So she will have to deal with AC & Snow White being mean girls. The LOs probably will be very curious - but they don't strike me as mean. And the Silkie - I doubt she would try anything.

My almost 9 yo daughter is upset that I'm getting rid of Daisy too - she insists that "she" is sweet and won't cause any problems. I keep reminding her that Daisy is a "he" and he will cause problems once the other two roosters are gone. He will crow and mate them. And mostly we don't need a rooster in our small backyard flock.

Last year when our chicks were hatched I never saw either one of my roos being mean to a chick, maybe a peck if it got too close but never picked one up and slung it. I
d say just keep him away from them till gone, that way you won't have to worry about it. Most of the time the roos will stay away from mama and chicks till the chicks are around 4-6 weeks then they start trying to mess with then hens again, but most of my hens were able to keep them at bay, one of my hens a frizzle cochin bantam kept her chicks with her for 12 weeks, she was a mama you didn't want to mess with. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yes - I think I'll keep her in that wired off area until the roosters are rehomed next week. I was just shocked by it. I had read that the roosters would leave chicks alone and not see them as a threat. I was quite surprized to read otherwise once I did a search here on BYC. It may have happened because Smokey was so laid back about the babies being interacted with - I bet she won't be so laid back now. My guess is she will become very protective of them and probably attack me more too.

Of course the roosters aren't her only nemisis - she was #2 from the top when she went broody and the #3 pullet AC attacked her one day when she came out to take a break in the yard. So she will have to deal with AC & Snow White being mean girls. The LOs probably will be very curious - but they don't strike me as mean. And the Silkie - I doubt she would try anything.

My almost 9 yo daughter is upset that I'm getting rid of Daisy too - she insists that "she" is sweet and won't cause any problems. I keep reminding her that Daisy is a "he" and he will cause problems once the other two roosters are gone. He will crow and mate them. And mostly we don't need a rooster in our small backyard flock.

Not having a roo is a personal matter ,but my chickens free range and I would never not have a rooster, I have heard them make the run for cover sound many times and to me thats a valuable reason for having them. Plus I think the girls like having them around, I have found both my roos in the nest box with their girls and being over all very sweet to them.