{Farm} First Experience with a Broody Hen

Be careful what you wish for. 

Mainly because you might actually get it. 

Look at the sass in that eye!

I had been hoping that after adding Bertram to the flock, I would eventually be able to hatch our my own chicks. I was ok with the idea of using an incubator if called for at some point. But in the depths of my heart I was wishing to have the experience of the event occurring naturally. Well, my little Rhode Island Red , Sweet Pea, delivered. Sweets and I have been pals since the whole chicken journey began. She is my morning chatty Kathy in the coop and my "what's up mom" friend. For her to be my first experience is something special.

Its been my experience this far that the Rhode Island Reds are territorial when laying their eggs. All of them get funny when you open the lid to the nesting boxes in the middle of their business. One night, I had gone out to gather eggs and Sweets was in the "popular" nesting box on all the eggs.  She sleeps in the boxes usually, so I wasn't surprised to see her. She got a little testy when I opened the lid and went after my hand when I reached for the eggs. That's when the light bulb went on. So I let her keep the eggs that night. The next morning, she had gotten off the nest to get a drink first thing. An hour later she was back and still on them when I put the flock to bed that night.

The next morning, I carefully transferred her to our brooder up on the porch. That way, she would be left alone and could easily access food and water. I gave her a bunch of Timothy Hay in one end of the brooder which she used to make a nest and transferred the eggs. She has her water bowl and food on the other end of the brooder. So far so good!

I've candled the eggs, which look promising. A couple are kind of dark and that makes it hard to tell what is happening inside. There are 2 Ameraucana eggs  and 4 others that are either Gold Stars or Rhode Island Reds!

I'll keep you updated as things go forward!
Thanks for sharing life on the farm!

-Rebecca


 *Update*

Thursday July 28, 2016
Two Weeks down, one to go. Should this be successful, August 2 is our estimated hatch date. We shall see. I am excited to see what happens.

Sunday July 31, 2016
Got home from church to find a little head popped out of Sweets feathers. I wasn't expecting it, but she hatched out her first 4 chicks today. So far they are all healthy.  A trip to the feed store is definitely in store for tomorrow.

Monday August 1.2016
Went out to check on momma bird this morning. I gave her some meal worms as a treat and to get her off the nest so I can see what is going on underneath. She's hatched out 5 of the 6 eggs in her clutch so far. I am not sure if she will hatch out the last one. We will have to wait and see.