Broody Hen Thread!

[sweetbeak]

Picking up on my earlier post -- My broody hatched her first little chick today. He or she is a bold little one. I can't stop smiling. What a good little chicken!

Congratulations, how adorable

 

[sweetbeak]

I have a question;  Does anyone know how many days, after a hen starts to set, is it ok to put freshly laid fertile eggs under her?  What would happen if some chicks  were to hatch while others are a couple of days behind?  I have a broody hen who has been setting for 3 or 4 days on just a few eggs.

I've done it in the past and personally I would do no longer than 3 or 4 days. Reason I've found is because the mum won't get up and move around much until all the chicks have hatched. One time I had a chick hatch on day 20 and the other 2 eggs weren't due for another 5 days, so the first chick wasn't being shown all the things that mum shows them in the first few days because she was waiting for the other eggs. All turned out perfectly fine but I wouldn't do any longer than you're suggesting. Another time 2 chicks hatched and all the chirping must have encouraged the other eggs who hatched 3 days early

 

[abserbean]

Picking up on my earlier post -- My broody hatched her first little chick today. He or she is a bold little one. I can't stop smiling. What a good little chicken!

So sweet! Only 17 more days....only 17 more days......

 

[Dknichelson]

My broodies! Feta, the white Silkie in the back is on day 17 on her clutch and Lucy decided to join her 2 days ago. If they aren't the picture of broodiness I don't know what is!! Lol!

 

[sonderah]

Well, I have my Silkie 5 of her own eggs this morning, my 1st broody, so I could see how she does. Thought that may be too many, but looks like I coulda gave her more!! May add a few of my young Buff eggs, they aren't very big either. Idk how many she can handle. :/

 

[fisherlady]

Well, I have my Silkie 5 of her own eggs this morning, my 1st broody, so I could see how she does. Thought that may be too many, but looks like I coulda gave her more!! May add a few of my young Buff eggs, they aren't very big either. Idk how many she can handle.

My silkie can sit on 8 large fowl eggs... as long as they aren't extra larges. She is great with 6 of about any size. I worry less about it during warmer weather, when really cold (during her winter hatches) I make sure no eggs are too far out around any edges.

 

[K Spot]

Picking up on my earlier post -- My broody hatched her first little chick today. He or she is a bold little one. I can't stop smiling. What a good little chicken!

So adorable!

 

[sonderah]

My silkie can sit on 8 large fowl eggs... as long as they aren't extra larges.  She is great with 6 of about any size. I worry less about it during warmer weather, when really cold (during her winter hatches) I make sure no eggs are too far out around any edges.

Thanks. I'll give her just a few more. She gets up twice a day, but only for like 10-15 min each. The eggs I gave her came from my bator and are due to hatch in a week!!! Never had a broody before, so I'm super excited to watch her raise some babies, & the eggs she is on now, those babies are already sold! So she needs a few she can keep. Lol

So adorable!

Can't wait to see that here!!! Got a Silkie hatching in 1 week, & a turkey sitting on 17 eggs due the following week!!

 

[chickenlickin8]

Day 20 and 3 eggs have hatched! Here's a pic. I'm so excited!

Betty and her first born

 

[K Spot]

There's nothing like watching a momma with her babies