Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

The newest blue Sumatra broody introduced her 3 lil ones to the world today.



that makes 5 Sumatra's broody with lil ones so far. It may have started slow.....

 

[hokankai]

I think I didn't explain well enough. The HEN's chicks will be almost a week old and the chicks I'll be adding will be newly hatched.

 

[stonykill]

I think I didn't explain well enough. The HEN's chicks will be almost a week old and the chicks I'll be adding will be newly hatched.

That is what I thought you meant. At a week old mama already has taught her lil ones the way of the chicken world. She most likely won't accept them as day olds. but Bobbieschicks method is the way to try it. You will need to supervise.

 

[bobbieschicks]

So adorable!

The newest blue Sumatra broody introduced her 3 lil ones to the world today.



that makes 5 Sumatra's broody with lil ones so far. It may have started slow.....

 

[bobbieschicks]

You'll definitely have a harder time introducing the smaller chicks to the bigger chicks - but since they are bantam they may still be close in size. LF grow so fast sometimes that by 1 week old they're pretty big. My Lavender Orpingtons towered over their hatchmate silkies at 1 week. But like Stony said - it may be that the momma will be past teaching by then - so you will need to closely supervise and see if she accepts everyone.

I think I didn't explain well enough. The HEN's chicks will be almost a week old and the chicks I'll be adding will be newly hatched.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah! The eggs arrived - and lots of extras. I'll put 4 under Topsy tomorrow - unless you think I should do more or less then that? She hasn't moved off those 2 ping pong balls since I moved her to the new nest inside the coop. I picked her up and put her at the water & food today for her to get a bite to eat. I also haven't seen her poop - which is making me very nervous. But I guess if she's not eating so much then she won't need to poop so much either.

My silkie eggs - broody and bator bound tomorrow!

Well when she finally goes don't be standing behind her

4 is a good number especially for a first timer. Hope all goes well and you have a great hatch, looking forward to seeing pics in 21 days.

I'll be sick of pop corn before they hatch..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Went to see how Issabelle was doing this afternoon, well she is sitting tight, listened and looked at each egg no sounds or pips yet. Tomorrow is suppose to be hatch day. So far she has really been a stinker, watch her hatch a week late just to keep me in suspense.

 

[stonykill]

Went to see how Issabelle was doing this afternoon, well she is sitting tight, listened and looked at each egg no sounds or pips yet. Tomorrow is suppose to be hatch day. So far she has really been a stinker, watch her hatch a week late just to keep me in suspense.

they can be stinkers....

 

[Noymira]

I have a broody rhode island white hen who has been persistent for a few days now, I think she is going to stick with it. My dad is building me a mobile broody apartment on an unused equipment trailer that hopefully will be ready this weekend for her. This will be setup so that she and the chicks can stay there until they are ready to join the larger flock.

How do you go about collecting and storing eggs for a broody? How long can I store them before putting hem under her? At what temp? Should I wash them first? I have a roo, so plenty of fertilized eggs, but I'll need a few days worth from my black copper marans, with a few barnyard mixes added for fun.

How quickly do I need to get eggs under her now that I'm sure she's broody? I'm guessing it would be better to set her on the eggs in the new coop, rather than giving them to her now and moving her and the eggs later?

I've never hatched before, with a broody or an incubator, so I'm worried about messing it up.

Thanks!

 

[featherz]

Got home from work today and not only was all well, the two hens were out of the nest boxes and camped out next to each other on the coop floor, chicks under each of them. Not only that, the chicks were all clustered around and were using the nipple waterer I set down low to the floor - awesome! The mommas are almost the same color, still wondering how they figure out which mama to dive under.

Bad news, another NN is now camped out in the nest box looking like she wants to go broody. I'm kicking her out tonight - I don't need more chicks!!