Broody Hen Thread!

[Keggen]

. Well the 21 day mark is a perfect controlled condition I have had eggs 27 days under hens

Ok thanks. I'm going to go out to check again in a bit.

 

[melina90]

Ok thanks. I'm going to go out to check again in a bit.

You could go out at night and candle them to see if there's any movement. I candled one that my hen was sitting on at day 23, and saw an almost internally pipped chick live and moving. I rather candle and check than spend days worrying and overthinking it. The babychicken hatched the next day, perfectly healthy

 

[Keggen]

I think we have chicks! Can't see any yet but you can hear at least 2 of them chirping to the mama out there. So exciting! I hope that means they have hatched well. She wont move and gets growly when you come near, and I don't want to stress her out. I think I will peek again tonight to see if any of them are moving around.

 

[el pollo rey]

the chicks will develop much slower under a broody she will get off the nest to eat poop and drink the cooling that occurs will slow the growth its kinda like running your incubator a lil cool but not cold they will hatch just fine but a day or two late,,,,keep the faith

 

[el pollo rey]

cooool deal told ya to keep the faith lol

 

[el pollo rey]

hey mel how close are you to sandefjord ? takk

 

[DeesChicks]

I did it all "wrong" but it's working, so YAY! In the middle of the day (not late at night) I grabbed my broody hen and put her in a newly finished chicken coop with shavings and 14 eggs in the nest box (without trying her out on fake ones first to see if she would stay broody) and put food and water just outside the nest box. She looked around, saw the nest box with the eggs and popped right on it and has been there all day. Marked my calendar for May 25th and crossing my fingers.

 

[mindylee]

came home from work tonight to 18 more baby peeps... total of 23 so far...20 more to go from batch #1! Then expecting batch 2 & 3 in 3 weeks from now! Chick season here! All thats hatch so far are blue calicos, calicos, blk mottleds and some buffs and white cochins!

 

[Keggen]

We have babies!!! I went out earlier and heard chick peeping sounds but didn't see anything. Tonight I couldn't help it, I peeked under her just a little and saw 2 yellow chicks and 1 black.

I also saw one that had deceased but there was no way for me to get it out from under her. She has 6 more potential eggs under her so I'm leaving her for now but I'm worried about the deceased one, it was right in with all of them. Should I go try to remove it in the morning or wait until they leave the nest?

 

[billyb]

It finally happened! My babies are here! I tried posting pics but it won't let.my iPad. But I just wanted to thank everyone for always answering my questions and giving suggestions! Sadly I don't think I will do this again, because it was way nerve racking, but I still loved it! Thanks again everyone!

-Billyb