Comments on: Finally! A Broody Hen! http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2012/04/finally-a-broody-hen/ Homesteading * How To Be Self Sufficient * Simple Living * Off Grid * Farming * Country Living Wed, 22 May 2013 01:56:21 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Michelle H http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2012/04/finally-a-broody-hen/#comment-100850 Michelle H Wed, 09 May 2012 11:38:41 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=13734#comment-100850 I had the same fear as our hen picked the uppermost box to hatch her brood. As soon as they hatched and dried and fluffed I moved them. They stick close by – as you’re finding out – and now that mine are about 3 weeks old, they are out and about with the rest of the flock and momma takes good care of them. :)

]]> By: Sandi http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2012/04/finally-a-broody-hen/#comment-96114 Sandi Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:04:38 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=13734#comment-96114 There were two eggs, but after 23 days we broke the other one open (it seemed safe as it felt like it was sloshing) and apparently it was never fertilized–hadn’t grown at all. But we had two broody hens and this was their second attempt (of the first two, one egg had started to grow and the other egg not at all). One of the hens finally gave up two days before the chick hatched (good thing since there was only one baby), that one looks exactly like your hen–I love their eyes!!

]]> By: Kendra at New Life On A Homestead http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2012/04/finally-a-broody-hen/#comment-96070 Kendra at New Life On A Homestead Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:28:27 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=13734#comment-96070 That’s exciting, Sandi! Was there only one egg under her?

]]> By: Sandi http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2012/04/finally-a-broody-hen/#comment-96065 Sandi Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:17:54 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=13734#comment-96065 Kendra, we just hatched our first chick under a broody hen. I heard the egg chirping on day 20, so we brought the hen and egg inside. The chick hatched that night and we’ll keep them together indoors (it’s cold outside still) until we move them out together in a number of weeks.

]]> By: Susan C. http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2012/04/finally-a-broody-hen/#comment-95124 Susan C. Sat, 14 Apr 2012 05:55:18 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=13734#comment-95124 You should probably candle the eggs to see if anything is growing in them just to make sure she isn’t wasting her time and body fat to incubate empty eggs. You will be able to see how far along they are too. You can put a little wall around the nest to keep the babies in for a couple days. Then move her and babies but do it withing a few days of hatching or they will be big enough to jump out of the box. you can also try doing it at night so she wakes up with her babes in an appropriate nest.

]]> By: Kendra at New Life On A Homestead http://newlifeonahomestead.com/2012/04/finally-a-broody-hen/#comment-94343 Kendra at New Life On A Homestead Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:57:40 +0000 http://newlifeonahomestead.com/?p=13734#comment-94343 Michelle,

That’s what we were trying to figure out; some way of putting up a safety wire without blocking mama hen in or out. I’m thinking that’s the way to go.

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