Broody Hen Thread!

[bobbieschicks]

So sad!!! I have 2 Brodie's. one is a 2 year old first time and the other is my BO Goldie who hatched a clutch last spring. Well I had 1 dead chick 1/2 way hatched last night (from my new mama)- and another this morning 3/4 hatched and died :-/. So I put the rest of her eggs under Goldie (accept one or two I don't think are fertile) and Goldie had a 2/3 die hatched chick tonight along with a live hatched chick. She currently has the last one (zipping now) under her an I am worried it will die too :-/. So sad!! Last year Goldie hatched 5 of 7 eggs- all complete live hatches and 2 non developed eggs!!

What could be causing this years nearly hatched chicks to die??

These were mail ordered eggs 5 of 5 were fertile and got at least to partial hatch

How do you know they partially hatched, were you peeking a lot? Also, what do you mean by 3/4 hatched? Are you saying they pipped and did not zip all the way out? What breed chick were they? Some breeds have issues with genetics that cause death to certain mutations. Were you lifting her up to look as they were hatching? That can interfere with humidity levels and cause problems with chicks pipping or zipping much like opening the bator during lock down.

But I would think with that many chicks not living it was a problem within the egg development rather than at hatching causing the chicks to be too weak to make it. Only the strongest survived. Sorry

 

[ChickSter99]

I tried to exchange 4 eggs that were due to hatch yesterday day with 4 eggs that were not fertile last night. My hen accepted the eggs fine. Some time during the night/morning she cracked one out of the shell and mauled the other. The one she opened still has yolk attached and the other is lethargic except when I touch it. I don't know what to do. My husband is saying cull both chicks and the hen. I'm kind of agreeing but I've never had to cull and I'm heartbroken at the thought. But he may be right.

 

[ChickSter99]

I tried to exchange 4 eggs that were due to hatch yesterday day with 4 eggs that were not fertile last night. My hen accepted the eggs fine. Some time during the night/morning she cracked one out of the shell and mauled the other. The one she opened still has yolk attached and the other is lethargic except when I touch it. I don't know what to do. My husband is saying cull both chicks and the hen. I'm kind of agreeing but I've never had to cull and I'm heartbroken at the thought. But he may be right.

I ended up culling the one with yolk. It's intestines were coming out. I put blue kote on the other one. It was actually trying to move around the brooder. I think I'm finished hatching. My heart is not cut out for culling. I can always buy chicks from reputable breeders. My children have seen the hatching process about 5 times now so, I think I'm ok to sell the incubators. I have two 3 more hatches and they will stay in the bator and not under a hen.

 

[lilliesanchicks]

I ended up culling the one with yolk. It's intestines were coming out. I put blue kote on the other one. It was actually trying to move around the brooder. I think I'm finished hatching. My heart is not cut out for culling. I can always buy chicks from reputable breeders. My children have seen the hatching process about 5 times now so, I think I'm ok to sell the incubators. I have two 3 more hatches and they will stay in the bator and not under a hen.

Sorry you had such a hard time with your broody hen.
You can always buy chicks like you said.

 

[chickenoverlord]

It has been raining here (northern nc) a lot lately, and my broody got her eggs muddy. She is a first time mother, but she has been sitting tightly. The eggs are scheduled to hatch july 15, will being dirty prevent it?

 

[ChickSter99]

Sorry you had such a hard time with your broody hen.
You can always buy chicks like you said.

Thank you

 

[fisherlady]

I ended up culling the one with yolk. It's intestines were coming out. I put blue kote on the other one. It was actually trying to move around the brooder. I think I'm finished hatching. My heart is not cut out for culling. I can always buy chicks from reputable breeders. My children have seen the hatching process about 5 times now so, I think I'm ok to sell the incubators. I have two 3 more hatches and they will stay in the bator and not under a hen.

Sorry you had the bad experience... how many days did the hen have the good eggs before the hatch? I know ours begin 'talking' to the eggs about 2 days or 3 before hatch, and you can hear peeping from the eggs also the last day. I think the broody starts to know them even before the hatch. If they hatched the same night you placed them it may be that your broody wasn't ready for it yet. I've also heard they have to be setting for 10 days before you can 'fool them' with new hatched chicks also, though I've never swapped any out on a broody yet myself, so I can't make any statements based on my own experience with that.

 

[DainaRose8]

Today I have two girls hatching, worrier and brownell worrier hatched and brownell's eggs are starting to hatch I'm really excited two see the results!

 

[bigT88]

Today I have two girls hatching, worrier and brownell worrier hatched and brownell's eggs are starting to hatch I'm really excited two see the results!

 

[CAjerseychick]

So sorry to hear about all the Broody mama trauma and dead chicks!
Am nervous myself as my first time Mama is due to hatch anytime from Fri- thru Sat/Sun next weekend 7/21st ish-- and I have to leave town for work Friday night (am hoping I was completely wrong and they hatch out Th early)... Shes in the nest box (just cant get my Jersey Giants to set anywhere else) and this one doesnt have a rim so am worried about the chicks falling out)....

Sigh...
Also re: the folks who are switching eggs around underneath hens-- I thought the mama hen actually listens/hears the peeping over time developing and actually begins to bond with the chicks before they hatch?
SO, if you move new eggs under her too last minute it may disturb her cause they sound diffferent (or in the case of switching out unfertile for fertile eggs, suddenly hearing active peeps may excite her as well),,, COuld it be that it is more successful if you switch out eggs day 12 vs vs 18 or something like that? Before there is alot of movement/ sound?
I guess it might depend on the hen as well....
It would be good to know... I dont have actually experience switching out eggs but would like to hear other's experiences/ share their knowledge...