Should I let her?

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I really enjoyed reading about your broody hen's progress, & especially this morn's update. Keep on updating!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I really enjoyed reading about your broody hen's progress, & especially this morn's update. Keep on updating!

Haha I'm really just trying to keep a journal of all źt little details of how my late fall/early winter hatch goes step by step, so this time next year I can reread and sort of give myself a shove in the right direction whichever that may be) should I get all wishy washy about trying it again! But I'm super glad you're enjoying my tale of leaping into hatching under a broody when snows just starting to fall!

I actually got lucky ad we're having an amazingly unseasonably warm stretch for a few days so I'm not quite as panicked about how fast the eggs are going to chill when Bug pops off to eat. I got her moved into a nest box in the partitioned brooder/hospital/jail last night after all my girls settled for the night. Even in the dark wih only the moonlight through the ventilation openings she was ANGRY and more than a little confused, hopping off her new nest to try and make a dash for the old one and back to the new nest to nudge an egg this way or that and then running off again to bounce off the screen separation door. I'm so glad she's not a truly mean broody, she didn't peck me once as I showed her her eggs and put her back on the clutch a few times! Just a few nasty growls and after 2-3 minutes she made the choice herself to get back on there, crooning the cutest little noises as she tucked the eggs back under her super ruffled fluffed up body!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Getting down to to the wire! So far all 8 eggs are looking awesome, so my fingers are crossed and its taking every ounce of self control I've got to keep myself from peeking under Bug's abundant fluff! I can't believe I waited this long to do a broody hatch! I suppose my production reds, for the most part, were never broody, that's the only logical reason I have for holding off for so long, but now...

 

[LateBirdFarms]

Oh my! I spoke too soon! One blue egg has hatched into what looks like a black chick at the end of day 20! The first to hatch was the egg that I was worried about, its movement slowed considerably compared to the others when I candled last, but I guess the itty bitty was resting up for the big show!
The little peep is still wet, but Mama Bug us keeping the little one tucked in close so I can't get a good look at it yet, and it's frickin cold out so I don't care disturb them yet... but... YAY! Now the real panic starts!

I'll have photos in the morning for sure!

 

[TheMother]

Getting down to to the wire! So far all 8 eggs are looking awesome, so my fingers are crossed and its taking every ounce of self control I've got to keep myself from peeking under Bug's abundant fluff! I can't believe I waited this long to do a broody hatch! I suppose my production reds, for the most part, were never broody, that's the only logical reason I have for holding off for so long, but now...

I'm so excited for you! My incubated eggs are going into lockdown on the 20, so I'm also waiting patiently.
But.. there is something special about letting a broody hatch them out.

 

[TheMother]

Oh my! I spoke too soon! One blue egg has hatched into what looks like a black chick at the end of day 20! The first to hatch was the egg that I was worried about, its movement slowed considerably compared to the others when I candled last, but I guess the itty bitty was resting up for the big show!
The little peep is still wet, but Mama Bug us keeping the little one tucked in close so I can't get a good look at it yet, and it's frickin cold out so I don't care disturb them yet... but... YAY! Now the real panic starts!

I'll have photos in the morning for sure!

Yay!!! Congrats ! Please do post pics if you're able!

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I'm so excited for you! My incubated eggs are going into lockdown on the 20, so I'm also waiting patiently.
But.. there is something special about letting a broody hatch them out.

Something special for sure! Like the complete heart attack I had the first few times she hopped off the nest to do her business! You'd think I was birthing these little fluffs myself! I was going to ask Santa for an incubator for Christmas, but I think I'm going to see how I handle a broody hatch when it isn't about to snow first! Good luck with your new wee ones!

And absolutely I'll get some pictures up as soon as Bug allows, hopefully more than just the one will be ready to show their adorable little faces!

 

[LizzzyJo]

Something special for sure! Like the complete heart attack I had the first few times she hopped off the nest to do her business! You'd think I was birthing these little fluffs myself! I was going to ask Santa for an incubator for Christmas, but I think I'm going to see how I handle a broody hatch when it isn't about to snow first! Good luck with your new wee ones!

And absolutely I'll get some pictures up as soon as Bug allows, hopefully more than just the one will be ready to show their adorable little faces!

I’m so excited for you! Broody hatches are so special. I can never keep my hands off of them

 

[LateBirdFarms]

I’m so excited for you! Broody hatches are so special. I can never keep my hands off of them

I'm having a heck of a time resisting , lemme tell you! Motherhood seems to have softened my broody up towards me, since she was a pretty sassy handful before settling on the clutch...it would have been so much easier to resist if she was still doing her best impression of a velociraptor! Chances are I'll be dragging my stool into the coop to hang out for a bit, I'm so glad its warmer in there than the balmy -3c/26.6f it is outside

 

[LizzzyJo]

I'm having a heck of a time resisting , lemme tell you! Motherhood seems to have softened my broody up towards me, since she was a pretty sassy handful before settling on the clutch...it would have been so much easier to resist if she was still doing her best impression of a velociraptor! Chances are I'll be dragging my stool into the coop to hang out for a bit, I'm so glad its warmer in there than the balmy -3c/26.6f it is outside

Haha I would’ve done the same if I could fit in my coop if you’re in southern Ontario you’ve got some sleet coming your way in just a bit because it’s hitting me now. Maybe you should just bring your sleeping bag out there... post pics when you can! Broody and baby pics are the best there are.