Broody Hen Thread!

[jajeanpierre]

I would candle the 2 younger eggs asap.... if neither is developed then you may want to steal 2 from the other hen which are good and slip under the hen due Thursday. This will ensure that both hens end up with chicks and you won't have to try to have the later hen start over. Leaving 5 with the 1st hen would still be plenty to keep her happy and the second hen won't care much if the chicks hatch 'early'... they don't count days after their broody mood is really deep.

I just candled them and am not sure. They are fairly strong colored blue eggs, so they don't let the light in the way a white egg would. I believe one is not viable, but I am pretty sure I saw veins in the other. I'm using a candle light I bought from a poultry supply place and it doesn't seem all that bright. When I put the light up to the large end, the light only shows about the top quarter of the large end, including the air sac. The rest of the egg is black. They were put under the hen maybe 15 or 16 days ago.

What happens if I just leave them? I would hate to destroy a viable egg.

As far as my egg that hasn't hatched, I am not sure it is progressing at all. There was a chip off the egg and I think maybe another tiny chip seems to be broken since I first looked. How long do eggs take to hatch? Should I be concerned?

Thanks.

 

[Junibutt]

I have a chick that had a hard time coming out of the egg (mind you that it hatched on Day 23 not 21. I saw it under her mama last night around 10:00 PM, it had zipped the shell but was still inside it. Today after waiting for 12 hrs, I just took the broody away and took off the eggs shell and it started cheeping. But cannot stand-up. Its moving but its on it back. Wondering whats wrong with it and what can I do to help.

Here is a picture:



Please help, its the only Barnevelder that hatched and I would like it to survive.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I just candled them and am not sure. They are fairly strong colored blue eggs, so they don't let the light in the way a white egg would. I believe one is not viable, but I am pretty sure I saw veins in the other. I'm using a candle light I bought from a poultry supply place and it doesn't seem all that bright. When I put the light up to the large end, the light only shows about the top quarter of the large end, including the air sac. The rest of the egg is black. They were put under the hen maybe 15 or 16 days ago.

What happens if I just leave them? I would hate to destroy a viable egg.

As far as my egg that hasn't hatched, I am not sure it is progressing at all. There was a chip off the egg and I think maybe another tiny chip seems to be broken since I first looked. How long do eggs take to hatch? Should I be concerned?

Thanks.

Not really believing it was possible for a first-time broody could hatch eggs for a first-time owner, I didn't even bother to read up on hatching eggs. I've done that. Every time I check (which I KNOW I shouldn't do, the egg has a few more cracks to it. I think the chick will be okay--it was just having a rest.

I decided against letting the hen and chicks stay with the free range flock and will move them as soon as possible to a little coop and pen in my back yard. At least that way I can enjoy them rather than just worry they will be killed by some sort of predator, being my own mini Dachshunds that might escape, my cat or a wild predator.

When can I move them?

 

[Dumb Kluck]

I candled the eggs under my broody all 4 have veins in them. I hope she starts eating a little more. The food and water is about 3 feet from her nest box should I move it closer?

I put a 1 liter bottle w/water nipple in it next to my broody so she didn't have to leave the nest to drink, just move her head/neck. Also had to make sure it wouldn't drip into her nest. I hand fed her once or twice a day, but a small bowl on the edge of the nest works great for snacking. Even with all that care, the hatch was still hard on her, she looks older and did lose some weight, but remains healthy enough to do it again in a couple of months should the urge arise. I think she eats less now that the chicks are here LOL, gives every-single-thing to the little ones, I never see her swallow, just peck & spit.

 

[jajeanpierre]

Still waiting for the last egg to hatch. It is making progress, but taking a lot of breaks.

Here's a cute picture of a little splash Ameraucana chick peeping out the front. My Lavender Ameraucana hatched hatched my Splash Ameraucana's eggs. So far, 6 of 7 have hatched. Keeping my fingers crossed for the last one.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Still waiting for the last egg to hatch. It is making progress, but taking a lot of breaks.

Here's a cute picture of a little splash Ameraucana chick peeping out the front. My Lavender Ameraucana hatched hatched my Splash Ameraucana's eggs. So far, 6 of 7 have hatched. Keeping my fingers crossed for the last one.

They can take up to 24 hours to hatch...most take about 12. The last one often takes the longest, and sometimes that is the one that starts but doesn't make it because there is some reason due to some internal issue .

Congratulations on the 6 of the 7 thus far!
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Not really believing it was possible for a first-time broody could hatch eggs for a first-time owner, I didn't even bother to read up on hatching eggs. I've done that. Every time I check (which I KNOW I shouldn't do, the egg has a few more cracks to it. I think the chick will be okay--it was just having a rest.

I decided against letting the hen and chicks stay with the free range flock and will move them as soon as possible to a little coop and pen in my back yard. At least that way I can enjoy them rather than just worry they will be killed by some sort of predator, being my own mini Dachshunds that might escape, my cat or a wild predator.

When can I move them?

Unless you have a safe yard, or a roo that is watchful, I prefer to keep my babies in a separate pen until about 4 weeks of age minimum...but that has a lot to do with my flock dynamics, no roo, and my fencing has gaps that little baby chicks can squirm through....as well as lot of roaming cats and flying hawks.

But you can sooner. Fisherlady allows them to roam almost immediately, but she's got watchful dogs, roos, and very laid back flock.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have a chick that had a hard time coming out of the egg (mind you that it hatched on Day 23 not 21. I saw it under her mama last night around 10:00 PM, it had zipped the shell but was still inside it. Today after waiting for 12 hrs, I just took the broody away and took off the eggs shell and it started cheeping. But cannot stand-up. Its moving but its on it back. Wondering whats wrong with it and what can I do to help.

Here is a picture:



Please help, its the only Barnevelder that hatched and I would like it to survive.

PM'd you back Junibutt...hope that the little chick is doing much better...sorry it took so long to respond....very hectic Saturday.
Lady of McCamley

 

[Junibutt]

PM'd you back Junibutt...hope that the little chick is doing much better...sorry it took so long to respond....very hectic Saturday.
Lady of McCamley

Thanks I got your message. The chick is surprising doing better and sitting upright although not standing up yet. I have done no intervention yet except for putting in an aquarium under a Brinsea brooder. It has stopped crying and is pretty much fluffed up now. I will wait overnight to see if it needs any intervention.

Meanwhile, I am so tempted to at least give a sponge bath to the other chicks. They are doing fine, but all their undersides are gelled up because of the egg explosion they had. What do you think. May just dipping and cleaning the underside in warm water will be helpful on a sunny day like tomorrow?

Unfortunately I have no antibiotics at home and the feed-store near me doesn't even carry amprolium. They have some powdered antibiotic that is anticoccidial. Can I give that to the chicks?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm so glad that the chick is still viable. Personally, I would seriously consider putting the slow start on antibiotics...I'm not keen on using drugs but I've learned it can save a chick who's had a slow start...chilling and hard hatches lower the immune system and allow bacteria to grow, and you often don't see the full result until you take out a dead chick at day 5. EDITED TO ADD: with a valuable breed, especially if it is the only one you got, I'd error on the side of caution and use the antibiotics. I didn't used to do that, but I got tired of pulling out dead chicks from stress and chilling when I tried to graft fosters...a little antibiotics could have saved the day.

As to the others...hmmmm....that is a tricky one. I'd be tempted to give them some help if momma doesn't clean them up....have they had a chance to dust bathe yet? I'd prefer not to water bathe them as you risk chilling them. If you do, bathe in warm water with the mildest of shampoo and place in the brooder until they fluff again. Mom will be madder than, well, a wet hen, but they should reintegrate well in a couple of hours. You can try to hurry the process with a hair dryer set to warm, low....again only if you feel it is absolutely necessary to bathe them...I'd see if some dust bathing doesn't knock most of it off.

My thoughts.

Lady of McCamley