Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Adorable!

X2!!

 

[featherz]

Just put a bunch of eggs under TWO broodies in my large coop. I've never separated my broodies before and this is a huge coop, so hopefully I won't have to this time - however, these are first timers.

One is an orange something mix (too red to be a BO and too orange to be a red so she's just orange. ) and the other is a turken. The turken is sweet when I check eggs, but the other one is a real you-know-what.

Should be interesting! Oh, forgot.. Might have THREE broodies. I had a speckled sussex disappear a few days ago and assumed she was taken by a predator - but the next morning she showed up before I opened up any of the other coops.. and she's gone again. I am thinking.. hidden nest in the woods? No clue where she's hiding, tho! If I do find her and the eggs, will moving them break her broodiness? I think she's in danger of being eaten out there!

 

[artsyrobin]

well...lea is at it again! silly EE wants to hatch more.... i have nowhere to put her, the old coop is leaky, the bathroom has 7 new babies, cochins, so i guess i'll give her a few eggs in the big coop and see how she does... i don't need more chicks... but can't resist her begging eyes....

 

[bobbieschicks]

Just put a bunch of eggs under TWO broodies in my large coop. I've never separated my broodies before and this is a huge coop, so hopefully I won't have to this time - however, these are first timers.

One is an orange something mix (too red to be a BO and too orange to be a red so she's just orange. ) and the other is a turken. The turken is sweet when I check eggs, but the other one is a real you-know-what.

Should be interesting! Oh, forgot.. Might have THREE broodies. I had a speckled sussex disappear a few days ago and assumed she was taken by a predator - but the next morning she showed up before I opened up any of the other coops.. and she's gone again. I am thinking.. hidden nest in the woods? No clue where she's hiding, tho! If I do find her and the eggs, will moving them break her broodiness? I think she's in danger of being eaten out there!

Seems to me the ones who like hidden nests don't take well to moves. But you could try. You may have to be ready to put the eggs in a bator instead. Keep us posted!

 

[bobbieschicks]

well...lea is at it again! silly EE wants to hatch more.... i have nowhere to put her, the old coop is leaky, the bathroom has 7 new babies, cochins, so i guess i'll give her a few eggs in the big coop and see how she does... i don't need more chicks... but can't resist her begging eyes....

Haha! Go for it!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Went to lock up and everyone except my silkie pullet made it in before the door closed. I'll have to increase the time since its staying light longer now.

But I did notice all three babies were on the roost. One wellie was off by himself. The other wellie was sitting next to Smokey and the AM was sitting under Smokey. So she's still tolerating them somewhat. Which is good because it's supposed to drop into the 40s overnight. I hope the wellie by himself will snuggle with one of the other chicks.

 

[stonykill]

this years broody's are making me crazy. broke 4 already this year.

. Checked on "Mama". Woke her up

. She had her head under her wing. Flat as a pancake

 

[karlamaria]

My broody hen was given 5 eggs 3 days ago and she is doing wonderful! We took her off her nest yesterday to eat drink and poop, and again today both times for less then ten minutes, is this safe? We worry with her not eating any food or drinking she will get sick. She has never had fertile eggs before, but when she became broody weeks ago we decided to allow her to have a family because she is so broody and it's almost impossible to breah her from it. so we bought fertile eggs from a sweet family put ten under her and She is so happy sitting, she is determined and I would hate for us to harm this in any way. We put her in a Broody box because the other chickens also lay in the same nest, were bothering her. We set up the separate hutch and put it on the front porch since its cold out still and the hutch has an open end. She is loving the privacy, and refuses to get off those eggs even to drink water. That's why we lifted her off for food and water. Is this ok to do or should we just leave her alone. WhT out taking her out, she will not eat or drink even though there is food in the hutch with her. Once we take her out side she drinks and eats really well, gives the big poop and we then take her and set her ack on her eggs.

 

[Tripp16]

this years broody's are making me crazy. broke 4 already this year.

. Checked on "Mama". Woke her up

. She had her head under her wing. Flat as a pancake

Im with you! My little bantam hen spoiled me because she just went broody one day and didnt wait and wait. But my Barred rock has been sitting on the nest for hours for about a week and a half just screeching but she only sits for like 3 or 4 hours. She got me excited this morning because she was on the nest flaring her tail feathers and sreeching like mad. Well I went out after work tonight and she was on the roost. Dont know how long she sat today.

I just keep saying maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow.... LOL

 

[stonykill]

Im with you! My little bantam hen spoiled me because she just went broody one day and didnt wait and wait. But my Barred rock has been sitting on the nest for hours for about a week and a half just screeching but she only sits for like 3 or 4 hours. She got me excited this morning because she was on the nest flaring her tail feathers and sreeching like mad. Well I went out after work tonight and she was on the roost. Dont know how long she sat today.

I just keep saying maybe tomorrow, maybe tomorrow.... LOL

mine sit just fine. Outside in the bushes where it isn't safe