Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

The count remains at two and two -

Smokey and her two Blue Splash Marans, I'm thinking the one standing up on the right is a cockerel and the other is a pullet...



Topsy and her two mixed silkie chicks - no guesses yet on sex for these two, but possibly the white one is a cockerel as I've wanted a white silkie pullet for awhile now.
The black one is mixed Lavender Orpington (mom) and Partridge Silkie (dad), the white one is mixed EE/WL (mom) and Partridge Silkie (dad).



Can't wait to see how they all turn out!

 

[Miss Lydia]

The count remains at two and two -

Smokey and her two Blue Splash Marans, I'm thinking the one standing up on the right is a cockerel and the other is a pullet...



Topsy and her two mixed silkie chicks - no guesses yet on sex for these two, but possibly the white one is a cockerel as I've wanted a white silkie pullet for awhile now.
The black one is mixed Lavender Orpington (mom) and Partridge Silkie (dad), the white one is mixed EE/WL (mom) and Partridge Silkie (dad).



Can't wait to see how they all turn out!

They are precious, Congrats!!

 

[Johnn]

The count remains at two and two -

Smokey and her two Blue Splash Marans, I'm thinking the one standing up on the right is a cockerel and the other is a pullet...



Topsy and her two mixed silkie chicks - no guesses yet on sex for these two, but possibly the white one is a cockerel as I've wanted a white silkie pullet for awhile now.
The black one is mixed Lavender Orpington (mom) and Partridge Silkie (dad), the white one is mixed EE/WL (mom) and Partridge Silkie (dad).



Can't wait to see how they all turn out!

They are lovley

, Im going up to my hens just before dark tonight because i want to know if the chicks are perching yet or are still in the nest boxes...

 

[Mamasan]

I have had 2 of my mottled javas go broody this spring/ summer and the first one is broody again! I've ordered so araucana eggs to put under her. Anyone have thoughts on how many she could handle? She had 8 last time but my order is for 10 and Im sure they'll send extras

 

[hokankai]

Ok, so I checked on it this morning and it had absorbed the yolk but was still stuck in the membrane. I took it in the house and moistened the membrane so I could peel it off. It seems to be doing well.

Now I have a bigger concern. Yesterday I found a chick under her that clearly had its head bitten off. When I watch her she continually pecks at her chicks on the heads. Lightly....but she definitely is doing it. I don't want her to kill another chick...but the ones under her still need to complete their hatch and dry off. What do I do if she continues to peck at them?

I also found another one that had pipped and the shell crushed a little. I'm leaving it there because it doesn't seem as ready as the other was so I'll check on it throughout the day.

Looks like this girl isn't doing so great at the mothering part so far....but she has started to teach her 3 day old chicks how to eat so that's good at least.

 

[farmer boy]

i need help my little chick wont eat its chick starter and it keeps me up all night cheaping and it will just starve nothing i can do i was up late last night outside catching moths lol to feed him he likes bugs but he wont follow the momma hen outside when i bring him out he comes to me not her need help so it doesn't starve

 

[hokankai]

Try crushing up the started into smaller bits, putting it on a paper towel, and pecking it with your finger. You can also try powdering the started and adding water to form a mush.

Unfortunately sometimes there's something wrong with them and you can't do anything about it. I had a chick just like yours that wasn't following mama and needed to eat, but wouldn't. It didn't make it

Good luck

 

[farmer boy]

well i hatched the chick my self the mom left the nest with two other chicks so it thinks im the mom because it follows me outside and eats bugs out of my hands i catch and it hunts when i drop a bug still alive lol but hes so cute

 

[SmittenChicken]

Well, that was quick.

I went out to the coop to check on my broody (still clucking away on her golf balls), and Cutlet the EE is now out there showing signs of broodiness.
I left an almost-full bag of pine shavings open in the coop last night, and found a cold EE egg in it, with Cutlet "nesting" on top of a plastic tub nearby and imitating the sounds of her broody flockmate. I took the egg away, and carried Cutlet over to the house (they free range during the day) and tried to distract her with treats. 5 minutes later she was in the bag of pine shavings again, nesting away.




She jumped out without a fight and I took the bag of pine shavings out of the coop, a few minutes later she was in the nesting boxes brooding again.

So, I guess I wait and see if she starts refusing to roost, at which point I set her up in a dog crate.

I only have 3 hens right now, the Black Star is definitely broody, and I think the EE is well on her way. My other hen is a Brahma, the only one of those breeds that is actually supposed to be a frequent brooder (she's 2.5 years old also.)

I have a feeling I may be ordering more eggs before the first dozen even get here...

 

[Johnn]

Well, that was quick.

I went out to the coop to check on my broody (still clucking away on her golf balls), and Cutlet the EE is now out there showing signs of broodiness.
I left an almost-full bag of pine shavings open in the coop last night, and found a cold EE egg in it, with Cutlet "nesting" on top of a plastic tub nearby and imitating the sounds of her broody flockmate. I took the egg away, and carried Cutlet over to the house (they free range during the day) and tried to distract her with treats. 5 minutes later she was in the bag of pine shavings again, nesting away.




She jumped out without a fight and I took the bag of pine shavings out of the coop, a few minutes later she was in the nesting boxes brooding again.

So, I guess I wait and see if she starts refusing to roost, at which point I set her up in a dog crate.

I only have 3 hens right now, the Black Star is definitely broody, and I think the EE is well on her way. My other hen is a Brahma, the only one of those breeds that is actually supposed to be a frequent brooder (she's 2.5 years old also.)

I have a feeling I may be ordering more eggs before the first dozen even get here...

you could give the EE 6 and your black star 6...