Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[michaelinnc84]

Had an interesting near accident this morning.My sweet Buff hen is raising 6 baby Australorps, ( they are about 1 week old) This morning I just happened to walk by and heard loud, distressed peeping. I thought the hen was standing on one of the chicks, because I could see 5 of them. She was picking little pieces of hay and tring her best to make the nest better, but the chick was still peeping. I felt around under her, and found the chick's toenail was wrapped up and stuck in the hen's soft belly fluff! I got it free and all is well. Anyone ever had that happen?

Wow, what a freak accident... chances are probably like 1 in 100,000 of that happening. Glad you were there to get it unstuck.

 

[countrybuffs]

I know! I don't think the chick would have gotten free on it's own because I had to pull the toenail pretty firmly to get it loose! The poor hen was pretty worried!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Had an interesting near accident this morning.My sweet Buff hen is raising 6 baby Australorps, ( they are about 1 week old) This morning I just happened to walk by and heard loud, distressed peeping. I thought the hen was standing on one of the chicks, because I could see 5 of them. She was picking little pieces of hay and tring her best to make the nest better, but the chick was still peeping. I felt around under her, and found the chick's toenail was wrapped up and stuck in the hen's soft belly fluff! I got it free and all is well. Anyone ever had that happen?

No but thank goodness you found it and got it free.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So I can try 4 duck eggs with a bantam?

Anna Karenina just flattened herself out and screamed at me from a top 3 eggs...I can keep hoping right?

I had 4 Muscovy eggs under my bantam but I felt all around her this morning and I don't think she could cover them very well so i took one out so now she has 3.

 

[Morganwood]

Ok I now have absolutely no idea when to expect chicks. I fenced off the broodies this weekend because I know the others were laying in their nests. As a test I marked 4 eggs for a broody that didn't make it into the fenced area. 3 times in one day I checked and the 4 marked eggs were pushed out and she was sitting on a new batch. Grrrr. Now I have have 7 brooding on what I think is one big nest (how many eggs can one chicken sit on?) and one off in the other end of the pen on her own. One of these days I'll come out and see chicks...just can't count down the days because I don't know where they're at.

 

[Frost Homestead]

be sure to keep us updated, thats if you can find time..

will do!

 

[aoxa]

 


 Hey, My broody hatched her chicks out 2 days early, went out yesterday morning and there they were. Waiting to hear about your hatch and Scarletts..   

She pushed out three eggs and is left with one. It is day 22, and I'm afraid that one won't hatch

One egg had been broken a week into her sitting when another one of my hens tried to lay her egg on top of Janet. An egg broke, and I had washed them all. I'm thinking that could be an issue... I really don't know what is going on though. I gave her three chicks and she is keeping them warm well sitting on her lone egg. This is so discouraging!

My hens are all extremely healthy and free range whenever they feel like it. They eat lots of greens and good quality food. Do you think it was because we washed them? I will definitely never do that again. We are already talking about a separate broody coop. I have 8 2 week old chicks and 3 - 3 week old chicks. She has taken well to the younger three I put in with her. She is still not moving from the egg. I do have another broody that I could switch the egg to, but I don't know if that's too risky. This chick is fully developed - I can't see any light other than the air sack. I have candled the egg UNDER her. She lets me stick my flashlight there to see. I think it's moving, but I am trying not to get too positive and be disappointed.

Anyone?

 

[stonykill]

one of my Pekins has been burying all of the eggs in the coop.....

"mama" went back to her nest this am. Wondering if tonight is the night she sits....

 

[michaelinnc84]

I wonder if I made a really small nest box hole if it would keep more then on hen getting in there... to help with broodies? any thoughts on designing nest box so a broody will be left alone?

 

[michaelinnc84]

also should i build nest boxes for my ducks or will they lay and make their nests where they want to? should i put down straw?