My first broody hen!

[HotPepperQueen]

No I'm trying so hard to be patient!

 

[HotPepperQueen]

Well they are starting to hatch. One hatched out but it didn't absorb all of it's yolk and died I'm hoping for something more positive later today!

 

[Smart Red]

Fingers crossed for a successful hatch!

 

[HotPepperQueen]

Well mama kicked out an egg that was partially hatched but had developed the wrong way (away from the air cell). It also hadn't absorbed it's yolk. I'm getting more and more discouraged!

 

[baymule]

Hang in there. I had my first broody hen and a friend gave me 7 eggs, since I don't have a rooster. She hatched 5 out of 7. They were so darn cute. She is a Blue Laced Red Wyandotte and was a big plump-breasted girl. Her breast felt like a hatchet blade after the eggs hatched. I scrambled her 2 eggs with a tablespoon of bacon grease every morning for several weeks after that.

You will enjoy your babies so much. They are so cute, running around behind their momma.

 

[HotPepperQueen]

Thanks. My stats so far out of 14 are- one quitter and 3 still born.

One of my Black Australorps seems to be spending about 60% of her day in the nest box and I noticed a little feather loss on her belly but not quite the breast area. Depending on my hatch rate with the broody Black Copper Marans, I might encourage her to stay broody and give her some eggs.

 

[journey11]

Oh, a rough start... I've never incubated chicks before. What are normal odds? Hopefully the others will turn out better.

I had a lot of trouble with my Australorps going broody (past flock). All they want to do is sit around and eat bon bons.

 

[thistlebloom]

HPQ, I hope the rest of your hatch has been successful.

I've only let a broody set once, and she hatched 2 out of 5 purchased eggs.
She was my tiny Dutch bantam and a great mom.
Boy, the group I have now are constantly going broody. I put a colored zip tie around their ankle when they go broody so I can keep track of whose doing what, and a couple of them are on their 3 broody cycle. They have to be caged or they hog the nest box and the other girls start laying in random places.

 

[HotPepperQueen]

Here are the stats now- 4 stillborn, 2 quitters, and 2 beautiful healthy chicks!

There are 6 eggs left under broody girl. She is quite the attentive and nurturing mama. I'm so proud of her!

 

[baymule]

Awww.....they are so cute! I enjoyed watching my broody cuddle all her babies under her feathers and keep them warm. You will have so much fun watching your babies grow up.