Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah! 4 chicks is great!

Smokey wouldn't let me mess with her or her eggs - I had to wear my suede gloves to move her off the nest if I needed access to the eggs. So I just left her alone most of the time and she did everything just fine. When the 1st baby hatched it did so under her. I saw a broken egg piece sticking out from her feathers and thought she broke an egg. Then I noticed something moving under her and found it was the little AM tucked under her breast and wing. I also noticed a pip on another egg so I left her alone some more. She moved the eggs around as needed and adjusted her body as needed and the eggs hatched directly under her. I picked the shells out as I could - but some of them were stuck to her feathers so I just left those alone. I could reach in front better then behind as well. I'm glad I didn't pick up the chicks much as they have bonded well with momma and I'm really glad I didn't take them inside - they are thriving outdoors in this 50F+ with momma as their heat source and merging right along with the larger flock. The two I had in the brooder are now 5 weeks old and still separated because they are too small to merge in having no one bigger to protect them. Even the babies were pecking at them when I tried the other day.

Can't wait to see pics!

Guess who now has 4 babies cookin!?!??! ME!!! Well my silkie Elvira is sitting on them

It is sooo neat to see them growing in the egg!

Elvira was a bit mad at me today. I guess she is just in a mood not to be touched. It is interesting though, there are sides of her that she will let me touch and others she wont. I wonder if there is a connection to where the eggs are and where she will let me touch her. She will let me take the eggs that are right up front under her, but if I go near her wings or her back she pecks me a bit... nothing hard just more of a "hey you back away from there".

I am trying to handle her and her eggs everyday so that incase there is trouble with the babies, she wont freak out AS much.

Silly question though: Do the eggs hatch under her? I have only seen the incubator babies on here so sorry if that sounds ignorant. I assumed that they did, but I was just worried about the set of complications that comes with that too.

 

[Glasshen]

Yesterday it was very warm, about 65, so I dragged the dog crate outside into the chicken pen. Broody Mom was very excited, finally she coud show the chicks how to scratch up real dirt. But rain was in the forecast, so I moved the crate into the coop. Mom and the kids settled in fine, but Claire was very upset, complaining loudly, and at sunset had still not layed her egg, which I could feel was ready to be layed. Hopefully she will find the world is a better place today, and get that egg out.

 

[countrygirl5]

I am so bummed still that my buff orp. quite her nest after 6days.

I live in a small farming town in NE Iowa and there is only one hatchery that is close by. I want to add more hens to my flock that will be better brooders. I would love to use silkies, but no one around here has them, and I've never had chicks shipped, and frankly am a little scared of that. Plus it's expensive to ship them. So, here are my options at my local hatchery that I've done research on and have broody tendencies. I was wondering if anyone could give me input on their experiences with these hens.

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes
Rhode Island Reds
Milliefleur

Thanks!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yesterday it was very warm, about 65, so I dragged the dog crate outside into the chicken pen. Broody Mom was very excited, finally she coud show the chicks how to scratch up real dirt. But rain was in the forecast, so I moved the crate into the coop. Mom and the kids settled in fine, but Claire was very upset, complaining loudly, and at sunset had still not layed her egg, which I could feel was ready to be layed. Hopefully she will find the world is a better place today, and get that egg out.

Have we seen pics of mama and chicks?

 

[Miss Lydia]

No hatches yet but they won't let me get close enough to get a good look. Starting to wonder if I got my dates off. Grrrrr. Dare I candle or will that mess with ones that may be about to hatch?

If you can candle without getting blood drawn go ahead, my hens don't seem to mind, some do though..

First time I picked up an egg and heard chipping I almost dropped it, wow was that awesome..

 

[Miss Lydia]

I am so bummed still that my buff orp. quite her nest after 6days.

I live in a small farming town in NE Iowa and there is only one hatchery that is close by. I want to add more hens to my flock that will be better brooders. I would love to use silkies, but no one around here has them, and I've never had chicks shipped, and frankly am a little scared of that. Plus it's expensive to ship them. So, here are my options at my local hatchery that I've done research on and have broody tendencies. I was wondering if anyone could give me input on their experiences with these hens.

Blue Laced Red Wyandottes
Rhode Island Reds
Milliefleur

Thanks!

Looky what I found...
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGP/Wyand/BRKWyandChix.html I just read on line they also make devoted mothers!

 

[PoppiesChicks]

I put a few eggs under one of my broody's. I have since had 3 other hens take their turn on the eggs. Today is day 21 and I didn't think I'd have any luck but I went out to check and there's already one chick!!! I can't believe that they are hatching. How exciting! The other hens are a little nuts right now. They keep trying to get in the nesting box with her. I think I'll leave the other eggs in and see if someone else jumps in to hatch out the rest. I didn't move my broody do she's in the main coop and hens have been laying in the box when she got out to get a drink. I cant wait to see how many hatch. I just love nature and chickens!

 

[Miss Lydia]

I put a few eggs under one of my broody's. I have since had 3 other hens take their turn on the eggs. Today is day 21 and I didn't think I'd have any luck but I went out to check and there's already one chick!!! I can't believe that they are hatching. How exciting! The other hens are a little nuts right now. They keep trying to get in the nesting box with her. I think I'll leave the other eggs in and see if someone else jumps in to hatch out the rest. I didn't move my broody do she's in the main coop and hens have been laying in the box when she got out to get a drink. I cant wait to see how many hatch. I just love nature and chickens!

Congrats!! how many eggs under her?

 

[Niss]

I think a couple people owe us photos

Countygirl--what about feed stores, tractor supply, ect? Our local feed store doesn't have a limit. TSC has a 6 chick minimum, but they get in a good variety...

 

[Tripp16]

I think a couple people owe us photos

Countygirl--what about feed stores, tractor supply, ect? Our local feed store doesn't have a limit. TSC has a 6 chick minimum, but they get in a good variety...

Yeah I couldnt believe it but my local TSC had assorted bantams! I just thought they carried layers and broilers. Not that bantams dont lay but you get what Im saying!