Broody Hen Thread!

[aart]

All being well I'll pop the eggs that are in the 'bator under her tomorrow evening. I actually can't remember when it all happened - gosh just looked and that was 10 days ago so we are half way though already, or less as they seem to only go about 19 days I find for those breeds! Poor Doris may get a shock that they arrive so early bless her!

Ooooo...got a hatch thread going?

 

[PouleChick]

Ooooo...got a hatch thread going?

No - don't really have time at the moment, I did for my first hatch last year and now I tend to just use this thread

 

[trudyg]

When I checked last night, there was an empty shell and Bertha was purring. I've never heard that sound before. She wouldn't move last night or this morning for me to see any babies, so I'll just have to keep waiting. Today is day 22, so tomorrow I'll pull any eggs that are still there even if she hasn't come off the nest.

 

[Redhead Rae]

When I checked last night, there was an empty shell and Bertha was purring. I've never heard that sound before. She wouldn't move last night or this morning for me to see any babies, so I'll just have to keep waiting. Today is day 22, so tomorrow I'll pull any eggs that are still there even if she hasn't come off the nest.

I would pull the eggs once she gets off the nest. If she is a good mama, she will leave the nest in <24 hours.

 

[trudyg]

Thanks, I thought it was more like 48 hrs to let all that will hatch do it. She hasn't got off yet that I've seen. She's penned in by herself so the others can't get at her, so I only know she got off when her food has been picked at and there's debris in the dish. If she's not off tonight, I'll pull eggs out tomorrow for sure. I am pretty sure that a couple extras were laid in there before I penned her in and after she'd been setting for a week and I didn't mark the eggs. I was hoping she'd let me see babies this morning but she turned her back to me and I left her alone. I try not to interfere.

 

[aart]

I was hoping she'd let me see babies this morning but she turned her back to me and I left her alone. I try not to interfere.

Oh, I 'interfere'
I get them used to me taking a peek under there all thru incubation.
Good thing too as I had one chick get tangled around the neck in mama breast feathers, had to cut it loose then remove the 'noose' which was pretty tight.

Grats on your hatch!
Am going to set up a broody here in the next couple days.

 

[ijon]

I have used bantam chickens in the past. I used a full size Buckeye this time. Full blown disaster. She stomped the eggs, come off the nest as soon as the first chick hatched. So I bought three chicks to be buddies. She accepted them at first and then went on a rampage to kill them. The only thing that was not working in this equation was the hen. She had to go. All is tranquil now.

 

[casportpony]

Oh, I 'interfere'
I get them used to me taking a peek under there all thru incubation.

I do too, and have scares to prove it!

 

[trudyg]

Last night I saw 2 unhatched eggs sticking out from under her but didn't have time to pull them out (had company coming and she's vicious). This morning I gently dumped her out of the nest box and saw a little gray feather scrambling to scoot under her, so there's at least 1. She is still pancake flat over everything (no walls now since I pulled the nest box off the wall - one of those plastic ones that hooks over screws, so no back to it). I have a pen rigged with baby gates to protect and contain her and the chicks, but someone gets in there somehow since a new egg is being laid over in a corner every day. I have bird netting over the top, so I can't figure who's getting in or how. Will just have to let that be since whoever it is doesn't seem to be bothering her. If I figure it out that one will be named Houdini. I know I got my date right for 21 days so I'll pull any unhatched eggs tonight after dark unless I see her off the nest and can do it earlier.

 

[trudyg]

Ok, there are 3 hopping around and the rest are not hatched. I'm going to try and get them out pretty soon, but got sidetracked trying to keep the big ones away. Is it really so bad for them to get in there to lay their eggs? She's pretty fierce and protective. The roo isnt interested in getting in them at this point.