Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Funky Feathers]

2 of my Splash Cochin hens claimed the same nest of 8 call duck eggs, lol!

 

[aaggjg]

Ok so it appears that Nugget is broody!!! It took a week or so for her to decide that she is.... but the eggs stealing and fighting Popcorn yesterday were her! I went down this morning to feed the girls and Nugget was sitting on an egg.... I gave her some blanks to sit on until I am 100% sure she is committed! But of course here comes the question now Nugget is in one of the fav nest boxes! Not the favorite but sometimes favorite of the alpha hen... hmmmm Well I guess only time will tell how this will work out. I am worried about moving Popcorn as she has been sitting a good week but I could perhaps move Nugget.... Hmmmmm decisions decisions ....

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well the second egg died before it finished hatching, but here is the silkie/EE that hatched yesterday. It even has the silkie toes!

What a cutie, sorry about the one that didn't make it..

 

[Miss Lydia]

2 of my Splash Cochin hens claimed the same nest of 8 call duck eggs, lol!

They are beautiful, lets hope they don't smash the eggs..

 

[Miss Lydia]

we have an early one hatching, didn't expect them till tues, went to check lea and was going to candle them, and the first one i picked up peeped at me!! she has 2 others also, so will post when he makes his entrance...

Congrats Robin, looking forward to pics. I also have a hatch day of Tues. but today broody came off the nest acting crazier than normal, and wouldn't go back in so I finally just left it alone. I hope she goes back when we are so close.

 

[heath_elisha]

We have two broody hens at the moment. They should hatch sometime around May 12th and May 16th.

Mother Hen- 12 developing eggs due May 12th. This is her second time......



And Cuckoo - 5 eggs under her. First time broody- second set of eggs. The other ladies wrestled her too much in the coop so we had to move her. First clutch 3 eggs broke and the remaining 5 were abandoned. Started over in the extra large brooder and she has 5. Too soon to check development....

 

[stonykill]

new babies hatching from another Blue Sumatra. I think she has 4. Here are the new mama and 2 lil Black Sumatra's.



And while I was checking on the new mama I had an unexpected very friendly visitor! Which is strange as I don't hold my chickens! Turns out she wanted me to open my workshop so she could lay an egg under the table saw!

 

[Missymac]

Broody tetra tint. Is that common? Gertie has been sitting on 6 random eggs for about 5 days now. I have seen her move to get a drink once, but that is it. The first time she tried this I took her eggs, she pecked me, and then climbed back into her empty nest. The next day she was on her perch watching the nesting box, which was empty, as soon as their was eggs inside of it, she climbed back in and has been sitting since. I decided with the luck I am having with my incubator, I might as well let her be and maybe she can show me how it is done. Anyone else have a broody tetra tint?

 

[Bloomin' Chickens]

I NEED ADVISE SOON------ I have (4) broody hens laying on (7) eggs. My Cochin has (4), my silkie has (1) and I have (2) hens, a Serama and a Silkie laying on (2) eggs (same nesting box) I candled all the eggs today and it looks like we're only days away from hatching. Here's my issue, the broody hens are in the regular coop on floor level nesting boxes. What am I going to do when the eggs start hatching. It sounds like the mothers all need to be seperate so they don't fight each other or hurt the babies. They're also in my coop with the rest of the birds. I can take the babies away when they're born and put them in my brooder, but what will happen to the hens?? WHAT SHOULD I DO?? THESE ARE MY FIRST EGGS WITH MY OWN FLOCK.

 

[stonykill]

I NEED ADVISE SOON------ I have (4) broody hens laying on (7) eggs. My Cochin has (4), my silkie has (1) and I have (2) hens, a Serama and a Silkie laying on (2) eggs (same nesting box) I candled all the eggs today and it looks like we're only days away from hatching. Here's my issue, the broody hens are in the regular coop on floor level nesting boxes. What am I going to do when the eggs start hatching. It sounds like the mothers all need to be seperate so they don't fight each other or hurt the babies. They're also in my coop with the rest of the birds. I can take the babies away when they're born and put them in my brooder, but what will happen to the hens?? WHAT SHOULD I DO?? THESE ARE MY FIRST EGGS WITH MY OWN FLOCK.

I currently have 3 broody's in the same coop only a few feet apart with their lil ones. There is craziness in the morning, but the babies seem to know who is who.

If you are concerned, can you use wood or something to separate the broody's?