Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

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...

Yeah! I almost missed this announcement there's been so much happening! Can't wait to see pics!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks everyone! Miss Henrietta was off the nest when I got home from church this afternoon. But the eggs were warm and she was still clucking. Sure enough she grabbed p tsomething to eat and headed back up her lair. LOL


Now my little Old English Bantam Patience is on the nest with her little clutch of two eggs screeching. I hope she does decide to get serious because I will put a few of my bantam eggs under her.

Great job broody! Man I wish I had another broody.

 

[Tripp16]

Ok I dont know what to do! Im a little nervous about the next 21 days.....

Well last night was the first night Henrietta (Barred Rock) stayed on the nest. Well she stayed on it all morning until about 2:30. She got off and really freaked me out because I had just put real eggs under her rather then make her sit on Golf balls. Anyways! She was off the nest in the run doing the broody cluck walking around all puffed up scratching and preening. She wouldnt let the rooster mate her but she also wasn't acting like she was going to get back on.

She came in and walked up the ladder and started fluffing up and screeching then she hopped back down. Well it was a warm day but I wasnt taking the chance of her snapping out of it so I picked her and set her back on the perch thats when she looked in the nest walked in and sat down and didnt get back up all day.

BUT my question is will she do this everyday? Im worried she may not get back up and snap out of it? I am hoping the more days she sits the more serious she gets...

What do you guys think?

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Yes she'll get up every day, she has to eat drink and potty. You'll get nervous every time she does, but eventually she should get back in the right nest. If the box is big enough you can give her food and water, but she'll probably just make a mess LOL.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ok, I cannot figure out how to post a video.

So here is a pic of Miss Lily-broody queen!

She's beautiful, but with all those feathers those chicks maybe full grown before you see them.. JK Congrats

 

[SamJacobbe]

Hey everyone!



My d'Uccle eggs started hatching tonight!! Two have externally pipped, five have internally, two not yet, and three more still have about a week to go (late starters). Their mom will keep pecking at me until she draws blood, even if my hand stops moving.



I did a test and had my hand hand-walk on it's fingers towards her and she kept pecking, even when I stopped moving completely, until she saw red. Apparently my bleeding hand was sufficiently dealt with. Next time, remember to wear a glove.



I do have a question for anyone with great enough knowledge to help me. About two weeks ago my other hen, a Silkie, hatched out five chicks. Three I think are Polish mixed pullets, maybe one cockerel, the other two are Silkie pullets, or Silkie mixes. All of them are pretty scared of people, as their mother won't let me get near her chicks. The three Polish are being sold, and the people don't care if they are a little feral. We are keeping the two Silkie pullets and I don't want them to be afraid of people, or at least me. So I was wondering if it would be okay to take them from their mother at two weeks of age. Will it cause them harm? Their mother? Would they die of loneliness? I was planning on taking two so that they weren't alone and so that the mother still has her other three.



Any help is appreciated. Thank you

SamJ

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hey everyone!



My d'Uccle eggs started hatching tonight!! Two have externally pipped, five have internally, two not yet, and three more still have about a week to go (late starters). Their mom will keep pecking at me until she draws blood, even if my hand stops moving.



I did a test and had my hand hand-walk on it's fingers towards her and she kept pecking, even when I stopped moving completely, until she saw red. Apparently my bleeding hand was sufficiently dealt with. Next time, remember to wear a glove.



I do have a question for anyone with great enough knowledge to help me. About two weeks ago my other hen, a Silkie, hatched out five chicks. Three I think are Polish mixed pullets, maybe one cockerel, the other two are Silkie pullets, or Silkie mixes. All of them are pretty scared of people, as their mother won't let me get near her chicks. The three Polish are being sold, and the people don't care if they are a little feral. We are keeping the two Silkie pullets and I don't want them to be afraid of people, or at least me. So I was wondering if it would be okay to take them from their mother at two weeks of age. Will it cause them harm? Their mother? Would they die of loneliness? I was planning on taking two so that they weren't alone and so that the mother still has her other three.



Any help is appreciated. Thank you

SamJ

As long as theres 2 of them I'm sure they would get over the trauma pretty easy. When my broodies hatch out chicks it is normal for them to keep their chicks away they have a job to do and that is to teach those little ones how to make it in the world. I don't mind if i can't pick them up and cuddle them as long as they will come when I whistle for treats. I just enjoy having them around me and enjoy watching them run around enjoying life.

 

[HathawayHens]

soooooo... I have a broody EE setting on 8 eggs. Due in one week, candled tonight and all look good at the moment. Problem is that she keeps breaking eggs... I find the shell and some goopy residue behind. I have had to resort to wiping off the remaining eggs, since I was worried they would suffocate with all that stuff on them. Any clue why she is breaking them? Is she just a klutz, or could she be doing it on purpose? Today I had to clean them again, and all that was left was a little bit of chick down stuck to the other eggs. Mama is in a foursquare coop by herself with food and water sitting right next to the nest, shavings on the bottom of nest box and hay for her to make the nest. Thanks!

 

[hokankai]

Woot! It's Day 3 here and I've got 4/7 fertile and developing, 2/7 that look clear, and 1/7 that I'm witholding judgement on.

Good enough for me! Here's hoping they make it to hatch!

 

[featherz]

I stuffed all my incubator chicks under my broodies last night.. Chicks and mommas were all quiet when I went to bed, but I need to go to work today. I hope they are all ok when I get back!