Broody Hen Thread!

[glebreton]

My girls laid 9 eggs today and I will let my bantam sit on them all. Warmed up to the low 50s today so she eggs should be fine. Will keep progress posted here. In case anyone is interested, last time this bantam went broody she hatched 4 chicks. I left them in the run with the rest of my flock and none of the other hens bothered lil bantam and her brood. They did fine, so I don't plan on taking them out of the coop unless the weather gets real cold.

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

My PC won't let me submit on it this is a trial that I will edit out.

 

[iliv4chicks]

well! all 3 of them hatched! and they are sooo tiny, and take a lot after their momma! they each have 5 toes like she does! haha... so cute.

 

[Nicky-the-witch]

well! all 3 of them hatched! and they are sooo tiny, and take a lot after their momma! they each have 5 toes like she does! haha... so cute.

Congratulations!!

 

[chicken farmer]

My silkies 5 eggs are due tomorrow I'm soooooo excited!!!!

 

[Nicky-the-witch]

I am currently trying to keep my broody cool - it's 44C (111.2F) out there today!!! Day 16 of the hatch.
I have shade cloth over the coop, a mister kit spraying water over the coop and downwards above the front door and a fan blowing the misted air into the coop - back doors ajar. Also have frozen bottles of water laying and standing around the nest all in an effort to get that temp down.
Thermometer reads just over 40C (104F)

she can get something to hatch. She has cool water just beside her so she can drink at any time without moving - as the water bottles thaw I pour a little into her water to keep it cooler.

As they are shipped eggs it will be a miracle if I get more than a couple if any

Only the 2 full grown chickens out there - 2 young chicks in the laundry with the guinea pig!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I am currently trying to keep my broody cool - it's 44C (111.2F) out there today!!! Day 16 of the hatch.
I have shade cloth over the coop, a mister kit spraying water over the coop and downwards above the front door and a fan blowing the misted air into the coop - back doors ajar. Also have frozen bottles of water laying and standing around the nest all in an effort to get that temp down.
Thermometer reads just over 40C (104F)

she can get something to hatch. She has cool water just beside her so she can drink at any time without moving - as the water bottles thaw I pour a little into her water to keep it cooler.

As they are shipped eggs it will be a miracle if I get more than a couple if any

Only the 2 full grown chickens out there - 2 young chicks in the laundry with the guinea pig!!

Wow...good luck in keeping it all cool enough. Eggs hatch best between 100 degrees to 102 degrees with higher temperatures deadlier than colder temperatures..I'd also watch your humidity levels to make sure you aren't blowing too much water into the air...you don't want eggs and bird in high humidity...that can really mess with the hatch....but I doubt in dry Australian heat that's going to be a problem. It's still early enough to move them, if you can, to a cooler location if you have one.

But...I'm always amazed at how hardy the broodies are how efficient they are at brooding. I've heard of broodies leaving the eggs in the air on hotter days to keep the temperature from getting too hot...so if she is sitting, likely things are good.

Good luck!
Lady of McCamley

 

[Nicky-the-witch]

She has had periods of hovering over the eggs - trying to keep them cool I guess. Very dry here in South Australia - I moved a few spray jets around (the coop is not getting wet inside - evaporating too quickly) and moved the fan closer to the front door - temp on thermometer in the coop showing 30! I keep going out to see if she has enough water within reach. Fingers crossed for the next few hours - it should cool down a bit later - tomorrow due to be warm but not as hot as today.

 

[Nicky-the-witch]

It's still early enough to move them, if you can, to a cooler location if you have one.

But...I'm always amazed at how hardy the broodies are how efficient they are at brooding. I've heard of broodies leaving the eggs in the air on hotter days to keep the temperature from getting too hot...so if she is sitting, likely things are good.

Good luck!
Lady of McCamley

I did consider moving her - but Nell does not like to be touched at the best of times - moving the nest and her together would have been a challenge. I was concerned if we moved the entire coop she may still be upset enough to abandon the eggs.
Either way - this is my 2nd hatch, so a huge learning curve - it is a shame that these eggs were quite expensive and I will be upset if non hatch. But more upset for Nell than for the loss of money - but I think I know of some partially incubated eggs that could go under her if these fail to hatch so she has something for all her hard work.

 

[Nicky-the-witch]

She has had periods of hovering over the eggs - trying to keep them cool I guess. Very dry here in South Australia - I moved a few spray jets around (the coop is not getting wet inside - evaporating too quickly) and moved the fan closer to the front door - temp on thermometer in the coop showing 30! I keep going out to see if she has enough water within reach. Fingers crossed for the next few hours - it should cool down a bit later - tomorrow due to be warm but not as hot as today.

Doh!! Silly me - the thermometer had been pushed too close to the frozen bottles!! Temp seems to be holding at about 36-37C (97-99F)

Anyway - whatever happens is all in Nells hands (wings?) She knows what she is doing!