Broody Hen Thread!

[ochochicas]

Sounds like a fun project Abserbean. We got "mixed" eggs as well. The hens are Welsummer and Wheaten Marans with a couple of green and blue ones thrown in. A variety of roosters could have fertilized them, so it will be a surprise for us, too! We're only on day 11, but the eggs are all very dark already so I think they could hatch early.

 

[Penny Hen]

Here is my Chicken Little with her Peeps.






so any chance you think that these two might be girls. They are Olive Eggers (BCM/Am).

 

[ochochicas]

Now I have two broody hens, so I split my eggs up and put half under each hen. They are welsummer eggs so they are difficult to candle, but I did try. At day 10, most of the eggs appear very dark in about 1/2 of the egg. They look more like day 13 or 14. The eggs were laid on July 3rd, but I didn't get them until July 7th. If the air temps were in the 80s and 90s could the eggs have started to develop on their own before the hens got them?

 

[mudwoman]

Hello,
I have owned my 8 hens 1 roo flock for one year. "Pinky" went broody, so I left 3 eggs under her. Tonight 1 is pipping and 2 are not. I believe they may be infertile. Should I pull the duds now? Can I pull the duds after the chick hatches tomorrow? ALSO....."Jamie" has been egg sitting this past week while Pinky free ranges with the flock for about a 1/2 hr. a day, so I left 2 more eggs for her, as it looks like she is either broody too or just wants to steal Pinky's eggs. (Jamie is the alpha hen and tonight she sat in the box and stole all 5 eggs from Pinky, I moved the original 3 back to Pinky).

Please know, that I know the one egg WILL hatch tomorrow and to leave the 2 moms and new chick alone and let them all work it out when the baby arrives!

So....even tho I asked questions above, let me be more comprehensive, here are my questions....(yes, I'm a bit anxious and freaked)
1) Can I pull the probable "dud" eggs tomorrow? I'm pretty positive there will be a baby chick in the box when I wake up.
2) There are 3 younger eggs being sat on too. They are due on 8/7. Will mom(s) continue still sit on them?
3) The nesting boxes are built-in and even with the coop house floor, but there is a 4" lip. Will mom(s) be able to get the chick over the lip and to food & water?
4) If so, do I put chick food right outside the lip against the nest-box? Won't the hens eat it?
5) Is it okay if the mom(s) end up taking the chick to the hens layer food?
Thank you for reading and hopefully helping.
I did this on a whim when Pinky went broody. She is sweet as sugar!
Jamie is pushy and I believe only became Pinky's egg sitter last week because she thinks she is the boss of all the girls and stole all 5 eggs from Pinky today when the pipping started in the 1 egg.
Again....HELP and THANK YOU
Thanks to this community you all helped me save Pinky's life last year!
Martie
P.S., It is 10:00 p.m. here and everyone is roosting and the coop house is closed for the night.

 

[mudwoman]

Hi!
Will you look at my post? Can you help me?
Please.....
thanks, mudwoman (martie)

 

[mudwoman]

Now I have two broody hens, so I split my eggs up and put half under each hen.  They are welsummer eggs so they are difficult to candle, but I did try.  At day 10, most of the eggs appear very dark in about 1/2 of the egg.  They look more like day 13 or 14.  The eggs were laid on July 3rd, but I didn't get them until July 7th.  If the air temps were in the 80s and 90s could the eggs have started to develop on their own before the hens got them?  

I don't have an answer for you, but, since you live near me and just posted 15 min. ago, can you please help me? I'm anxious for answers. New chick, my first ever coming into the world tomorrow!
Will you read my post that I did @ 10:17 this evening?
I would be SO grateful!

 

[Junibutt]

Now I have two broody hens, so I split my eggs up and put half under each hen. They are welsummer eggs so they are difficult to candle, but I did try. At day 10, most of the eggs appear very dark in about 1/2 of the egg. They look more like day 13 or 14. The eggs were laid on July 3rd, but I didn't get them until July 7th. If the air temps were in the 80s and 90s could the eggs have started to develop on their own before the hens got them?

Its possible in summer so you should be prepared if that happens. My friend had some hatch on Day 17 because of that.

 

[Junibutt]

Hello,
I have owned my 8 hens 1 roo flock for one year. "Pinky" went broody, so I left 3 eggs under her. Tonight 1 is pipping and 2 are not. I believe they may be infertile. Should I pull the duds now? Can I pull the duds after the chick hatches tomorrow? ALSO....."Jamie" has been egg sitting this past week while Pinky free ranges with the flock for about a 1/2 hr. a day, so I left 2 more eggs for her, as it looks like she is either broody too or just wants to steal Pinky's eggs. (Jamie is the alpha hen and tonight she sat in the box and stole all 5 eggs from Pinky, I moved the original 3 back to Pinky).

Please know, that I know the one egg WILL hatch tomorrow and to leave the 2 moms and new chick alone and let them all work it out when the baby arrives!

So....even tho I asked questions above, let me be more comprehensive, here are my questions....(yes, I'm a bit anxious and freaked)
1) Can I pull the probable "dud" eggs tomorrow? I'm pretty positive there will be a baby chick in the box when I wake up.
2) There are 3 younger eggs being sat on too. They are due on 8/7. Will mom(s) continue still sit on them?
3) The nesting boxes are built-in and even with the coop house floor, but there is a 4" lip. Will mom(s) be able to get the chick over the lip and to food & water?
4) If so, do I put chick food right outside the lip against the nest-box? Won't the hens eat it?
5) Is it okay if the mom(s) end up taking the chick to the hens layer food?
Thank you for reading and hopefully helping.
I did this on a whim when Pinky went broody. She is sweet as sugar!
Jamie is pushy and I believe only became Pinky's egg sitter last week because she thinks she is the boss of all the girls and stole all 5 eggs from Pinky today when the pipping started in the 1 egg.
Again....HELP and THANK YOU
Thanks to this community you all helped me save Pinky's life last year!
Martie
P.S., It is 10:00 p.m. here and everyone is roosting and the coop house is closed for the night.

1. You can leave the dud eggs till after the baby chick arrives.
2. Unfortunately the hen will not sit for that long once the chick starts running around. She will probably only sit for 2-3 more days. You need to decide what is more important to you, the one chick that is coming out today or the 3 younger eggs. If the younger eggs are important, you should take the baby chick from momma at night and raise it yourself or give it to Jamie if she is really broody. Otherwise leave the younger eggs with Jamie and take a chance. You need to separate Pinky and Jamie or they might fight for the chick and kill it in the process.
3. The baby will not be able to cross the lip for the first 4-5 days. So you will need to provide them food and water within the nest box.
4. See 3
5. Hens layer food is not good for baby chicks. It has too much Calcium for the baby. Once the baby chick starts running around, you will need to elevate the layer feed to a level where the baby chick cannot reach. You can also switch everyone to non-medicated organic starter feed and keep some oyster shells for layers to eat on their own.

 

[Aislinn 12]

I have a royal Palm Turkey that is broody how do I get unbroody. .. if that's a word

 

[abserbean]

There are several threads on here about breaking a broody, just type in breaking a broody hen in the search. Also, here is an article, deals with chickens but I think the idea is the same.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/05/broody-breaker-when-hens-mood-to-hatch.html