Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[JakRat]

Thanks everyone! The husband and I are fighting a bit right now over the ladies. We will figure something out....

In other news the baby from my first hatch crowed today! And only at two months!!!! He made me very proud. It actually sounds like a cock-a-doodle-do too, unlike our Belgium Banty who is more cock-a-do. I just tell everyone that he is french and that they speak french chicken instead of american chicken.

 

[plantcityhomestead]

The chicks were fine. I guess my broody is smarter than I am.

Momma sent all the babies back in the nest at bedtime. She was soaked, but the chicks were dry.

 

[artsyrobin]

Thanks everyone! The husband and I are fighting a bit right now over the ladies. We will figure something out....

In other news the baby from my first hatch crowed today! And only at two months!!!! He made me very proud. It actually sounds like a cock-a-doodle-do too, unlike our Belgium Banty who is more cock-a-do. I just tell everyone that he is french and that they speak french chicken instead of american chicken.

well, i pulled all eggs from the broodies, checked them and none were good, they had started but i think too many mama breaks and hens fighting for the nest- felt so sorry for them- panting in the heat and one is still determined to hatch imaginary eggs... of all of them, Jewel seems to have a knack with raising the kids...she keeps track of them well...

 

[JakRat]

well, i pulled all eggs from the broodies, checked them and none were good, they had started but i think too many mama breaks and hens fighting for the nest- felt so sorry for them- panting in the heat and one is still determined to hatch imaginary eggs... of all of them, Jewel seems to have a knack with raising the kids...she keeps track of them well...

I only candled them once. They do pretty well with their breaks. When one gets up, the other takes over. My silkie is sitting on just one banty egg and when she gets up my speckled sussex gets her egg into the nest and puts it under her... crazy girls... When the other two go to lay their eggs they just keep them warm I guess and when the mama comes back she sits on them like the other eggs... crazy girls..

 

[Tripp16]

You gather the eggs that are not falsies and bring them in the house and store them as close to 50 degrees as you can. pointy end down. Then if she goes broody on the falsies you let the eggs come to room temperature and swap out the falsies for her own eggs. You can store eggs this way a week or so. That way they don't get too cold and they hatch at the same time..... Make sense? and if she doesn't go broody then you can still use an incubator.

deb

x2

 

[bobbieschicks]

No - you can touch the eggs - if she wants to sit she will sit no matter how many times you mess with her eggs. However you don't want to mess with the eggs very much as it may effect their hatchability. I usually candle my eggs around Day 7 to see if there's any growth or duds. Around Day 14 to see how many are developing properly and eliminate any that have stopped growing or smell bad. And then leave the remaining eggs alone to hopefully hatch.

and does it effect the egg if you touch it will the hen not set on it

 

[chooniecat]

Thanks again to all that were patient thru my ramblings when hatches were occurring(and before that I was a basket case too!). This is Suzette, 4 yo salmon faverolles and her 5 week old(almost)10 various chicks. They are wearing her feathers out. Actually have a pet home for 1 cockerel that may occur.(hope to tell soon because I have to handle it and make it used to such!)She has to be worn out with all of her fluffing,chortling,fussing over chix.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks everyone! The husband and I are fighting a bit right now over the ladies. We will figure something out....

In other news the baby from my first hatch crowed today! And only at two months!!!! He made me very proud. It actually sounds like a cock-a-doodle-do too, unlike our Belgium Banty who is more cock-a-do. I just tell everyone that he is french and that they speak french chicken instead of american chicken.

Sorry about the chicken wars - my DH just rolls his eyes now and knows better than say anything. lol

I have a 16 week old Wellie that just started to crow today after we rehomed his brother and a slightly older cockerel that both crowed all the time. I love those first couple of crows they do - reminds me of when I was learning to play the flute. Starts out rather weak and off key - but ends up being a sweet sweet sound.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Adorable! From raising White Leghorns and Lavender Orpingtons, my guess is that all those with the larger combs are cockerels and the shorter combs are pullets. It seems by the 4th week I could tell for those two breeds. She looks like a proud momma.

Thanks again to all that were patient thru my ramblings when hatches were occurring(and before that I was a basket case too!). This is Suzette, 4 yo salmon faverolles and her 5 week old(almost)10 various chicks. They are wearing her feathers out. Actually have a pet home for 1 cockerel that may occur.(hope to tell soon because I have to handle it and make it used to such!)She has to be worn out with all of her fluffing,chortling,fussing over chix.

 

[chooniecat]

Adorable! From raising White Leghorns and Lavender Orpingtons, my guess is that all those with the larger combs are cockerels and the shorter combs are pullets. It seems by the 4th week I could tell for those two breeds. She looks like a proud momma.

I would LIKE to sex them now but from my experience and various breeds I am usually 50% wrong. My delaware pullets all have monster combs early on(have never had delaware cockerel to compare to tho)and I am holding off "guessing" for a couple of weeks. It would be nice if we could tell right now because that would mean they're mostly pullets!!!!!!! Pray so!