September Hatch-A-Long

[ChickyChickens]

I just found a hideaway broody in a tire in our neighbours field! She has 19 eggs and they are all pipping! Cant wait to see al the little chickies! I wonder how they will look???? Oh how I love hideaway broodies...

Oh my word! I miscounted her eggs! She actually has 22 eggs and one chick! I moved her inside now and that's when I noticed that I miscounted her eggs. I cant believe she had/has that many eggs!

 

[redhen689]

That is awesome! Around here there are too many foxes and raccoons. A hideaway broody would never make it.

My eggs are at 6 days. I did a quick candling last night. Unfortunately I think I have a lot of duds, but my light wasn't very bright, so I'll wait at least another week before I make any decisions.
I'd be happy if I just get at least 2 or 3 healthy chicks. If I get a poor hatch, I'll just try again in the spring.

 

[AmericanMom]

Good luck with the hatching eggs! I hope yo uhave a wonderful hatch!

What a restless night!!! Went to bed at 3 am finally, Woke back up at 5... tried to just lay there but couldn't... Checked on the incubator chicks, first thing I saw was the screen for the room humidity...58%

Let out the breath I didnt know I was holding... Then took a peek and the 2nd chick (wrong way) is out!!! My worries were for naught as it piped and zipped by itself within about 10 hours.... Did a quick count, nine are piped! today is day 20

 

[ChickyChickens]

What a restless night!!! Went to bed at 3 am finally, Woke back up at 5... tried to just lay there but couldn't... Checked on the incubator chicks, first thing I saw was the screen for the room humidity...58%

Let out the breath I didnt know I was holding... Then took a peek and the 2nd chick (wrong way) is out!!! My worries were for naught as it piped and zipped by itself within about 10 hours.... Did a quick count, nine are piped! today is day 20

YAY! HOORAY!

 

[Iko127]

Ok got a question about broody hens. I have a chance to get a hen that only wants to sit on eggs! I know chickens like company but if I were to get her I would be very concerned to put her in any of my coops with my bigger hens since they are not very nice to incomers. Can she be in a cage if its big and comfy? Would she need her own coop/run? What do most of you do with your broody? How often does she need eggs to sit on and how often should you let her sit? I'm sure I can research this but just thought I would get your opinions first. I want to get another coop/run but just not sure I can just yet so might just wait. Not sure what breed the hen is, I'm assuming banty, serima or silkie since it said small broody in ad. Thank You!

 

[ChickyChickens]

That is awesome! Around here there are too many foxes and raccoons. A hideaway broody would never make it.

My eggs are at 6 days. I did a quick candling last night. Unfortunately I think I have a lot of duds, but my light wasn't very bright, so I'll wait at least another week before I make any decisions.
I'd be happy if I just get at least 2 or 3 healthy chicks. If I get a poor hatch, I'll just try again in the spring.

The only problem we have here is these small weird birds (some type of falcon) that take the chicks! And these birds aren't even such a big problem so I don't really have to worry much.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Ok got a question about broody hens. I have a chance to get a hen that only wants to sit on eggs! I know chickens like company but if I were to get her I would be very concerned to put her in any of my coops with my bigger hens since they are not very nice to incomers. Can she be in a cage if its big and comfy? Would she need her own coop/run? What do most of you do with your broody? How often does she need eggs to sit on and how often should you let her sit? I'm sure I can research this but just thought I would get your opinions first. I want to get another coop/run but just not sure I can just yet so might just wait. Not sure what breed the hen is, I'm assuming banty, serima or silkie since it said small broody in ad. Thank You!

She wouldn't probably mind if you gave her a cage if it was big and comfy! I don't think she would need her own run (but then you would have to slowly intergrate her with your existing flock!
To tell the truth I just leave my broody hens alone. Where they go broody is where they want to be so I leave them there (except for when the eggs start hatching, then I bring them inside)I just totally leave them alone to do their own thing!
I hope I helped you a little!
Most people don't allow their broodies to sit to much but I let mine sit whenever they want to!

 

[AmericanMom]

You can see where the air cell was marked... Sorry, I am just amazed, I have read such sad stories on here about chicks that pip the wrong end and die.. I really think its alive because it did all this in the middle of the night, I might have been tempted to intervene during the day




Its the chick closest to the camera, still not completely dry yet

 

[ChickyChickens]

You can see where the air cell was marked... Sorry, I am just amazed, I have read such sad stories on here about chicks that pip the wrong end and die.. I really think its alive because it did all this in the middle of the night, I might have been tempted to intervene during the day




Its the chick closest to the camera, still not completely dry yet

Congrats! I have also had a chick that has hatched the wrong way round! I was so happy that it made it! That same chicks that hatched wrong is one of my best broodies at the moment!

 

[AmericanMom]

She wouldn't probably mind if you gave her a cage if it was big and comfy! I don't think she would need her own run (but then you would have to slowly intergrate her with your existing flock!
To tell the truth I just leave my broody hens alone. Where they go broody is where they want to be so I leave them there (except for when the eggs start hatching, then I bring them inside)I just totally leave them alone to do their own thing!
I hope I helped you a little!
Most people don't allow their broodies to sit to much but I let mine sit whenever they want to!

Agreed... My Molted is on here third brood this year!! As a wise person here once said, why let a good broody go to waste