Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Zootopia]

Wow, lots going on here lately. Our Cuckoo Maran hen that booted the Welsumer hatched a chick Easter morning, the Grandkids were thrilled. They had watched a chick zipp in the bator the night befor and then Easter while the eggs were being hidden for the littles, we went to the hen house to see the "Nest Box Kittens" and we had a new chick as well. What a neat Easter treat for everyone.
Now I have 2 broody Black stars that I gave 10 guinea eggs each to. Hope the momma can teach them to come in to roost at night.

 

[This_chicks_place]

Mama's hatch must still be going on. I hear the cheeping, but she hasn't been out with any fuzzy butts.



a good friend called last night to tell me a mountain lion lept from white line to white line in front of him last night into my yard. NYS DEC deny's we have them. I have another friend with pictures of one. DEC still denies we have them. Buttheads

Congrats on the hatch! And thank you for the advice. I think I will block her in the nest on hatch day so they don't fall out and remove the netting after a day so she can do her thing with the new babies. Post some pics of your chickies when you get to see them!

 

[Long Last Farm]

that will be a good move. keep us updated.

Thanks, I will! Pat

 

[bobbieschicks]

Been a long time since I was in here. Got a broody, and I was wondering if I could slip chicks as old as 2~3 weeks under her? I got them from the feed store on Easter and I think they were a week old then. Thanks ; )

They're still pretty young so it may work. But they may just be afraid and not listen to her. You could try doing the move at night and see what happens in the morning. Put the babies under her after dark. Make sure the chicks can get away if she attacks them. It's hard to say what a broody will do until you give it a go. Let us know ow it goes.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Wow, lots going on here lately. Our Cuckoo Maran hen that booted the Welsumer hatched a chick Easter morning, the Grandkids were thrilled. They had watched a chick zipp in the bator the night befor and then Easter while the eggs were being hidden for the littles, we went to the hen house to see the "Nest Box Kittens" and we had a new chick as well. What a neat Easter treat for everyone.
Now I have 2 broody Black stars that I gave 10 guinea eggs each to. Hope the momma can teach them to come in to roost at night.

Yeah! Congrats on all the Easter surprises!

 

[bobbieschicks]

My two broodies are doing well.. it's going to be hot tomorrow, but thankfully they are in the coolest coop I have. I did see my 'broody in the woods' chicken today, so she is still alive. I tried to track back where her nest is but she managed to give me the slip. I have three other identical chickens, but figured out she was 'out and about' today because she was waddling around poofed up, squawking at everyone and clucking non stop (that broody cluck). Did a head count and sure enough, my prodigal hen was back and alive. so far. =(

That's great! Maybe soon she'll come waddling over with her brood!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Quote:
Thank You for the advice! I think we might just put some net over the bottom edge of the box when hatching starts, then take it down after a day or so and let her do her thing with the chicks. I am so excited, the days are not going by fast enough! I will post pics when the time comes. She is a Lavender Orp and she is hatching some rumpless araucanas. I really want some blue eggs!

I love my lavender orps, such big butt girls! I can't wait for one of them to go broody, I could probably fit a dozen eggs under those girls. Unlike my little EE Smokey who barely covered eight. Haha! Smokey did hatch me a cute black Ameraucana. So hopefully I'll be getting some blue eggs in my future too! Let us know how things go and post those chick pics please!

 

[vmdanielsen]

What does everybody use for nesting material when using a broody?

I thought I had read that shavings are bad, but can't remember why????
Thanks for any and all input!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thank You for the advice! I think we might just put some net over the bottom edge of the box when hatching starts, then take it down after a day or so and let her do her thing with the chicks. I am so excited, the days are not going by fast enough! I will post pics when the time comes. She is a Lavender Orp and she is hatching some rumpless araucanas. I really want some blue eggs!

sounds lovely..

 

[stonykill]

My two broodies are doing well.. it's going to be hot tomorrow, but thankfully they are in the coolest coop I have. I did see my 'broody in the woods' chicken today, so she is still alive. I tried to track back where her nest is but she managed to give me the slip. I have three other identical chickens, but figured out she was 'out and about' today because she was waddling around poofed up, squawking at everyone and clucking non stop (that broody cluck). Did a head count and sure enough, my prodigal hen was back and alive. so far. =(

glad to hear she is still alive and well! Hopefully you will locate her soon.