Broody Breaking Rules about Hatching Chicks

[Daisy8s]

I've always heard that you shouldn't help an egg hatch. The thinking is that if the chick isn't strong enough to hatch then it isn't strong enough to live.

I have two broody hens, both great mothers, who actively peck at the egg after it begins to hatch (the first hole is made). They do nothing until they hear some peeping and then they peck at the egg several times, eating the shell or inner membrane. Then they wait until they hear more peeping and repeat...until the chick is out.

The first time I saw this it looked so violent I thought they were killing the chick but as I watched I saw they were very careful and intentional about responding to the chick's peeping. The chick is out in less than an hour from start to finish.

In contrast, we had one egg hatch completely without the mother's help. It took almost an entire day to hatch. That chick was much slower to gain strength and walk...it took about a full day longer to be up and running with the other chicks.

So, now I wonder if the chicks who get the mother's help and therefore don't use so much energy to hatch are, in fact, in better shape post-hatching. Anyone else have experience with how broodies do or don't help the chicks get out of the egg?

 

[Justso]

That's a pretty amazing story. I've never had the pleasure of observing my broodies hatch, I've always assumed they let it progress naturally.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

That’s sounds like a good idea for hatching chicks in an incubator, but knowing us clumsy humans we would probably kill all the chicks.

 

[PugAndChickMomma]

My broody just hatched and did the same thing. She helped the first two, then stepped on and crushed the third one. I ended up helping it out after a 36+ hours. It took a couple days for that one to recover, but she is doing great now. A lot smaller than the other two though.