Broody Hen Thread!

[varikia]

 

[fisherlady]

I got my first chick today exactly 21 days she has now got 4 as far as I can tell, I know that there was 9 she was sitting on and still there yesterday shall I lift her to take a look or just leave her??

Very cute! Congrats!

I would leave her for at least a day... keep a close eye on her and if she leaves the nest with the baby be ready to check the eggs for viability and remove them to an incubator if it looks like she is not going to finish the setting. Hens will often give up on unhatched eggs to care for the chicks that did hatch. The good news is that if they do hatch in an incubator within a few days you may be able to graft them back to the hen for her to raise them along with the earlier hatchers.

 

[varikia]

Thank you for that, every so often she makes notices her body blows out and twice I heard the cracks of an egg her head goes under her and she relaxes back after a very short time, I think she will be a good mom she taking water from me and I gave her the pulp off my juice drink she lived it,

 

[krista74]

OK, can someone please enlighten me as to what is going wrong with my Broody Hens?

Hatch Number 1 had 2 eggs explode on Day 14, covering all the other eggs with a rancid mess which I did my best to quickly wipe off, and resulted in only one live chick hatching. I didn't candle her eggs so I guess I can take responsibility for the bad result, and was grateful she got one chick out of it.

Now here I am with Broody 2, and I candled her eggs last night on Day 10 whilst wearing gloves to ensure no contamination of the eggs. Today, Day 11, I came home to find one of her eggs (well, the shell of one of her eggs) in the middle of the coop, and her nest was full of yolk and blood, which is AGAIN all over the remaining 7 eggs.

I have quickly wiped those down too, and replaced the dirty hay in her nest, and she has settled back down again.

But what am I doing wrong? I thought the first batch might have been my fault since I didn't candle them, but I really don't understand why this batch is exploding on me. It's only spring here, not overly hot, and my broody has not left the nest. I have been very careful not to touch her eggs, and except for candling yesterday I don't lift her up at all either.

I am in fear of another bad hatch where she doesn't get a chick at the end.

Help!

Krista

 

[fisherlady]

OK, can someone please enlighten me as to what is going wrong with my Broody Hens?

Hatch Number 1 had 2 eggs explode on Day 14, covering all the other eggs with a rancid mess which I did my best to quickly wipe off, and resulted in only one live chick hatching. I didn't candle her eggs so I guess I can take responsibility for the bad result, and was grateful she got one chick out of it.

Now here I am with Broody 2, and I candled her eggs last night on Day 10 whilst wearing gloves to ensure no contamination of the eggs. Today, Day 11, I came home to find one of her eggs (well, the shell of one of her eggs) in the middle of the coop, and her nest was full of yolk and blood, which is AGAIN all over the remaining 7 eggs.

I have quickly wiped those down too, and replaced the dirty hay in her nest, and she has settled back down again.

But what am I doing wrong? I thought the first batch might have been my fault since I didn't candle them, but I really don't understand why this batch is exploding on me. It's only spring here, not overly hot, and my broody has not left the nest. I have been very careful not to touch her eggs, and except for candling yesterday I don't lift her up at all either.

I am in fear of another bad hatch where she doesn't get a chick at the end.

Help!

Krista

Honestly, I don't think you are doing anything wrong....

I have yet to find a way to avoid rotten eggs other than candling around day 10 and pulling ones which are obviously clear or 'sloshy' which means they quit. But the bad eggs don't always have the 'sloshy' appearance. I would describe sloshy eggs as sort of looking like the lava lamps of the 70's, the darker material literally is just sort of sloshing or rolling side to side when you move the egg and there is NO intact air cell, their is an air bubble, but it rolls around to stay on top of the egg no matter how you hold it.
I try not to mess too much with our broodies also, and it is always a chance that you can end up with a bad egg even when you think you have removed non-starters or quitters.... you can only do your best and hope the broody kicks out bad ones before they explode.

 

[16 paws]

Dont worry too much, the same thing happened to me on quite a few hatches. The eggs didnt explode but they were cracked open somehow and soiled the other eggs. I never really did find out what really happened. I have actually found hatching eggs outside the coop on the lawn!The chickens can actually carry them I heard but I dont know if that is what happened. I was so frustrated also. Can any of your other chickens get to the eggs? Sometimes I think the broody throws the eggs out if they are bad. I have had so many eggs that have cracked in the nest and still dont know why that keeps happening. Now I separate my broody so the others cant disturb her. If you cant move her then put chicken wire around her. Dont give up, its just a matter of trial and error. Things will work out.
Good luck and happy hatching....
Marie

 

[earlyredrooster]

OK, can someone please enlighten me as to what is going wrong with my Broody Hens?

Hatch Number 1 had 2 eggs explode on Day 14, covering all the other eggs with a rancid mess which I did my best to quickly wipe off, and resulted in only one live chick hatching.  I didn't candle her eggs so I guess I can take responsibility for the bad result, and was grateful she got one chick out of it.

Now here I am with Broody 2, and I candled her eggs last night on Day 10 whilst wearing gloves to ensure no contamination of the eggs.  Today, Day 11, I came home to find one of her eggs (well, the shell of one of her eggs) in the middle of the coop, and her nest was full of yolk and blood, which is AGAIN all over the remaining 7 eggs.

I have quickly wiped those down too, and replaced the dirty hay in her nest, and she has settled back down again.

But what am I doing wrong?  I thought the first batch might have been my fault since I didn't candle them, but I really don't understand why this batch is exploding on me.  It's only spring here, not overly hot, and my broody has not left the nest. I have been very careful not to touch her eggs, and except for candling yesterday I don't lift her up at all either.

I am in fear of another bad hatch where she doesn't get a chick at the end.

Help!

Krista

I can remember my grandma fussing about "lazy hens" not kicking out the bad eggs, she would have a fit over it but there is really nothing more you can do beyond what you have done unless you buy live chicks, and even then you will probably lose one or two.

 

[ochochicas]

I think it is bound to happen from time to time. I candled my eggs but didn't find any quitters. Turns out I had two, but they never exploded. They were dark eggs so very hard to tell if they were still growing or not. We had 90 degree weather through most of the time the broody was on the eggs. None of them stunk or exploded, just sat there like regular eggs.

Out of curiosity, what are you using for nesting material? I wonder if that makes a difference. I'm using timothy hay.

I also had one egg crack badly and a second egg spent the night in the corner and not under the broody. It was cold in the morning. They both hatched! I think hatching requires a bit of luck and finger crossing. Best of luck next time!

 

[sonderah]

Yup yup. My Silkie is def broody again!! She's sitting on 9 eggs that I just stopped collecting since I was finished hatching inside. She's already pushed 1 out.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Yup yup. My Silkie is def broody again!! She's sitting on 9 eggs that I just stopped collecting since I was finished hatching inside. She's already pushed 1 out

Cool!