Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

For me, the hardest part about using a broody is trusting her instincts. I know what she's supposed to do, but I don't necessarily trust she will do it. But when I make the decision to accept the outcome, whatever it may be, I am free to let the broody do her thing and marvel in what she does instinctively.
I'm not sure why, but broodies and their babies are so comforting to watch. Like chicken soup for the soul.

Oh how I agree bobbies, I love to sit and watch mama and babies.

 

[stonykill]

I know what stony said but there is NOTHING natural about "coops" and I know Stony's birds aren't cooped.

His birds are as close to natural as it comes. So I fear I interfere too much. I'm not worried so much about rolling eggs or humidity or even the temperature my hen keeps her eggs at. I have complete confidence that she has that part under control. I'm just worried that a cooped broody might have her instincts warped by an overzealous human keeper.

actually most of my birds are cooped. Only a large portion of the Sumatra's aren't. They are ferrel. Everyone else including a bunch of Sumatra's are cooped.

 

[JakRat]

came home today to find that my Speckled Sussex had crushed her baby to death.

 

[JakRat]

I think it might be because they didnt have enough room in the brooder, not sure, so I moved them into the run part of the coop to give them more room. ALSO there is one egg left un hatched so I had to go get another one for the other girl to hatch so that they would each have two, but now one has taken the eggs and it is just a whole big mess. Both babies do well with both moms though... who knows what will happen in a few days, I just feel horrible and that I am a horrible chicken mama.

 

[JakRat]

Each hen has one chick and one has two eggs she is still sitting on. What should I do?

 

[perchie.girl]

I, too, have been worried about my 2 broodies-- although our chicken house is large and gets quite a breeze through there but I can't imagine those eggs aren't fried.

The broodies hardly ever get off the nests! Think I will give them some scrambled eggs tomorrow. Suppose to be rain tonight which will help but by Sunday it will be 96 degrees again and the broodies won't hatch until July 4 and 7th.

But as Stony said --- they know what to do or else they would be extinct by now!!!!!!!!!!!!1

If her external body temperature is lower than the ambient temperature it will act as a regulator for the eggs.... or heat sink. I betcha those chicks begin to create their own internal heat pretty soon after they start developing.

Just an outside of the box thought here....

deb

 

[bobbieschicks]

I'm so sorry about the little chick.

I would just let them have the babies they have and not try to add more or get more eggs. Once the chicks hatched that was the trigger for them to be done with brooding. I think if you try to give the one hen more eggs she will not sit on them very long if at all. I suppose you could try it - but instinctively once they hatch babies that's it for them. It's okay for them to share the babies - they seem to be getting along well and the babies won't suffer from having two mommas.

Each hen has one chick and one has two eggs she is still sitting on. What should I do?

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
Stony, do you find a difference in how your cooped broodies handle the job v. the feral ones? Do you ever worry about the condition of your broodies?

 

[stonykill]

Stony, do you find a difference in how your cooped broodies handle the job v. the feral ones? Do you ever worry about the condition of your broodies?

funny thing is a few of the ferrel girls including my best broody Mama choose a shed to nest in. So they spend a good part of the year in a tin coop. I have only had 2 cooped broody's. 1 was my Runner Penelope and the other is a RIR. Both are great moms. And no I never worry about their condition. I had one once sit for nearly 3 months before she finally hatched eggs and she did and is doing fine. These girls know what they are doing and I rarely question them. Worry yes, question no.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Moe is nested over the hill again. My dilema, should I go get her and the nest...again. or leave her be. OK, she is my fav hen. She has a beautiful spot, I am worried that once the peeps start it will be all over for her...I have two more weeks to decide. The last move she did hatch most of the eggs...at what week is it best for the egg/chick to move? When are they most stable?