Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Farmin Momma]

Even my DH, who says "we have too many chickens" every time I get hatching eggs, was visibly upset. He said, "Not Sunny. Our best egg layer!"

I am so sorry. I to lost a hen today. But she has been going out for the last few days, I was planning on putting her out of her misery today but she beat me to it. I am very very sorry. Nothing like loosing the ones you favore ( or any for that matter)

 

[Bloomin' Chickens]

I'm the proud momma of my first Serama!! I didn't need an incubator since my 2 sillkies, 1 bantam cochin and 1 serama decided to all go broody at the same time. There are 3 nesting boxes and I couldn't figure out who was going to hatch what because they kept switching places. My bantam cochin was the winner. She has 3 more to hatch. I don't think I was this excited when I was waiting to give birth to my own kids.

 

[Zootopia]

Today is Day 20 for our broody Buffy. I put her outside in the tractor last night and made sure she ate, drank and pooped. (She won't eat/drink/poop on her own within her seperated area and tends to get diarhea on the pine shavings.)

That's not diarrhea, that called "Broody poop" and yes indeed, it is NASTY, but very normal.

 

[Fuffy]

Awww! So sorry you lost her!

She was suck a pretty girl!

You gave her a great life. And at least it was mecifully quick!

So bummed right now - I know that chicken losses are a part of raising them - I just never get used to it.

I went to put everyone into the secure run so they could go into the coop at dark. Sunny, my 29 week old Lavender Orpington who laid the darkest egg came into the run like everyone else. Then she went under the coop and wouldn't come back out. I got the rake I use to motivate them and still she wouldn't move. So I raked her out. She was practically dead by that point. I got her out into the yard and rushed to the house to gather anything that might help. As I returned to her I saw that she was screeching on the ground and flopping in circles. She was dead by the time I got from the back door to her - it was just 50 feet away. There was no forewarning - no obvious trauma - no obvious injury. So I thanked her for her eggs and put her into a plastic bag until I can dispose of her properly tomorrow. This is the part of chicken raising I hate.

Rest in peace my sweet beautiful Sunny. I will miss your eggs - but I will miss you more.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I'm the proud momma of my first Serama!!  I didn't need an incubator since my 2 sillkies, 1 bantam cochin and 1 serama decided to all go broody at the same time.  There are 3 nesting boxes and I couldn't figure out who was going to hatch what because they kept switching places.  My bantam cochin was the winner.  She has 3 more to hatch.  I don't think I was this excited when I was waiting to give birth to my own kids.

 

Adorable! Congrats on the chicks!

 

[bobbieschicks]

 [COLOR=0000CD] I am so sorry. I to lost a hen today. But she has been going out for the last few days, I was planning on putting her out of her misery today but she beat me to it. I am very very sorry. Nothing like loosing the ones you favore ( or any for that matter) [/COLOR]

I'm so sorry for your loss. I hate losing my chickens, whether it is to rehoming or death. But I won't stop owning chickens as I love having them. They bring me joy to watch their antics and it's like Christmas to get an egg each day from them.

 

[chooniecat]

Day 11 (i think?) for broody Suzette, my Salmon Faverolles, and its HOT here during day. Gave her ice cubes in water dish yesterday as she HAS been drinking some. Her food isn't disappearing though. From what I read here its probably OK. Have NEVER candled before and am going to try that tonight because she has too many eggs under her(my opinion) and will discard the non-viable eggs. Hard to imagin we humans waiting patiently(ha ha) for 3 weeks then having her do something horrid to any chix that hatch so haven't decided yet wether I am going to take them away or maybe let her keep ONE or she may only HATCH one so guess you decide as you go!! Kind of thinking out loud so forgive me. Have to practice with my new old camera so maybe can gush on here if any hatch. Mothers Day hatch so..

 

[Tripp16]

Day 11 (i think?) for broody Suzette, my Salmon Faverolles, and its HOT here during day. Gave her ice cubes in water dish yesterday as she HAS been drinking some. Her food isn't disappearing though. From what I read here its probably OK. Have NEVER candled before and am going to try that tonight because she has too many eggs under her(my opinion) and will discard the non-viable eggs. Hard to imagin we humans waiting patiently(ha ha) for 3 weeks then having her do something horrid to any chix that hatch so haven't decided yet wether I am going to take them away or maybe let her keep ONE or she may only HATCH one so guess you decide as you go!! Kind of thinking out loud so forgive me. Have to practice with my new old camera so maybe can gush on here if any hatch. Mothers Day hatch so..

Only 10 more days for you! I still have like 16 more days!

I get like this every hatch! You would think I wouldnt care but Oh I do!

 

[Tripp16]

I'm the proud momma of my first Serama!! I didn't need an incubator since my 2 sillkies, 1 bantam cochin and 1 serama decided to all go broody at the same time. There are 3 nesting boxes and I couldn't figure out who was going to hatch what because they kept switching places. My bantam cochin was the winner. She has 3 more to hatch. I don't think I was this excited when I was waiting to give birth to my own kids.

I lOVE seramas! I love their size! I bet it is ten times smaller then it actually looks like on here!

 

[aaggjg]

I'm so upset .... I went down to feed the girls this morning and when I peered in the coop Popcorn was sitting on the dummy nest .... I had put decoy eggs in a week ago after Popcorn was bullied and forced off her nest by my other bantam cochin who was thinking about going broody .... Well that must have happened again.... so the eggs were ice cold and I have no idea how long they have been that way .... The blanks on the other hand were nice and toasty

I took the eggs up to the house and put them in the incubator..... The lavender silkie was a blank so no loss there but the best darkest Marans eggs were under Popcorn and well it looks like they were developing ...... I put the decoy eggs back in Popcorns nest and when I went down a half hour later she was back on her nest... I'm not sure what I should do. Who knows if these eggs are viable now. Should I give her back real eggs??? I guess I could try to move her and see if she will sit and then give her real eggs.... Ughhhhhh I feel so bad for her 2 plus weeks of hard work just to be derailed by the cochin who is playing with going broody. I'm open to all suggestions and tips ... She is my 1st broody .....