Broody Hen day 22 and counting

[no empty nest]

Hi Everyone My broody was sitting on 6 eggs and other hens were adding to her clutch before I had the knowledge as to what I should have done. So now we are at day 22 one hatched and is at least 2 days old . Hen has been moved to a brooder within the coop and has been a great sitter only leaving the nest once when chick escaped. My question now is should I continue to let her sit Will she leave the eggs herself if the are not viable? I prefer not to candle eggs as i just has another broody hen which had not been as dedicated and tried to candle her eggs in my clothes closet when it exposed Yuck !!! I never smelled anything that disgusting . As you probably can tell from this post this is my first experience with a broody hen and I'm learning as a go along. Thanks

 

[DanasChicks]

Hi no empty nest,

I too have had a few broody hens sit on some explosive stinkers. I understand why you don't want to candle at this point. I have also learned that when a hen kicks out an egg, she knows it's bad. I recommend tossing it instead of attempting to put it back under her, it's probably a stinker in the making.

I would leave the hen alone. If other hens laid in her nest while she was sitting, she will continue to sit for another few days up to a week to hatch more of the chicks out. Keep a close eye on the lone hatched chick. I would place crumbles and water in the brooder so the lone chick can eat while it waits on the other's to hatch. Be careful that the water container is not too deep to prevent the newly hatched chicks from drowning. Try using a dish that is only an inch or two deep. Some people place rounded stones in the water container to prevent drowning.

The hen will at some point make a choice between taking care of the hatchlings and abandoning the rest of the eggs. She may not get off the nest to care for the chick and continuing to sit on the eggs jeopardizing the chick or she may abandon the eggs to care for the chick. I have seen it go both ways. In the case that she abandons the nest, you can opt to complete the hatch in an incubator or under another broody hen. If you don't have an incubator, you can make a simple incubator by placing the eggs into a box with the lid and placing it under a lamp trying to reach a temp of between 99 and 100 degrees. (you can find instructions about how to do this online or even on another BYC forum). The other option is to toss the eggs after you are certain the hen is no longer sitting. She can leave the nest for a period of time to eat and drink and poo without harming the other eggs. As long as she comes back to sit, she has not abandoned them.

If she abandons the chick to complete the rest of the hatch, you can take the chick and put it in a brooder with a heat lamp making sure it's at 95 degrees and reducing it by 5 degrees each week, or the chick may not survive. I wouldn't rush at intervening, if you said she has left the nest to care for the chick, she may be able to do both for another couple of days without any problems to either chick or eggs.

If you intervene and take the chick, she may take the chick back after the others hatch. You can just try placing the older chick back in with her flock, but watch closely, sometimes they will be reunited with no issues, other times, she will peck at the chick to go away, at which time, I would leave the chick a while longer. Many times the hen will accept the chick back in with the rest of her brood. It just depends on the hen. If all else fails and you end up keeping the chick separated, it's always a good idea to raise it with another chick. They need a flock mate.

Happy Hatching!

 

[coffeychicks]

I have learned to identify bad eggs by smell. Sniff the shell if it is bad it gives off an odor I tossed one last night sure enough it exploded in mid air tuck thankfully missed me and my son with the contents but the smell was unsettling

 

[no empty nest]

Thank you for replying your info is very helpfull This hen is an excellent mama The first time the chick escaped from the nesting box that's when mama left the nest and sat in the run protecting her. I had already constructed a brooder in the coop so I took the opportunity and moved the remaining eggs and chick in there Mom followed and went right back to sitting. This little chick is an escape artist and has also escaped from the brooder .Mama was frantically pacing that she couldn't get out. Lucky my husband was right there when it happened and has plugged up small holes I have put in a chick water and feed I read somewhere to put the food on a white paper plate to make it easier for the chick to identify it worked like a charm and only one day later its eating out of the feeder. It's so amazing to watch all of this taking place. I have had chicks years ago in a cardboard box and a heat lamp but there's no comparison to the joy a broody hen and her chicks bring

 

[coffeychicks]

This is my first time letting mommy hen hatch and raise her own I usually let mommy hatch then bring chicks inside but since it is summer gonna see how this works

 

[no empty nest]

Second one hatched today I think you'll really enjoy watching mama teach the little ones. The older chick also teaches the new hatchling It's just so cute

 

[coffeychicks]

I can't wait. Should have hatches this weekend

 

[no empty nest]

Still sitting day 27 I did the sniff test and they don't have any smell she is very protective of the nest. I need some advise as to what I should do now

Thanks

 

[DanasChicks]

As long as she is caring for the chicks while setting, she should be okay to remain on the eggs a while longer. The hen will kick then eggs out if they are bad and they will be cold to the touch while the others under her are warm. It seems like some other hens must have continued to lay in her nest once she began sitting. If this happens again, once you notice she is brooding a clutch of eggs, you can count them and mark them with an X, and any others you find under her afterward, I would wither eat (if just laid that day) or toss, so you don't end up with such a large gap from first hatchlings to last. I hope the little chicks are doing well. How many have hatched now?

 

[no empty nest]

Only 2 chicks hatched and about 4 days apart . The eggs are beginning to smell a little ripe YUK so my question is when is the best time to take the eggs from her? Will she just stop being broody once the eggs are gone? I have her and chicks in a pen inside of the coop I've put in chick starter and water will the mother eat that or should i let her out so she can eat with the other hens