Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Tripp16]

Hey everyone, I've got a broody cochin sitting 12 bantam eggs, that are due to hatch on the 19th! It an unplanned birthday hatch, as my birthday is 20th, I'm so happy! This is my second time trying to hatch eggs under a broody. The 1st time all the eggs were duds

. But now with 6 days to go I've got some questions.… I have her in a small pen inside my coop but new chicks could easily go thru the wire, can I move her into a breeder pen inside the coop after they hatch?
How long should I keep her and the chicks seperate from the flock?
And if she leaves the nest with the 1st chick out, can I confine her and the chick to the nest box(large tote) so she'll stay on the eggs?
Thanks!

We have the same hatch day!!! I cant wait!! My BB Red bantam is sitting on 4 EE eggs. Im not much help but your questions will be answered shortly, believe me!

 

[wildriverswolf90]

Quote: We have the same hatch day!!! I cant wait!! My BB Red bantam is sitting on 4 EE eggs. Im not much help but your questions will be answered shortly, believe me!

Cool! I hope they all hatch!

 

[Tripp16]

Cool! I hope they all hatch!

Thanks! Same to you!

 

[aoxa]

This was candled at day 16 - today is day 18 (?) Set them on early Saturday morning (Feb 25) Thought they would be due on March 17th. correct me if I'm wrong!! - Silkie egg died three days ago.. down to four babies, all active and kicking.

Janet has moved to a HUGE blue cage for her to keep her babies safe from the flock for the first little while.

I dare you to touch her eggs....

 

[JakRat]

SO here is a question: Should I bring my little banty rooster in to hang out with my silkie and her babies when they hatch so that he protects them when they go outside? When I had my other 6 week olds he kept them warm and was a good daddy. He didnt protect them as much as I would have liked though. I am worried about putting them all back in the coop. My silkie is the lowest on the pecking order and I just dont want any mayhem. Any ideas other than putting a dog crate in the coop?

 

[Tripp16]

This was candled at day 16 - today is day 18 (?) Set them on early Saturday morning (Feb 25) Thought they would be due on March 17th. correct me if I'm wrong!! - Silkie egg died three days ago.. down to four babies, all active and kicking.

Janet has moved to a HUGE blue cage for her to keep her babies safe from the flock for the first little while.

I dare you to touch her eggs....

I love how big they get! I have a bantam hen and I thought she was big! Janet looks like nice warm momma! Haha

 

[JakRat]

One of the eggs under my Silkie is this ones niece!!!

I hope that she is like her aunt!!!!!

<a href="https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/image/view/album/5959105/id/4985966/sort/display_order"><img src="https://www.backyardchickens.com/image/id/6612470/width/400/flags/LL"></a>


She was sleeping on my shoulder while we were cleaning up the yard... super cutie

 

[artsyrobin]

ok guys, little guy is still working on it,






he will make it ok ??

 

[JakRat]

So never a dull moment with a broody right?

I was hanging out with mine, when I heard a very odd sound... she totaly farted... I kid you not. Unfortunately it was followed by her leaking a clear substance which I then proceeded to pick her up to make sure that she wasnt going to poop on her nest... that liquid then got on my arm and burned really bad!!!!


The things we do for our hens right...


When I candled the eggs it looked as though some were farther along than others. Is that normal?

 

[artsyrobin]

ok, went to check and the egg shell had crushed- not sure if moma was too aggressive or what, so i intervened- everything i have read says not to, but i did, at first i thought he was gone, hubby said to put him in the bator to keep him warm, so i got an egg carton and put him in it, shaped like he would in the egg, he was faintly breathing, just went and checked and his little head came up and he look around and was chirping, so i thought i may want to leave him in there over nite?