Broody Hen Thread!

[sonderah]

Just gave my RP hen 4 of her own eggs that had been in the bator 1 week, & 6 fresh chicken eggs!! Yay! Gonna let her raise up to 4 turkeys ( have 4 more in the bator) but I'll take the chicks away.

Was gonna just give her the 8 turkey eggs, but my kids think its funny when chickens follow a turkey. Lol

 

[julie0477]

Ok age old hatching question my friends! My broody was locked out of her nest today while I was at work. It's a dog crate to keep her safe at night. At some point my duck went in and laid while my broody was out eating and the door must have shut behind her when she left. These eggs are on day five and couldve been left for up to five or six hours. It was 75 out and the eggs were cool when I found them but she's back on the nest now. What do u think? Viable? No? Worth a shot? Just makes me sick. I was hoping for a nice uneventful hatch

 

[sonderah]

Ok age old hatching question my friends! My broody was locked out of her nest today while I was at work. It's a dog crate to keep her safe at night. At some point my duck went in and laid while my broody was out eating and the door must have shut behind her when she left. These eggs are on day five and couldve been left for up to five or six hours. It was 75 out and the eggs were cool when I found them but she's back on the nest now. What do u think? Viable? No? Worth a shot? Just makes me sick. I was hoping for a nice uneventful hatch

Oh no!!!! I'm so sorry!
I'm NO expert, but I think at day 5 I would just reset. Unless they're shipped or difficult to get eggs, then I'd probably wait and see.

 

[julie0477]

They are all her eggs but I have plenty of other fertile eggs here. I might candle for movement in a day or so before I start over. I'll post what I find. (sigh). Depressing. Hopefully it's good news I hate throwing out eggs.

 

[sonderah]

They are all her eggs but I have plenty of other fertile eggs here. I might candle for movement in a day or so before I start over. I'll post what I find. (sigh). Depressing. Hopefully it's good news I hate throwing out eggs.

I'll cross my fingers & toes for ya!!

 

[ENCHANTED CHICK]

I need help I have a broody on 12 eggs 2 hatched the first one died and the second one I just took away from mom she was pecking it hard! its head and wings are out but its bottom half is still in the membrain its fiesty it responds when I snap my fingers or nuge it a lil but im not sure if I should have taken it away cuz I don't know how the first on died and the way she was pecking it I was afraid for its life can any one help maybe a lil advice? thanks

 

[Alaskan]

I need help  I have a broody on 12 eggs 2 hatched the first one died   and the second one I just took away from mom she was pecking it hard!   its head and wings are  out but its bottom half is still in the membrain  its  fiesty  it responds when I snap my fingers or  nuge it a lil    but im not sure if I should have taken it away cuz I don't know  how the first on died and the way she was pecking it I was afraid for its life can any one help  maybe a lil advice?  thanks

This article is WONDERFUL, and will cover any questions you might have.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

I am so sorry that your broody decided to be a bit... Uh.... Not ideal.

 

[bellfarm]

We use our Cochin Bantam hens when they go boody to hatch all sorts of birds from geese to peafowl eggs.
Not only great brooders but they are great mothers when the chicks hatch also.
Love having the baby chicks around there great fun.

 

[GuineaFowling]

Fellow BYC-ers, I need your advise.

I had posted how I was unsure if my guineas eggs would hatch, well guess what, one hatched. The keet hatched early yesterday and my guinea hen is still setting on the other eggs so I'm sure she thinks they are going to hatch. Is it common for eggs to hatch at different dates? Last time she only hatched two babies and they were spaced three days apart. I don't understand why they aren't hatching all withing a day or two. How many days should I wait before encouraging the hen to come out of the nest box. Tomorrow will be day three for the keet and it will need food. I do give it water from a bottle cap through out the day but it is too dark in the nest box for it to eat.

 

[luvmypets]

Yes if a hen is hatching different dates its normal. Because each day she gathers her clutch, the embryo is set back from the others. Its called a staggered hatch and hapoens more often then you think.