Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Such cuties! Cngrats! I love using broodies! <3

Look at the stink eye on that mama, no wonder she has gloves on.

 

[echip]

Carol J, Mama Onyx and her babies are so pretty and cute. Love that name Onyx.

I've been reading through this long list which is great fun and so informative. I'm about halfway through. I'm at the place where Barn Goddess's adorable angelic frizzle chick Hannah is thought to be maybe Hancock! Another great name! I'm hoping for photos of him/her grown up. Such a cute little chick!

Also, someone had a better idea than I had for what to do with abandoned peeping eggs. Wrap the egg in damp cloths and a hang a light over them, much like you do with new chicks in a brooder. I don't know why I didn't think of that. In my defense, a human crisis was happening concurrantly with the chicken crisis, so my brain cells were operating without sleep. Of course, with the light and damp towel, a person would need to keep very close watch on things to make sure the temp didn't get too hot since an egg can't move out of the way like a chick can. But Lucky may have had an easier hatching if I had done that instead of being carried around all day tucked into a bra. Since the other egg, "Miss Lydia" hatched so quickly after warming up I kept expecting Lucky to do the same.

Ah well, we do learn from our mistakes, and Lucky is doing great now.

 

[prairie]

So funny, Miss Lydia! I use gloves too cause my mama's sure can peck!!

Look at the stink eye on that mama, no wonder she has gloves on.

 

[CarolJ]

Just checked on Onyx. 9 chicks so far. 2 unhatched eggs - but today is just day 21 for some of the eggs & day 20 for the second set of eggs I put under her. There are some beautiful chicks - a wide variety of colors. One has a chocolate-colored head.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Carol J, Mama Onyx and her babies are so pretty and cute. Love that name Onyx.

I've been reading through this long list which is great fun and so informative. I'm about halfway through. I'm at the place where Barn Goddess's adorable angelic frizzle chick Hannah is thought to be maybe Hancock! Another great name! I'm hoping for photos of him/her grown up. Such a cute little chick!

Also, someone had a better idea than I had for what to do with abandoned peeping eggs. Wrap the egg in damp cloths and a hang a light over them, much like you do with new chicks in a brooder. I don't know why I didn't think of that. In my defense, a human crisis was happening concurrantly with the chicken crisis, so my brain cells were operating without sleep. Of course, with the light and damp towel, a person would need to keep very close watch on things to make sure the temp didn't get too hot since an egg can't move out of the way like a chick can. But Lucky may have had an easier hatching if I had done that instead of being carried around all day tucked into a bra. Since the other egg, "Miss Lydia" hatched so quickly after warming up I kept expecting Lucky to do the same.

Ah well, we do learn from our mistakes, and Lucky is doing great now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just checked on Onyx. 9 chicks so far. 2 unhatched eggs - but today is just day 21 for some of the eggs & day 20 for the second set of eggs I put under her. There are some beautiful chicks - a wide variety of colors. One has a chocolate-colored head.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

I am sure this has been addressed before, but I just found this thread and haven't had a chance to read through everything. My broody's eggs are due to hatch tomorrow. She has been in the regular coop the entire time. I want to raise the chicks with the flock, rather than isolating them from the adults. Has anyone done this, and can you give me some tips for doing this successfully?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yes - I've kept mine with the larger flock all three times by wiring off a section for the broody's in the main coop. That way once the chicks hatched I could open it up and let the momma's take out the chicks, but I didn't have to worry about broken eggs and shared nests in the interim. The mommas protect the babies and will intergrate them into the larger flock. If you've had them together this whole time - then just make sure the nest area where the momma is located is on or close to the floor and provide chick feed & water for them on the 3rd day after hatch. If she's up in a nest box off the ground you may have issues with babies getting out of the nest early - if that looks like it might happen just block the lower portion of the nest for a couple of days after they hatch.

I am sure this has been addressed before, but I just found this thread and haven't had a chance to read through everything. My broody's eggs are due to hatch tomorrow. She has been in the regular coop the entire time. I want to raise the chicks with the flock, rather than isolating them from the adults. Has anyone done this, and can you give me some tips for doing this successfully?

 

[Johnn]

Well got the broodys sorted with eggs today the orpington has 10 and melow has 9, do you start counting down 21 days on the day the eggs were put under of the day after? also i checked ginger under her wings for lice there was non so i turned her around and looked around her vent and there was absalutley loads! so i took her into the shed and dusted her and i checked a few other hens but they were clear

 

[Soap Junkie]

My Isa Brown and her brood! We have 10 chicks but I could not get them to hold still long enough to get in the picture!




Its so funny how she puffs up! She is not nearly that size but she was not liking me sticking that camera and clicking it around the chicks!