Broody Hen Thread!

[chickydee64]

I have a broody hen, and it was my first time candling today!
I used the torch on my phone, so it wasn't the best, but from what I saw she's at about Day 5. I saw a lots of veins and a black spot in one, unfortunately I don't think the other one was ever fertilized. Should I move that one, or just let her sit on it?

I would give it a little more time.. I do not candle until day11
Good Luck.....

 

[suncatcher]

Marking my place as I catch up on Broody hen reading!

 

[AmateurChickie]

I would give it a little more time.. I do not candle until day11
Good Luck.....

Thanks, I was just seeing what day we were at. I put another egg under her without thinking this morning, so there's 6-7 days between hatchings if this one is fertilized.. Hopefully it'll be okay!

 

[julie0477]

Ye

Thanks, I was just seeing what day we were at. I put another egg under her without thinking this morning, so there's 6-7 days between hatchings if this one is fertilized.. Hopefully it'll be okay!

yeah I ended up with a week between hatch dates too! Not on purpose but it happened. 3 out of 4 of my original eggs hatched. The last one hatched yesterday. So far she is taking care of the chicks AND sitting on her remaining two eggs. She still has a ways to go though.

 

[sonz77]

So I got her yesterday, bring her home. Today she lays an egg to my surprise and is now sitting tight! She was broody when I got her yesterday, the lady said she'd snap out of it. I felt horrible taking her away yesterday, so i'm letting her keep her egg!

Now, I have some hatching eggs coming next week, what are the chances I can put them under her. I'm new to all this and they're rather important eggs, so I don't want to put them under her if she's going to walk away from them a week early (the eggs are due next Thursday).

Should I incubate them rather than takes my chances? I've never incubated either! Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

 

[J in SoCal]

I got 6 Coturnix Quail eggs sitting under my broody Black Astro. She hasn't left them in 5 days. We will have to see how this plays out.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

So I got her yesterday, bring her home. Today she lays an egg to my surprise and is now sitting tight! She was broody when I got her yesterday, the lady said she'd snap out of it. I felt horrible taking her away yesterday, so i'm letting her keep her egg!

Now, I have some hatching eggs coming next week, what are the chances I can put them under her. I'm new to all this and they're rather important eggs, so I don't want to put them under her if she's going to walk away from them a week early (the eggs are due next Thursday).

Should I incubate them rather than takes my chances? I've never incubated either! Any advice is appreciated, thanks!

Is she a Silkie? (I can't tell from the photo for sure but she looks like she could be one.) Silkie's are generally great broodies!

If it were me, I would totally let her sit tight on the laid egg and anymore she might lay. Then you'll know in a week when your eggs arrive whether she is serious. If she is serious, she will sit on those eggs giving you an evil glare when you come around her. Set up water and food close by so she doesn't have to travel far to get them, but not so close the water can tip over and get the nest wet.

If she is still sitting and looking serious, when your eggs come, your risk is that she may stop midway if she has never brooded before and isn't that serious, or if she has been already broody for a long time and simply it is time to stop. (However very determined brooders will want to brood until they get hatched chicks.) Did the previous owner indicate why she would snap out of it?

The worse thing that could happen is that you give the eggs to her and she doesn't sit on them...or I guess she could also crush them or even eat them...so there is some distinct risk to the eggs since you don't know this hen. Therefore, if they are very valuable eggs, you'll have to be very watchful at first or I would put them in the incubator. If not so valuable, I'd give the hen a try and just be ready to quickly get them in the incubator if she is not being faithful. (I saved a batch by picking my Silkie up and setting her on a clutch that a not-so-faithful brooder had left...they were cold but the Silkie saved them. Not a great hatch, but I got 2 out of the 5 eggs.)

It's easy to just give them to her, place them by her chest and she'll likely just pull them under since you only have the one egg. Then take her egg away sometime when she is off the nest. Otherwise, gently lift her up and place the eggs under her after dark removing the first egg she laid.

Mark the purchased fertile eggs if they are not distinct from hers or others so you know which are your purchased ones. You may also want to let her sit on her first egg if there was a rooster where she lived before. Chances are it is fertile too...a freebie.

Good Luck
Lady of McCamley

 

[sonz77]

Is she a Silkie? (I can't tell from the photo for sure but she looks like she could be one.) Silkie's are generally great broodies!

If it were me, I would totally let her sit tight on the laid egg and anymore she might lay. Then you'll know in a week when your eggs arrive whether she is serious. If she is serious, she will sit on those eggs giving you an evil glare when you come around her. Set up water and food close by so she doesn't have to travel far to get them, but not so close the water can tip over and get the nest wet.

If she is still sitting and looking serious, when your eggs come, your risk is that she may stop midway if she has never brooded before and isn't that serious, or if she has been already broody for a long time and simply it is time to stop. (However very determined brooders will want to brood until they get hatched chicks.) Did the previous owner indicate why she would snap out of it?

The worse thing that could happen is that you give the eggs to her and she doesn't sit on them...or I guess she could also crush them or even eat them...so there is some distinct risk to the eggs since you don't know this hen. Therefore, if they are very valuable eggs, you'll have to be very watchful at first or I would put them in the incubator. If not so valuable, I'd give the hen a try and just be ready to quickly get them in the incubator if she is not being faithful. (I saved a batch by picking my Silkie up and setting her on a clutch that a not-so-faithful brooder had left...they were cold but the Silkie saved them. Not a great hatch, but I got 2 out of the 5 eggs.)

It's easy to just give them to her, place them by her chest and she'll likely just pull them under since you only have the one egg. Then take her egg away sometime when she is off the nest. Otherwise, gently lift her up and place the eggs under her after dark removing the first egg she laid.

Mark the purchased fertile eggs if they are not distinct from hers or others so you know which are your purchased ones. You may also want to let her sit on her first egg if there was a rooster where she lived before. Chances are it is fertile too...a freebie.

Good Luck
Lady of McCamley

Yes she's a silkie, 2 of them had been broody before the move on Wednesday, She is with a roo and 3 other hens, and they are 1 and 2 years old and have given chicks already, so I'll let her keep it her egg. I will have to decide before the new eggs come. Who knows, maybe one of the other will go back broody, lol!!

 

[jojosthings]

Did you look under the other broody?
If they aren't there, I would guess a snake got them. Is that a possibility?
I used to have black snakes, and they would swallow the egg whole, then slither between 2 boards and crack it inside.
We don't have snakes since we added pigs.

I found my missing eggs! Hatch day and they're hiding under the other broody! One has hatched and another 7 have pipped!

 

[julie0477]

I found my missing eggs! Hatch day and they're hiding under the other broody! One has hatched and another 7 have pipped!

hurray!