Broody Hen Thread!

[wvcountrygirl]

I have a broody game hen and I just set 4 Ancona duck eggs under her. Shes been laying on her own eggs for about 5 days, so I tossed most of those to make room for the large duck eggs (we don't have a rooster so they're not fertile). Should I go ahead and get rid of her other eggs? I assume they will start to smell and I just want to make sure she is covering the duck eggs well. And this is a dumb question but since duck eggs take longer to hatch, will she sit until the eggs hatch or someone gets rid of them??

 

[Goober1201]

Hi.. I'm sorry to ask this question here but I can make a thread with my phone. I had a bloody girl and as of today and yesterday we git piping and peeps chirping in the eggs... butimy hen JUST DIED!!!!! FOUND AN OLD BATOR temp is 80 have no idea how to check the moisture .si I just filled it up in the spots someone help!!!

 

[Rhandi74]

Here is the new chick. It is very tired and had some problems with a nasty rear end so I am not sure if it will make it. I cleaned it off and now Jewel is tending to it and keeping it comfortable.

 

[Back2Roots]

I have a broody game hen and I just set 4 Ancona duck eggs under her. Shes been laying on her own eggs for about 5 days, so I tossed most of those to make room for the large duck eggs (we don't have a rooster so they're not fertile). Should I go ahead and get rid of her other eggs? I assume they will start to smell and I just want to make sure she is covering the duck eggs well. And this is a dumb question but since duck eggs take longer to hatch, will she sit until the eggs hatch or someone gets rid of them??

Yes, get rid of her eggs. They will go bad, and potentially explode under her - big mess you'll have to clean up.
She will sit on the duck eggs until they hatch, assuming they are viable.

 

[wvcountrygirl]

Yes, get rid of her eggs. They will go bad, and potentially explode under her - big mess you'll have to clean up.
She will sit on the duck eggs until they hatch, assuming they are viable.

Thank you!

 

[Back2Roots]

Thank you!

You're most welcome! Sorry my answer was so brief but I thought you'd appreciate a timely answer to your questions and only had time for a quick response at the time. A little further elaboration this time: there's really no benefit to keeping her infertile eggs under her because it's more work for her turning more eggs that really serve no purpose at this point. She doesn't differentiate between her eggs and the duck eggs she's accepted and is sitting on. In her mind they are all her eggs and as long as she's sitting on some viable eggs, she's happy. Plus those infertile eggs take up valuable under-broody real estate space. ;-)

 

[Junibutt]

Hi.. I'm sorry to ask this question here but I can make a thread with my phone. I had a bloody girl and as of today and yesterday we git piping and peeps chirping in the eggs... butimy hen JUST DIED!!!!! FOUND AN OLD BATOR temp is 80 have no idea how to check the moisture .si I just filled it up in the spots someone help!!!

You need to get the temperature up to 95-98 degrees. Plus place some shallow containers full of water and marbles (so the newly hatched chicks don't drown) Also leave some wet paper towels in the Bator. If the bator fogs up, means humidity is too high, so open a small vent till it starts clearing somewhat but do not open the bator for 12 hrs at a time. Best of luck

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Dixie left the broody bungalow last Friday and went into the big coop. Before she did she laid an egg. Hormones have switched back over already. Last night the chicks followed her in and now everybody is in the big coop. Added another roost for the transition with the two year olds who are pretty territorial with them now. Especially the rooster. Soon enough he'll be enjoying these new hens. The bugger.

 

[Hennyetta]

Here is my one remaining Faverolles chick. The smaller one ended up dying.

I was afraid this one would be distraught, but it doesn't seem to mind living alone. I put a mirror in the brooder so it will feel like it has a friend. Hopefully this one makes it to adulthood!

 

[Rhandi74]

Here is Jewel's newest 2 hatched her blue chick did not make it.