Broody Blue Orpington..Gave Her Day 16 Bator Eggs HATCHED/ PICs

[sandyj]

When a hen broods eggs what % do they have that hatch? Is it better than hatching in bator? Does the hen know if an egg is good? Do they push a non-fertile egg out of nest and not sit on it?

sandyj

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
My hens usually end up hatching every egg that even begins developing. With a good broody, I think the percentages are higher. I prefer a broody hatch myself. No temp fluctuations, no power outages, etc. They will not push a non-fertile egg out of the nest, but sometimes, they seem to know if an egg is bad as in dead chick inside and beginning to rot. I haven't had that happen, but I've heard of it.

 

[halo]

How often do the Orps go broody? I dont know that Ive ever heard of one doing that (tho Ive led a rather sheltered life, so its no surprise I wouldnt have.).

 

[farmgirlie1031]

That's just what I did with my broody. She sat on air for 2 weeks so I gave her eggs on day 14 to hatch out and she did it.

She didn't even seem to notice I gave her white and brown eggs when she herself lays green. Good luck!

 

[speckledhen]

I think the Blues are almost as broody as the Buffs. Both my broodies are Orps. Skye, who is over two years old, has never gone broody and neither did Velvet, but now, since Nuggets is in a pen next to Suede's coop, Dusty's sister, Smoky, is fascinated with the tiny chicks. Uh, oh.

 

[speckledhen]

Dusty is on Day 19 with the seven eggs, but we noticed that she has not plucked her breast feathers like all my other broodies did. These were in the bator till Day 16, so they had proper humidity, but do you think that it will make a difference that her skin isn't in full contact with the eggs for these last few days? Now, I'm a bit worried.

 

[scgamecock]

I always wondered how they controlled the humidity.

 

[speckledhen]

I may be wrong, but I think the skin to egg contact is what adds the humidity with broody eggs.

 

[MissPrissy]

I have a broody buff and considered giving her some turkey eggs. LOL

 

[scgamecock]

My free range hen that moved in from my neighbors house hatched out 6 chicks Saturday.