Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

candled the eggs under my broody silkie and all 5 are devolping!
I've got a bad rat problem in my main barn, and yet last week I found 2 large rat snakes helping themselves to my eggs! I gave them a chance and put them back in the wood pile but no, next day they were back in the coop, got my uncle to take them.(he loves snakes) my cats do a better job at mouse control and they aren't a threat to my eggs, chicks or chickens.

Congrats Wild, One of my bantam mamas got a hold of a mouse yesterday and beat the tar out of it, don't think they could stand up to a rat though. if the snakes would just stick to what they Should eat.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Also we use fire lighters to light our fire along with col and wood so will that affect the she's for her dust bath or will it still not matter?

Johnn just put some dirt or sand with sevin mixed in or DE mixed in forget about the ashes out of the wood stove.

 

[Niss]

I have been busy and I'm probably hundreds of pages behind again, but had to give this update--
My duck, Miss Lydia, sat on 7 eggs, most of which mysteriously disappeared, but this weekend she hatched one perfect little pekin! I also have a half grown pekin Wiggings hatched a while ago and two tetra tints on eggs, the first clutch is curently hatching. Lots of ups and down and I'm more focused on my plants right now, but I let my gals set any time they get the notion!

Hope eveyone here is well, miss you "regulars"!

 

[Tripp16]

Ok so I didnt get an answer with this, and this thread moves FAST so here goes again.... Thanks!!


Well guess what!!! Gracie (BB Red Bantam) is ( I think) broody!!! She was completely normal this afternoon but tonight I went out and she was on the nest. I guess we will have to see if shes serious tomorrow morning.

BUT the problem is... I just counted and if I put eggs under her on wednesday (if shes serious) then hatch day will be on July 4th.... the problem with that is I will be at the beach. If I make her sit one solid week with fake eggs hatch day will be the day I come back. I dont know what to do....

They ALWAYS do this in an inconvienent time....

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

i'll add my two cents if you don't mind. I let my broody do her thing and don't even try to hold the chicks , but start handfeeding after a week, but my broody pen is two by two by two feet and eight feet long...I'd let em hatch and they'd be fine to clean up after later. Of course I don't know how taxing it would be for your broody, just one more week of sitting, if she's in good health, why not wait so you can be there...from what I've read, some have had them go for much longer......sure someone with a ton more experience than me will input...

 

[Glasshen]

Tripp, I hear you, but have no experience with eggs...you could give her day old chicks after she sits on the fake eggs, then you would be spared her inconvenient scheduling.

 

[artsyrobin]

i don't think it would hurt her to sit fake eggs- i had a broody that the first eggs didn't hatch, so i gave her another set- so she actually sat 5-6 weeks rather than 3

Ok so I didnt get an answer with this, and this thread moves FAST so here goes again.... Thanks!!


Well guess what!!! Gracie (BB Red Bantam) is ( I think) broody!!! She was completely normal this afternoon but tonight I went out and she was on the nest. I guess we will have to see if shes serious tomorrow morning.

BUT the problem is... I just counted and if I put eggs under her on wednesday (if shes serious) then hatch day will be on July 4th.... the problem with that is I will be at the beach. If I make her sit one solid week with fake eggs hatch day will be the day I come back. I dont know what to do....

They ALWAYS do this in an inconvienent time....

 

[bobbieschicks]

Johnn just put some dirt or sand with sevin mixed in or DE mixed in forget about the ashes out of the wood stove. 

Xs2!

 

[Tripp16]

i don't think it would hurt her to sit fake eggs- i had a broody that the first eggs didn't hatch, so i gave her another set- so she actually sat 5-6 weeks rather than 3

Well I thought about doing this. But I went out this morning she was on the nest and when I started feeding she jumped off and was acting normal.

Maybe its for the best she isnt serious "yet". But normally when she sleeps on the nest she is getting down to business.

 

[stonykill]

i don't think it would hurt her to sit fake eggs- i had a broody that the first eggs didn't hatch, so i gave her another set- so she actually sat 5-6 weeks rather than 3

x2