Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

And we officially have three healthy babies! Two eggs in the nest have no action. I suspect they are both duds, but we will wait it out to make sure. Yay!!!

congrats! "Mama" was kind enough to let me see 3 little ones here too! I have NO idea how many eggs she is on or haw many have hatched. But she let me see 2 black sumatra chicks and 1 blue Sumatra chick.

 

[meowmmy65]

That's awesome! Good luck with the rest of the hatch.

 

[countrybuffs]

I would like to know if this is a unique situation or what? I hve a really nice Buff Orp hen who is raising 5 black Austrlorps and 1 unknown bantam, they are about 5 weeks old and she is nowhere near done taking care of them. I recently got a black Bantam Faverolles rooster who is older than the chicks, but is not crowing yet. During the day, the hen makes the young rooster keep a distance away, but at bedtime she allows him in the nest with her chicks! Has anyone heard of this before? Here is a picture of them during the day.

 

[bobbieschicks]

And we officially have three healthy babies! Two eggs in the nest have no action. I suspect they are both duds, but we will wait it out to make sure. Yay!!!

Yeah! Pics please!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Quote:
congrats! "Mama" was kind enough to let me see 3 little ones here too! I have NO idea how many eggs she is on or haw many have hatched. But she let me see 2 black sumatra chicks and 1 blue Sumatra chick.

Congrats!

 

[countrybuffs]

Yay for all the new springtime babies

!

 

[Miss Lydia]

And we officially have three healthy babies! Two eggs in the nest have no action. I suspect they are both duds, but we will wait it out to make sure. Yay!!!

Congrats... more pics when you get a chance..

 

[bobbieschicks]

I would like to know if this is a unique situation or what? I hve a really nice Buff Orp hen who is raising 5 black Austrlorps and 1 unknown bantam, they are about 5 weeks old and she is nowhere near done taking care of them. I recently got a black Bantam Faverolles rooster who is older than the chicks, but is not crowing yet. During the day, the hen makes the young rooster keep a distance away, but at bedtime she allows him in the nest with her chicks! Has anyone heard of this before? Here is a picture of them during the day.

Awwhhh that's so sweet! Adorable flock. As far as unusual, I guess anything is possible with a broody momma. If she is letting him in the nest at night she might want the help keeping them warm. I have read how roosters will sometimes help with the chick raising. Maybe that's her angle, or maybe she's just got a soft touch for a cold rooster. It'll probably stop soon as those little ones hit 6 weeks.

 

[TigerLilly]

After 2 years of hoping & waiting for one of my BO hens to go broody, I end up with a broody Ameraucana! I am not complaining, by any means, but who would've thought that out of 5 BOs & 2 yrs of patiences that it would be another hen taking over? I am eggsited to the point of giddy!
I noticed her sitting in the box all day on March 30 & moved her out to collect eggs. She went right back in & stayed. I thought she was just being lazy about roosting (duh) because after wanting a broody for so long & not having one, actually having one go broody on me was the furthest thing from my mind. It hit me the next day, so I've just let her be. She comes of the nest maybe twice a week from what I have seen.
The last time she got off the nest, I counted 14 eggs. Then I found a couple of them pushed out of the nest & at least 2 that have been broken, so I have no idea what she has at this point. I'm even less sure of when to expect chickies since some of the other hens still get in the same nest to lay their eggs...
I'm thinking they should start hatching next week. They will all be EEs & maybe some BR hen/EE roo mixes.

CANT WAIT!

 

[Miss Lydia]

After 2 years of hoping & waiting for one of my BO hens to go broody, I end up with a broody Ameraucana! I am not complaining, by any means, but who would've thought that out of 5 BOs & 2 yrs of patiences that it would be another hen taking over? I am eggsited to the point of giddy!
I noticed her sitting in the box all day on March 30 & moved her out to collect eggs. She went right back in & stayed. I thought she was just being lazy about roosting (duh) because after wanting a broody for so long & not having one, actually having one go broody on me was the furthest thing from my mind. It hit me the next day, so I've just let her be. She comes of the nest maybe twice a week from what I have seen.
The last time she got off the nest, I counted 14 eggs. Then I found a couple of them pushed out of the nest & at least 2 that have been broken, so I have no idea what she has at this point. I'm even less sure of when to expect chickies since some of the other hens still get in the same nest to lay their eggs...
I'm thinking they should start hatching next week. They will all be EEs & maybe some BR hen/EE roo mixes.

CANT WAIT!

Congrats, and keep us posted, and we expect pics. lol