Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Rachel'sFlock]

haha, what breed is your mama??

Black Australorp...Mammas extrordinaire! This is my second broody from 6 hatchery pullets in 2010

 

[Johnn]

Black Australorp...Mammas extrordinaire! This is my second broody from 6 hatchery pullets in 2010

haha i never hear of black australop in the UK, im not too sure if i want my orp to go broody next year, i dont know what do with cockerels and im not culling them because im just one of those people who cant do it, if my orp only goes broody i guess i will hatch, if 2 to 3 do i will hatch all ducklings because my friend will take boys and girls!

 

[Johnn]

Ive just realised after next week when my orp chick is 16 weeks i cant call her the orp chick anymore because wont she be offially POL??

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

haha i never hear of black australop in the UK, im not too sure if i want my orp to go broody next year, i dont know what do with cockerels and im not culling them because im just one of those people who cant do it, if my orp only goes broody i guess i will hatch, if 2 to 3 do i will hatch all ducklings because my friend will take boys and girls!

You could always do what I did and let her hatch some eggs (duck, if that's what you have), and the buy some day-3 day old pullets and tuck them under her. My BA hen is raising 5 of her own (3 baby roos of the 5- boooo! but I will eat the ones I don't need) and 5 from the feed store, 3 of which are BA pullets and the other 2 are California White pullets! Maybe you could let her hatch the ducklings and then give those away right away, switching out for baby pullets of your choice of breed at the same time you snatch her ducklings, late some night, in the dark???
Just throwing that out there...hate to waste a good broody!

 

[Johnn]

You could always do what I did and let her hatch some eggs (duck, if that's what you have), and the buy some day-3 day old pullets and tuck them under her. My BA hen is raising 5 of her own (3 baby roos of the 5- boooo! but I will eat the ones I don't need) and 5 from the feed store, 3 of which are BA pullets and the other 2 are California White pullets! Maybe you could let her hatch the ducklings and then give those away right away, switching out for baby pullets of your choice of breed at the same time you snatch her ducklings, late some night, in the dark???
Just throwing that out there...hate to waste a good broody!

hmmm, if she hatched duckling she can just raise them, im not bothered about having new girls coming in every year, i would prefer rescuing ex batts, if its only her broody she can just hatch chicks, if its her and another hen, ducklings, I really dont want Melow to go broody again, if she does i will probablies try break, her she is a great layer, but a useless broody!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

hmmm, if she hatched duckling she can just raise them, im not bothered about having new girls coming in every year, i would prefer rescuing ex batts, if its only her broody she can just hatch chicks, if its her and another hen, ducklings, I really dont want Melow to go broody again, if she does i will probablies try break, her she is a great layer, but a useless broody!

if you do this, I so wanna see little duck bills poking out from under their "Mamma"!
I think my broody would raise little dinosaurs if I put the eggs under her. They will already have her broody personality!

 

[karlamaria]

Full viewing the image - you're right, the comb is pretty big. Though the pattern is very feminine. I think it could go either way. I sure hope it's a girl though!

I sure hope there both girls, but the one chick is bigger then the other light colored one, and the legs are fatter and his comb is defiantly there. I hope it's a girl, the color will be awesome!.

I love the pic of them around the watering hole - they look so large - until you see the next pic with momma nearby that shows the actual scale LOL!  So adorable.  Pea combs can be tricky.  I thought for sure my beautiful black Ameraucana was a girl until she crowed and started mounting the pullets.  Soon she grew the tail of a roo and by 15 weeks it was clear she wasn't a she.   

I'm thinking the one on the left is a cockerel and the one on the right is a pullet - hopefully I'm wrong.

. I'm thinking the same thing, but I hope we are both wrong lol, there both so pretty colored and I think they will both be beautiful adults. I should have kept all the chicks until spring. Bad mistake on my part. I gave 6 away.

 

[karlamaria]

Black Australorp...Mammas extrordinaire! This is my second broody from 6 hatchery pullets in 2010

mine were great layers! Had to give 2 away as they both beat up on my other chickens, but those two girls laid every day!

 

[karlamaria]

  Mama 1st thing this morning. The 8 fuzzy butts 1st 1/2 hour off of the nest. It was about 38 outside. Notice how they don't care...   Mama is such a good girl 

this. Is adorable! And what beautiful chicks and chicken!

 

[karlamaria]

So cute, and isn't nice you know they went to a good home. 

yes I was very glad. She had turkey chicks to give away lol. But I have no extra room for turkey s . Bummer I would love one!