Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

Well while I was gone to church today my broody decided to take her 7 little ones out of the nest (about 3 feet up with a steep ladder) I have no idea how they all got done ok but they did. They were having a blast today on their one day old legs.

Well tonight I went to lock up (BTW my Buff Orp Elly Mae has been playing with going broody but she hasnt laid in two days, just sat on the nest... anyways she has been showing the chicks food and mothering them!

) back to the story, I went to lock up and Henrietta was on the nesting box platform clucking to the chicks that were running around helplessly, she couldnt get them up there. So I picked all the chicks up and put them outside the nest box. Soon Momma climbed in and they all disappeared underneath her. I love seeing that!

BTW I have 2 bator eggs pipped and one of Heniettas that she left in the nest has pipped!

sounds like an exciting day!

 

[aaggjg]

My broody moved her clutch onto the floor of the coop.... out of the nest box which is floor level..... I guess they have more room there?
She is so happy!!! I have a big blockade up for them to remain in the coop .... maybe I'll let them wonder down tomorrow ... hmmmm this will all have to happen while I'm at work and it makes me very nervous! I guess I'll have to try and leave early to make sure they all get back in the coop safely.

 

[hokankai]

Well, my hen who hatched two silkies was given some more chicks the other night. I got 3 from one lady who had just taken them out of the hatcher (two sultans and a polish), and 2 from another lady (a cochin and another silkie) who said they were pretty young. Well, when I brought them home they looked to be about 5-6 days old. They didn't respond to my faux clucking, so I was worried. Well my worries were founded because they didn't take to her and she rejected them this morning.

Now I have a pair of chicks all by themselves...will they be ok? They'll be brooder babies which is something I didn't want to do this year -_-. BUT they're super sweet and love cuddling up to my hand.

Anyway, here are the babies I got yesterday!

These babies are doing GREAT and LOVE having a mama. I had a feeling it would go well because they responded to my faux clucks on the way home






And the rejects

 

[bobbieschicks]

9 Sumatra's so far today from the bator. A RIR that seems she is going to go broody , a few more eggs in the bator to go on lockdown on wednesday and Penelope due to hatch mid to late week.
Last hatch 2 weeks ago I got a splash sumatra and this hatch gave me one also! So now we have 3 Splash Sumatra's. The oldest one only started laying a few weeks ago.

So it looks to be a busy week around here!

Congrats! You definitely sound busy with all those broodies and hatches!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Beautiful momma and such cutie pie chicks!

broody hen and chickks, three are hers four are adopted, few extra legs under there, i guess their camera shy

 

[bobbieschicks]

Looks like someone has another broody...Yeah for Henrietta!

Well while I was gone to church today my broody decided to take her 7 little ones out of the nest (about 3 feet up with a steep ladder) I have no idea how they all got done ok but they did. They were having a blast today on their one day old legs.

Well tonight I went to lock up (BTW my Buff Orp Elly Mae has been playing with going broody but she hasnt laid in two days, just sat on the nest... anyways she has been showing the chicks food and mothering them!

) back to the story, I went to lock up and Henrietta was on the nesting box platform clucking to the chicks that were running around helplessly, she couldnt get them up there. So I picked all the chicks up and put them outside the nest box. Soon Momma climbed in and they all disappeared underneath her. I love seeing that!

BTW I have 2 bator eggs pipped and one of Heniettas that she left in the nest has pipped!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I love all the tiny feet showing - so adorable.

Looks like my broody. All you can see are tiny feet underneath her. Then when she moves she leaves them where they were but the shortly run after her. So cute.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Relax and let momma handle it. You are doing a great job! My Smokey did the same thing when she had her 3 day olds - she moved them to another area on the floor of the coop. Then eventually back up to the nest boxes and finally to the roost. By the time they were roosting at 4 weeks old she was almost done with her momma job. It was pretty funny to watch the 4 week olds try to hide under her small frame.

My broody moved her clutch onto the floor of the coop.... out of the nest box which is floor level..... I guess they have more room there?
She is so happy!!! I have a big blockade up for them to remain in the coop .... maybe I'll let them wonder down tomorrow ... hmmmm this will all have to happen while I'm at work and it makes me very nervous! I guess I'll have to try and leave early to make sure they all get back in the coop safely.

 

[bobbieschicks]

That's because the "rejects" are at least a week old - judging by their wing feathers. It's a gamble by that point whether they will listen to a momma. And if they don't listen - she knows they aren't "hers" and that's why they need to be about 1-3 days old to put under the broody. Such beauties!

Well, my hen who hatched two silkies was given some more chicks the other night. I got 3 from one lady who had just taken them out of the hatcher (two sultans and a polish), and 2 from another lady (a cochin and another silkie) who said they were pretty young. Well, when I brought them home they looked to be about 5-6 days old. They didn't respond to my faux clucking, so I was worried. Well my worries were founded because they didn't take to her and she rejected them this morning.

Now I have a pair of chicks all by themselves...will they be ok? They'll be brooder babies which is something I didn't want to do this year -_-. BUT they're super sweet and love cuddling up to my hand.

Anyway, here are the babies I got yesterday!

These babies are doing GREAT and LOVE having a mama. I had a feeling it would go well because they responded to my faux clucks on the way home






And the rejects

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thank you it had it's first time in the cement tub today with mama, Mama jumped out baby couldn't I had a rock in there but it couldn't get to it for trying to get out, I had my camera in my pocket but went and lifted the lil one onto the rock and out it came. This one looks so much smaller than my others that hatched close to 5 weeks ago. They grow so fast. Oh bobbie explain what it was you were doing yesterday and today, it sounded interesting.

Yesterday I ran/walked in the Marine Corp Marathon Historic Half (13.1 miles) - it was my 1st half marathon and a couple of friends of mine did it with me. I had so much fun and remarkably today I'm not that sore. When I got home I had to clean the coop, check on everyone and gather eggs. I was worried I wouldn't have the agility to do it - but I was fine. Smokey & Topsy came out for their afternoon break and WOW was their poo large & pungent. I am continually amazed at the size of the poo that comes from such small broodies.

Anyway - I'm wondering if I will have chicks today since they are due tomorrow.

Here we are after finishing. I'm the one on the left - still struggling to loose those last few (60) lbs! But I'll get there.