Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

To give her them all or not, that is the question! I have four mixed breed LF eggs and four Silkie eggs. I can fit two eggs in the little incubator but I would much rather give all the eggs to Summer. What do you guys think? Summer is a bantam brahma and easily handled eight of her own eggs. The LF eggs are larger than hers but the Silkie eggs are smaller than hers.
Thoughts? I plan on swapping out the eggs tonight.

I mix sumatra eggs (slightly larger than bantam eggs) and extra large RIR eggs under broody's without any problems. They hatch both out. Same in the bator.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Mostly, I just need a hug from my fellow broody-breeders.
Last September, I had my first successful hatch under my broody (RIP Alice Ann). I got two chicks, and one was a roo.
Now, said roo is beating the living daylights out of his father, and with too few hens for 2 roos, I am running out of options to deal with him.
I am desperately trying to rehome him, but have no takers.
If I don't find him a new home, I am going to have to do the unthinkable.
I'm not normally squeamish about these matters, but have never had to 'do' one of my own personal fuzzy butts.
I find this is my saddest moment in chicken-rearing.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah! A pip!

they are hatching not due till tomorrow mumma hen is doing well with her first eggs

 

[Kassaundra]

Mostly, I just need a hug from my fellow broody-breeders.
Last September, I had my first successful hatch under my broody (RIP Alice Ann). I got two chicks, and one was a roo.
Now, said roo is beating the living daylights out of his father, and with too few hens for 2 roos, I am running out of options to deal with him.
I am desperately trying to rehome him, but have no takers.
If I don't find him a new home, I am going to have to do the unthinkable.
I'm not normally squeamish about these matters, but have never had to 'do' one of my own personal fuzzy butts.
I find this is my saddest moment in chicken-rearing.

I've got 4 boys I NEED to "do" should have done it today (at least a couple) but didn't I can't put it off much longer. Last week I used the excuse that my killing station wasn't built, but it is done now so......................

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

It seems like we chicken folks are constantly waiting. Waiting for eggs to hatch. Waiting for juveniles to grow up and get their adult feathers. Waiting for pullets' first eggs. Waiting for said eggs to become fertile. Wait, wait, wait! Hang in there!

Sigh, yeah, hanging in ...thanx ....waiting to see who's a pullet for real, who's a roo.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

I've got 4 boys I NEED to "do" should have done it today (at least a couple) but didn't I can't put it off much longer. Last week I used the excuse that my killing station wasn't built, but it is done now so......................

so far this year I haven't had to worry about that, unfortunately something other than me is handling it...and I noticed the dominent roos has a few missing tail feathers. Too bad, the missing roos was really good looking too..

 

[bobbieschicks]

There are two times I really dislike chickens - one is when they die unexpectedly and the other is when I have to get rid of them for whatever reason.

All my previous boys were rehomed to either a friend with a large property who wanted bug eaters or a friend who needed some roosters to go with his flock of hens. So I haven't actually processed a chicken yet - but I suppose if I HAD TO do it I could do it. The question is what exactly does "HAD TO" mean -

Right now I have 3 cockerels (Welsummer, Silky and Ameraucana) under 1 year old and possibly 4 more cockerels (all silkies) under 9 weeks old. So I know my time of having them all is winding down. They are starting to crow a lot - the first sign of trouble. They are mounting the girls more often then the girls would like - the second sign of trouble. And I can't really have that many roosters - my flock is supposed to be 12 layers - so soon they will be overcrowded in my 10x5 coop. My time to choose who stays and who goes is long past due - and I too keep putting it off because I LOVE THESE CHICKENS! There - I said it. Go ahead and mock me, I won't care.

Mostly, I just need a hug from my fellow broody-breeders.
Last September, I had my first successful hatch under my broody (RIP Alice Ann). I got two chicks, and one was a roo.
Now, said roo is beating the living daylights out of his father, and with too few hens for 2 roos, I am running out of options to deal with him.
I am desperately trying to rehome him, but have no takers.
If I don't find him a new home, I am going to have to do the unthinkable.
I'm not normally squeamish about these matters, but have never had to 'do' one of my own personal fuzzy butts.
I find this is my saddest moment in chicken-rearing.

 

[stonykill]

so far this year I haven't had to worry about that, unfortunately something other than me is handling it...and I noticed the dominent roos has a few missing tail feathers. Too bad, the missing roos was really good looking too..

I lost my 3 best and oldest roo's this year. Presumably they went down protecting their hens as the hens were un touched. But this year I'll have about 15 to take care of. 1 mean SOB really soon. The others I may grow out a bit.

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Yeah, I have started handling the obvious pullets to tame, and wondering what to do with all the little roos running around. The count is going up and up....

 

[stonykill]

Yeah, I have started handling the obvious pullets to tame, and wondering what to do with all the little roos running around. The count is going up and up....

I hear that. My 15 was a conservative number. My oldest pullets are 17 weeks old now and could start to lay any time. Time to at least move those young roo's out of that coop.