Our First Broody Hen So Excited! UPDATED with some PICS

[peepmommy]

So, I checked today and no chicks. I did however hear a pop when mamma sat down. You guessed it, a bomb went off! Then she preceded to eat the goo!

 

[Mommy2Blaze]

Eewwww, gross!!

Ours ate a couple throughout the laying part too but no bombs thank goodness lol.

We just got back from Tractor Supply getting chick feed and went straight to check and see how they were and chick number 6 had been hatched for a short time. It was still a tad wet but they are all doing amazing. Chris is separating an area of the main coop for them and mama right now so I will get more pics after while.

I had brought them in to keep an eye on them but OMG mama let out the most massive poop last night I have ever seen and thank God it all stayed in the box and none got on the babies or eggs. She did good there. But the smell and sound was horrible lol. It was like a miniature cow pie. Needless to say they all went back to the coop first thing this morning hahaha.

 

[michiele]

I am so sad. My broody hen keeps smushing the chicks Yesterday morning, there were 2 chicks hatched, sort of, but they were dead and looked smooshed. I wasn't sure what happened. Yesterday afternoon another one hatched and he looked fine when I went to bed. however, this morning, he was smooshed and a new one was hatched. The new one is still alive. I guess I am just going to have to take the babies Why doesn't my hen know what to do with her babies??? She is about 10 months old. Is she too young?

 

[peepmommy]

I thought my Candy would never do it!! I checked on her this morning and I had 3 little black heads poke out! My daughter wanted to go out now and double check and we have another little baby!!

We have a seven eggs left and a couple look to be pipped (I didn't look at the eggs, but looked at the pictures). I am so tickled and my daughter (4 years) is so excited!!!!

 

[Mommy2Blaze]

Oh Blaze is 4 also and he is absolutely stoked with the babies here. All 6 are doing great. I love your little chickies!! I am crossing my fingers that all the others hatch great!!!!

 

[Mommy2Blaze]

I am so sad. My broody hen keeps smushing the chicks Yesterday morning, there were 2 chicks hatched, sort of, but they were dead and looked smooshed. I wasn't sure what happened. Yesterday afternoon another one hatched and he looked fine when I went to bed. however, this morning, he was smooshed and a new one was hatched. The new one is still alive. I guess I am just going to have to take the babies Why doesn't my hen know what to do with her babies??? She is about 10 months old. Is she too young?

I wish I knew. This is my first time hatching any at all. Our hens are a bit over a year old so maybe age does make a difference. I am not sure. I hate that you have lost them though. It is sad to lose little babies.

 

[peepmommy]

You know, this is our first broody hatch and if she only has four, I'll be perfectly fine with that. It does look like another egg has pipped, so we will see!!

 

[michiele]

Quote:
Well, we now have 3 chicks that hatched under the mama. We brought each inside as they hatched so they would not get smooshed. We have 3 eggs left to hatch. One has pipped so we brought it inside as well. It has a better chance hatching inside overnight than hatching under mama and being smooshed in the morning. I am glad that we have been able to get any chicks at this point. Maybe next time, the mama will know what to do with the babies.

 

[BunnyMomma]

I am so sad. My broody hen keeps smushing the chicks Yesterday morning, there were 2 chicks hatched, sort of, but they were dead and looked smooshed. I wasn't sure what happened. Yesterday afternoon another one hatched and he looked fine when I went to bed. however, this morning, he was smooshed and a new one was hatched. The new one is still alive. I guess I am just going to have to take the babies Why doesn't my hen know what to do with her babies??? She is about 10 months old. Is she too young?

Hi, I think that inexperienced hens might need to try a few times before they get it right. I have had that happen in the past. Occasionally it will go like this with new hens.
1st try, they might sit on the eggs for a few days and leave the nest or eat the eggs.
2nd try, they might sit on the eggs for a few weeks.
3rd try, they finally get it right!
I think it is because so much has been done to breed out the "broody trait" in so many breeds. I have heard that Mille Fleurs are not good broody's but my Mille's just hatched 13 little ones last week. They are so cute. I always bring the chicks inside after they have hatched, so that they are less wild.
I'm sorry about your smushed chicks. I think it is due to her inexperience. Make sure to check the nestbox and make sure it is roomy enough and has plenty of hay or straw to cushion the chicks from the weight of the hen. Don't give up on her! she will eventually be a great broody.

 

[michiele]

Hi, I think that inexperienced hens might need to try a few times before they get it right. I have had that happen in the past. Occasionally it will go like this with new hens.
1st try, they might sit on the eggs for a few days and leave the nest or eat the eggs.
2nd try, they might sit on the eggs for a few weeks.
3rd try, they finally get it right!
I think it is because so much has been done to breed out the "broody trait" in so many breeds. I have heard that Mille Fleurs are not good broody's but my Mille's just hatched 13 little ones last week. They are so cute. I always bring the chicks inside after they have hatched, so that they are less wild.
I'm sorry about your smushed chicks. I think it is due to her inexperience. Make sure to check the nestbox and make sure it is roomy enough and has plenty of hay or straw to cushion the chicks from the weight of the hen. Don't give up on her! she will eventually be a great broody.

Thanks for the encouragement. This was my broody's first try and she sat on them all the way through. It just didn't go so well after they hatched I brought all the 4 remaining eggs inside last night because a couple of them had already pipped. Two hatched out last night and are doing fine. One doesn't seem viable and the other one has pipped now and has chirping. I might go ahead and see if I can help it out since I don't have the right conditions for good hatching. So, we have 5 chicks now and one in the egg trying. Maybe next time, the broody will do a better job at being mama