Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Has anyone ever tried introducing a new pullet with a hen on the nest? She is literally the only hen in the coop right now so I don't know how she will take to a new girl walking in. I have Matilda (new girl) in a separate hutch right now (he future broody hutch so I don't have to worry about a broody shaing in the coop again). I was planning to wait at least another two weeks just to help the little girl hold her own but any other advise would be helpful.

I can segregate Summer inside the coop, she is nesting in a cat crate. Just don't know if that will help. :/

 

[perchie.girl]

I just have to share my Facebook status from last week here. I'll appologize now if it offends anyone, but it is the truth.


I see pictures all of the time on FB and various chicken forums of broody hatching eggs with pips, people lifting the broody while she has a hatch underway, people holding a still wet chick taken out from under the broody, etc. PLEASE don't do this. In the case of a pipped egg, the chick has positioned itself in the shell to hatch. You pick it up, you may kill the chick. LEAVE MAMA ALONE while she is hatching. PLEASE! Get your pictures after she is finished and brings them out for you. Or take pictures of her on the nest if a little one is showing itself. But please, let her be while hatching.

I agree as well the stress of handling also may interfere with the hen. They have been doing it a very long time without assistance. When incubating in an incubator this is the time you lock down the incubator and let the humidity build to help the chicks break through the shell. The hens do the same thing.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

The chicks keep coming out of the hen's feathers! It's so cute! I snapped some pictures... Daisy and Houdinni keep purring.. I think they're proud!
Oh, and by the way. Turns out Teddy (The NN) is um... a lot of different breeds! Teddy is..
Naked Neck (The neck has no feathers)
Easter Egger (Green feet, and muffs. No beard. Also has the EE design.)
Silkie (has 5 toes and feathery feet)

Teddy is also doing great .


The two other piped eggs should hatch in like an hour .


The one trying to get back under Houdinni after eating is a SLW mix, no name yet. The yellow chick with the black dot is named Dot, Light Brahamamix, and the bantam at the bottom... no idea. No name yet.


Another picture of them running around



Dot and the bantam


Teddy came out just to check what was happening .


This has been a great expirience! No worries, they all came out on their own. They don't want to stay in their Momma's .

 

[Tanichca]

I think I heard a squeak when I went out to check on our day 21 hen... but no pips or anything else. I'm going broody insane!!

 

[stonykill]

One of my Black Sumatra's is hatching her lil ones today. Her 2nd brood of the year! I heard peeping and looked in on her. I saw 3 heads poking out from under her!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Got busy coping with hot weather whilst dealing with hosting a wedding AND doing the photography so I haven't been around the past couple of weeks but here is an update on Broody Naima and her Copper Marans babies, now 3 weeks old -- looking like 2 boys and 1 girl at this point.

 

[stonykill]

and a dark Blue Sumatra hen is starting her hatch! I saw pips! How do I know without lifting her? She was up for a 5 minute eat, drink fest as she had pips! I never touch the broody! 2 hatching on the same day! love it!

 

[Johnn]

I'm quite annoyed!, I got some pics on here of my chicks and I was just about to click "submit" and the internet has gone down, it dosent look like its coming back on either, having to use my phone now .

 

[Johnn]

ooooo it's working now!

 

[Johnn]

who can spot the chick? (first pic look for it), (second pic will answer it)











not sure if yous can see but the two chicks heads are popping out the top in the middle.