Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[naturespace]

I candled the eggs under my broody last night. All 8 were fertile and growing, but she must have stepped on one. It was cracked, so at least she still has 7 growing babies. Hope we don't lose anymore. It's heartbreaking to see the little guy who got cracked. He was still moving around when I inspected the egg.

We should have little chicks by the 25th!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Broody Breaking Pen is whatever small coop we have empty at the moment. We have multiple 4x4 little playhouses/doghouses ( freebies we picked up and adapted) in the compound to separate various ages of chicks as they mature. They all have roosts about a foot or so off the floor.
All you need for a broodybreaking pen is a radical change of environment to give them something else to think about, and no access to a nest with eggs. Since Cecelia had been spending her nights roosting on the fence top with Eileen, a coop of any sort will work.
Yes, I know she belongs inside, but wing clipping didn't work and our EEs are mostly Arcauana -- fly like birds when they want to.

 

[ll]

I read that you can melt wax and put it on the crack.

I candled the eggs under my broody last night. All 8 were fertile and growing, but she must have stepped on one. It was cracked, so at least she still has 7 growing babies. Hope we don't lose anymore. It's heartbreaking to see the little guy who got cracked. He was still moving around when I inspected the egg.
We should have little chicks by the 25th!

 

[Tripp16]

Ugh here we go again! My little Old English Bantam (Gracie) got off her nest she was scratching and preening alot so I looked. Her whole butt was covered in mites. She hatched a clutch during the summer and ever one died. Three of them. One because of pasty butt the others mites.

I warmed some water got a bucket and some dog oatmeal shampoo (didnt have flea an tick) and wash her little butt clean! I couldnt get her head but in a week Im going to wash her again.

Oh and cleaned her bedding out which was practically brand new shavings but better to be safe then sorry. I HATE mites! I am neat freak about my coops and hutches (clean them out weekly new bedding and all) it never fails one normally her always get some....

Ready for winter so they will gone!

 

[perchie.girl]

Ugh here we go again! My little Old English Bantam (Gracie) got off her nest she was scratching and preening alot so I looked. Her whole butt was covered in mites. She hatched a clutch during the summer and ever one died. Three of them. One because of pasty butt the others mites.

I warmed some water got a bucket and some dog oatmeal shampoo (didnt have flea an tick) and wash her little butt clean! I couldnt get her head but in a week Im going to wash her again.

Oh and cleaned her bedding out which was practically brand new shavings but better to be safe then sorry. I HATE mites! I am neat freak about my coops and hutches (clean them out weekly new bedding and all) it never fails one normally her always get some....

Ready for winter so they will gone!

You need to do more than wash your hen and dump the bedding. Mites live between the boards in the nest box and any crack or crawly space they can find. Plus they leave eggs even if you dont see the mites there will be eggs. Ivermectin is good for getting rid of the mites on the birds (its the one I know. I know there are others). Then spray with Neem oil or something similar and get the cracks in the wood saturated. Then dust with Food grade Diatomaceous earth. This should be done everywhere your chickens go, and for all your chickens not just for the ones that appear to be affected. Then they all should be treated one more time for when the mite eggs hatch which I believe it takes about a week or two. This includes spraying again.

I was just reading this link and mites can live as long as eight months without a host. And yes it covers poultry mites about the middle of the page.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/mites.htm

deb

 

[Tripp16]

You need to do more than wash your hen and dump the bedding. Mites live between the boards in the nest box and any crack or crawly space they can find. Plus they leave eggs even if you dont see the mites there will be eggs. Ivermectin is good for getting rid of the mites on the birds (its the one I know. I know there are others). Then spray with Neem oil or something similar and get the cracks in the wood saturated. Then dust with Food grade Diatomaceous earth. This should be done everywhere your chickens go, and for all your chickens not just for the ones that appear to be affected. Then they all should be treated one more time for when the mite eggs hatch which I believe it takes about a week or two. This includes spraying again.

I was just reading this link and mites can live as long as eight months without a host. And yes it covers poultry mites about the middle of the page.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/ent/notes/Urban/mites.htm

deb

OH MY GOSH!! I did not know this!

Where can I get the Diatomacious earth? and the Neem Oil?

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Neem Oil I believe I saw it in an ad for Sears.... I dont know where you are located but its organic and I kind of like that. Orange oil works too but I will be danged if I can find it locally.

Food grade Diatomaceous earth you can get at the feed store. And they may have Neem or an equivalent there. Be sure you get food grade because its the stuff you get right out of the ground. The Pool filter stuff has been heated up to make the crystals sharper, its hazardous to breathe. But the food grade Diatomaceous earth is fine. It is made of microscopic shells and they are sharp enough to abraide the waxy coating on insects they cant keep moisture in and they dehydrated. But you have to get the infestation down before it will help you keep them at bay.

I am sure there are alot of threads here talking about it.... Poke around a little. Good luck.

deb

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

Sounds like she's abandoned the other egg. If it is past day 25 you can candle it and then dispose of it. I personally wouldn't crack it open.

My mom opened it- no yucky smell! Just yolk and this brown stuff.... poor jewels. She is sitting in a nest box of nothing now... poor thing. I cannot tell if my EE/Turken/Silkie is a girl or boy. So, 3 boys, (Silver LAced Wyandotte mix, EE mix (the SLW one, he is gorgeous. To bad he's a boy and will have to find another home ) and the white OEGB. The OEGB is already crowing with my leghorn mix...). The 2 girls I know for sure are: Light Brahama mix, Red Pyle (or Buff laced... not sure) OEGB aka the white OEGB's sister. So... I've got 4 roosters to rehome... =/.
The hawk has been hanging by. It is staying pretty close to our house.

 

[Flowerbh]

Neem Oil I believe I saw it in an ad for Sears.... I dont know where you are located but its organic and I kind of like that. Orange oil works too but I will be danged if I can find it locally.

Food grade Diatomaceous earth you can get at the feed store. And they may have Neem or an equivalent there. Be sure you get food grade because its the stuff you get right out of the ground. The Pool filter stuff has been heated up to make the crystals sharper, its hazardous to breathe. But the food grade Diatomaceous earth is fine. It is made of microscopic shells and they are sharp enough to abraide the waxy coating on insects they cant keep moisture in and they dehydrated. But you have to get the infestation down before it will help you keep them at bay.

I am sure there are alot of threads here talking about it.... Poke around a little. Good luck.

deb

Yes, I use DE also. It is wonderful! It kills flies and mites and if the chickens eat it, it will kill parasites in them, too! It helps dry up their poop and keeps the odor down. One place I read said to put some in your coop before you put in the shavings and use a leaf blower and blow it into every corner of your coop. That way, the dust gets into all the cracks and everywhere. Be sure to wear a mask when you do this. Anyway, good luck.

 

[myby]

My hen went broody again. But I don't have a good coop for the rest and I am going to try to break her broodiness (is that a word?) untill we finish the coop and my second hen goes broody which is a matter of days. I don't have a rooster now, so I will order fertile eggs. But I like how the last time the hens went coparenting so I will have both starting at the same time.
My very last option will be to have them in the garage, will see.