Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

AAWWWHHH - chicks with hens are so cute!

The hen is only at day 7, she is still setting on them, but I think she might be getting up more often. Not sure about that though. She really likes that chick though it's really cute because they are both mixed breeds but have the same markings.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well - I tried to snap a pic of Smokey with her babies under her on the roost - only they had other ideas. As soon as I brought out the camera they scrambled. So this was the best I could get, sorry. It was a whole lot cuter yesterday because really only their heads were sticking out.

 

[JakRat]

So I keep leaving baby food for the babies, but the other girls keep eating it! Mom seems more interested with showing them how to forage anyway, so is there anything to stress about?

A few days ago mom found a worm and made this really loud sound as if to say to them "LOOK this is what we search for to eat and it is good"! The babies pecked at it, but finally mom was like ok I'm gonna eat that. It was soo cool.

I dont think I will ever buy chicks again! I just love how easy it is to have mom take care of the babies.

Now if only I can figure out how to fix my one hens sour crop. It is really starting to irritate me.

 

[Tripp16]

So I keep leaving baby food for the babies, but the other girls keep eating it! Mom seems more interested with showing them how to forage anyway, so is there anything to stress about?

A few days ago mom found a worm and made this really loud sound as if to say to them "LOOK this is what we search for to eat and it is good"! The babies pecked at it, but finally mom was like ok I'm gonna eat that. It was soo cool.

I dont think I will ever buy chicks again! I just love how easy it is to have mom take care of the babies.

Now if only I can figure out how to fix my one hens sour crop. It is really starting to irritate me.

I agree. It is sooo much easier to let Mom do it! Heck she has completely integrated her chicks! That may be because she is at the top of the pecking order and everyone stays clear from the chicks because they know they are queens kids!

Still it is MUCH easier! And I think the chicks are better off.

 

[Tripp16]

Well - I tried to snap a pic of Smokey with her babies under her on the roost - only they had other ideas. As soon as I brought out the camera they scrambled. So this was the best I could get, sorry. It was a whole lot cuter yesterday because really only their heads were sticking out.

Ahh look at how big they are! Last night I went out to lock up and shined the light in on Gracie and her chicks and it was like she was fussing at the chicks because they did NOT want to go to bed. They kept trying to crawl out but mom just clucked and they came back under her.

It still amazes me to see her nurture and care for them.

 

[JakRat]

I agree. It is sooo much easier to let Mom do it! Heck she has completely integrated her chicks! That may be because she is at the top of the pecking order and everyone stays clear from the chicks because they know they are queens kids!

Still it is MUCH easier! And I think the chicks are better off.

Funny thing is is that she is the lowest in the pecking order. Still she flaps around and makes so much noise that I think the other girls are like "geez ok just shut up!".

Our rooster is in the coop with the mama and babies right now just kinda watching them. Its super cute. I cant wait to see how my frizzle is going to look. I have never had one before, but geez is that little thing cute.

 

[Fuffy]

WE'RE BACK!!!

Finally Hermione has gone broody again!!!!!

So this year I had sworn I would leave her in the hen house and with the rest of the flock. HA! Fat chance!!!! We had egg swapping and a broken egg!!!! And the wrong hen sitting on the falsies! Oh for goodness' sake!!!!
So last night I set up the broody house in the chicken run righ next to the hen house. After dark i scooped up Hermione and ther 4 falsies and put her in the broody house. She snuggles up and seems quite happy.
This morning I go to let everyone out. OH dear! What a rumpus!!!

Hermione gets up, only to be jumped by the cockerel. The other hens get in the broody house and remove all the lovely clean straw! And 2 of the falsies are gone! I have NO idea where they are!!!!
So now what?! Imagine me in my pj's, in the rain trying to set up a puppy play pen around the little broody house without catching any toes or squishing Hermione, who was shut in hthe house!!!
So then she decides she's not going to be broody any more!!! ARGH!!!!

But she did go back on and hasn't moved all day. So maybe those seemingly gold-plated blue copper maran eggs that should be getting here on Tuesday won't be wasted!
What a palaver!

Could we have some fingers crossing, please?

 

[perchie.girl]

WE'RE BACK!!!

Finally Hermione has gone broody again!!!!!

So this year I had sworn I would leave her in the hen house and with the rest of the flock. HA! Fat chance!!!! We had egg swapping and a broken egg!!!! And the wrong hen sitting on the falsies! Oh for goodness' sake!!!!
So last night I set up the broody house in the chicken run righ next to the hen house. After dark i scooped up Hermione and ther 4 falsies and put her in the broody house. She snuggles up and seems quite happy.
This morning I go to let everyone out. OH dear! What a rumpus!!!

Hermione gets up, only to be jumped by the cockerel. The other hens get in the broody house and remove all the lovely clean straw! And 2 of the falsies are gone! I have NO idea where they are!!!!
So now what?! Imagine me in my pj's, in the rain trying to set up a puppy play pen around the little broody house without catching any toes or squishing Hermione, who was shut in hthe house!!!
So then she decides she's not going to be broody any more!!! ARGH!!!!

But she did go back on and hasn't moved all day. So maybe those seemingly gold-plated blue copper maran eggs that should be getting here on Tuesday won't be wasted!
What a palaver!

Could we have some fingers crossing, please?

 

[hennypenny99]

I thought this would be the best place to ask this question....

How long is is safe for a hen to be broody? I have a little game hen who started sitting on ceramic eggs so we gave her some real ones that were supposed to be fertile. Well she has been on them for going on 25 days now and nothing. I did toss a few 10 days ago or so that were bad. I haven't checked the eggs again but the last two days she gets really aggitated when I come out there and she starts talking when I toss the others some scratch. She isn't confined, she can get up and eat and drink if she wanted to but she doesn't. So if the chicken eggs are all bad my father in law also put a guinea egg under her that would hatch sometime next week. I am going ot try and candle them this afternoon and see if I can tell what is going on.

In the incubator I have some Muscovy ducks that will hatch in a little over 3 weeks but since she has been on her eggs for 3 weeks already do you think she would take a couple Muscovy duck eggs or would that be too long for her? I could go buy her some babies at the store tomorrow morning when the new shipment comes in but I don't know if I would be able to slip them in on her? She watches me like a hawk when I am out there and if I get too close she pecks at me.

Here was my plan if her guinea doesn't hatch...... I am going to take momma off of the nest and put her in a crate. I was going to boil an egg and peal it carefully so that I get at least half of an eggshell intact or maybe use a plastic easter egg half. I will dig a hole out in the hay and drop the trojan chick into the hole in her nest and put the egg shell on top of it's head. It will still be able to climb out if it wants to.... as soon as I let her out of the crate she is always upset and runs right back to her eggs so when she runs back hopefully the chick will still be hidden, she will hear hear peep peep pee and TA DA~~ Happy Momma Chicken..... What do yall think? Am I totally insane?

Or would it maybe work? She want's babies so bad.

 

[Glasshen]

I think if you want to give her chicks, get them and keep them warm until she is sleeping. Take them out and smoothly slip them under her carefully, one at a time. They will all cuddle up, and in the morning she will be happy.

I did this and it was two thirds successful. The broody had chosen a box in the upper level and one chick fell out in between my visits to check and died. Then I found a second one on the ground cheeping loudly, so bundled everyone up and stuck them in my basement in a dog crate. If I had it to do over, I would have them in a crate in the coop...safe but with everyone else.

Good luck, I'll keep watching to see what you and she do.