Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

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

Sorry Tripp thought it was answered. I would leave her on fake eggs for a week and a half then put her on real eggs for the 21 days. Is that enough time? Topsy sat for 14 days on duds and then 21 days on shipped eggs. Miss Lydia had a broody sit even longer.

 

[stonykill]

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.

my best broody "Mama" did the same this time. Every other time, when she spends the night on the nest, she is serious. This time she spent 2 nights on the nest. Then was up all day. Then on the nest at night. The 3rd night she sat, and hasn't budged since.

 

[bobbieschicks]

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....

Oh and congrats on the broody!

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Oh- the snake..I would say it was a black rat snake, six feet long, plenty big to eat a chick...I heard a rucus over the hill day before, but didn't see anything in the woods and rocks and weeds...I couldn't relocate it....it will just come back...I'm trying to think of a snake baffle to keep them out....don't know of any. There have been alot of squawking last few days but I thought it was due to the broody...i hate to think if it didn't have eggs in other boxes would have gone under my broody....mothballs are supposed to work.but how to put them where the chickens can't get them?

 

[Tripp16]

my best broody "Mama" did the same this time. Every other time, when she spends the night on the nest, she is serious. This time she spent 2 nights on the nest. Then was up all day. Then on the nest at night. The 3rd night she sat, and hasn't budged since.

Well she IS my best broody and my best mother. She holds onto those chicks until about 5 1/2 weeks and she sits on the nest but knows when to get up. She is the easiest broody to care for.

Maybe she is going to do what your hen did. We can only hope right?

 

[Tripp16]

Oh and congrats on the broody!

Its ok, I posted the question late at night so I figured with the way this thread moves it wouldnt get answered. Thanks for the response!

But she isnt completely serious yet, I thought since she was on the nest last night she was serious but Stony said his hen did it too. Then after 3 days she wouldnt budge. Lets hope thats her problem!

 

[stonykill]

Well she IS my best broody and my best mother. She holds onto those chicks until about 5 1/2 weeks and she sits on the nest but knows when to get up. She is the easiest broody to care for.

Maybe she is going to do what your hen did. We can only hope right?

these girls have minds of their own. Mama is funny. I can read her. She doesn't act like a broody until she is full on broody. I know she is getting ready to sit a few days ahead of time. She will see me outside and run up to me. Right to my feet, sometimes onto them and just look up at me. She wants a private meal. Like she is fattening up to sit for 3 weeks

. She will do the same when she gets up off her nest today. If she sees me she will run right up to me, and just look up at me. She never puffs up and acts broody unless another chicken comes by.
Of course all of that changes once there are lil ones. She has flown 6 feet up to get right in my face to let me know NOT to eat her babies.

.

You know your girls better than the rest of us. But from what you are saying,I bet she sits within the week.

 

[dlynne1123]

(Sorry, don't know how to rotate the pic!)
This is what I woke up to this morning! Theres another one in there too. Do different breeds progress at different times? All of these chicks are the Easter Eggers. No pips from my other breeds (well that mom will let me see anyways) We are on day 23 now, and these two are just fluffing up now.

 

[Tripp16]

these girls have minds of their own. Mama is funny. I can read her. She doesn't act like a broody until she is full on broody. I know she is getting ready to sit a few days ahead of time. She will see me outside and run up to me. Right to my feet, sometimes onto them and just look up at me. She wants a private meal. Like she is fattening up to sit for 3 weeks

. She will do the same when she gets up off her nest today. If she sees me she will run right up to me, and just look up at me. She never puffs up and acts broody unless another chicken comes by.
Of course all of that changes once there are lil ones. She has flown 6 feet up to get right in my face to let me know NOT to eat her babies.

.

You know your girls better than the rest of us. But from what you are saying,I bet she sits within the week.

This sounds exactly like my Gracie!! She doesnt ever puff up until they hatch then she is protective of other chickens but lets me see the chicks but only because I make her.

 

[stonykill]

This sounds exactly like my Gracie!! She doesnt ever puff up until they hatch then she is protective of other chickens but lets me see the chicks but only because I make her.

that's because they are Professionals