Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

That's great! How soon? Post pics if you can when they've dried off.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Topsy will not stop being broody. I hate to let her hatch anymore chicks with the weather having dropped into 50Fs at night and colder coming soon. But she is so determined. She's been sitting tight for three days now and yesterday was her last day to lay an egg.

Guess I need to decide what eggs to give her soon. I really didn't want new chicks over the winter, but looks like I may get some anyways.

 

[stonykill]

Topsy will not stop being broody. I hate to let her hatch anymore chicks with the weather having dropped into 50Fs at night and colder coming soon. But she is so determined. She's been sitting tight for three days now and yesterday was her last day to lay an egg.
Guess I need to decide what eggs to give her soon. I really didn't want new chicks over the winter, but looks like I may get some anyways.

I've got Mama broody sitting for 10 days now I think. Lows in the mid to upper 30's the last few nights. Still warmer out than when they start here in the spring.

 

[bobbieschicks]

  I've got Mama broody sitting for 10 days now I think. Lows in the mid to upper 30's the last few nights. Still warmer out than when they start here in the spring.

So she should be okay right. I don't heat the coop and its not insulated, but it stays fairly warm in there.

 

[stonykill]

So she should be okay right. I don't heat the coop and its not insulated, but it stays fairly warm in there.

she wll be fine. Mine here usually start their broodiness in March when it can be anywhere from 15 to 40 at night and anywhere from 15 to 60 during the day. She will do great! I've had plenty of day old chicks run around in the snow with mama's. Insulation and heat....bad....very bad.

 

[bobbieschicks]

  she wll be fine. Mine here usually start their broodiness in March when it can be anywhere from 15 to 40 at night and anywhere from 15 to 60 during the day. She will do great! I've had plenty of day old chicks run around in the snow with mama's. Insulation and heat....bad....very bad. 

Haha, yes I read not to insulate in our humid climate it would just cause mold/moisture and breathing problems for the chicks.

Okay then I will figure out an egg plan for her. I only have one rooster now and he's a young silkie. He hasn't been extremely active so I will need to order shipped or find some nearby eggs.

Glad to see you're here again

 

[stonykill]

Haha, yes I read not to insulate in our humid climate it would just cause mold/moisture and breathing problems for the chicks.
Okay then I will figure out an egg plan for her. I only have one rooster now and he's a young silkie. He hasn't been extremely active so I will need to order shipped or find some nearby eggs.
Glad to see you're here again

 

[Tripp16]

Ugh, remember back in June when I was complaining about getting hens to go broody? WELL! I have a silkie with two chicks, my BB Red bantam hen with her 6 chicks (3rd brood this year since march for her) and now I have another Silkie hen siting on two of my Seramas eggs and one of hers. Not to mention my little buff silkie is walking around doing the broody cluck when she hasnt laid an egg in about 3 days!

The only problem is, it is getting COLD. Its in the 40 degree range tonight cold and rainy. I put tarps up on my Bantam hens hutch to keep her and her chicks warmer. And the other silkie sleeps in the nest in the silkie coop with the other silkies But Im afraid when my other silkie hen sitting now that when her eggs hatch that they will be to cold. They are due until the 25th of this month.

What do you guys think? Just see how it goes? She is the last momma hen for this year. Im cutting them off. Its just getting to cold.

I am going to miss having babies until spring. I refuse to use the incubator and raise chicks during the winter.... (I say that now)

Sorry to go on and on. Just wanted you guys opinion!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Read the 6 posts before yours. I'm sure they'll be fine. Both of you though, make sure there are no drafts where your babies will be hatching/brooding.

 

[Fox hater]

I feel the same way, if these last 4 don't hatch under my silkie by this weekend, I am tossing another 5 or 6 silkie eggs back under her, she wants to be a momma again soooo badly and this would be her 3rd brood as well. She is so determined she has been sitting now for 30 days, patient as they come...not me, it's driving me crazy I want her to have more fuzzy butts so I can live vicariously through her