Broody Hen Thread!

[krista74]

Thank you all so much for your support. I guess I've just been trying so hard to do the best I can for her, and am fear of the same result as the last hatch. I actually burst into tears when I saw it, the memories of my other broody sitting on a stinking nest of rotten eggs for days came flooding back.

Interestingly, Hubby just came in and confessed something to me though. He said he had to catch one of the other girls yesterday morning to put an apron on her, and during the kerfuffle she flew up and into the Broody's nest and jumped on top of her.

I am wondering if the pressure of two birds on top of one egg may have caused it to break, rather than explode?

I must confess, last time when the egg exploded the stench hit you before you even got into the coop. This time, whilst the nest didn't smell 'nice' it wasn't gag-worthy. It just smelled like it had warm egg in it. The egg had obviously been broken/exploded for a full day before I figured it out, as the egg yolk stuck to the remaining eggs was set solid.

Also, I wiped down three of the remaining eggs which were the messiest with a chux cloth soaked in water. I now read that you should use a damp cloth which is hotter than the egg, and mine was cold water. Is it likely my action has now doomed those eggs, or could they still potentially survive? (You live and learn.....I won't be doing that again either.)

Thanks once again for your comments,

Krista

 

[Sadie57]

Given that the nights are cooler now, is it ok for Momma and babies to be housed in outside pen with field size dog crate, once they hatch? I want to lock them in at night and thought this might work as a temporary fix. Peeked under her yesterday and she has 6 EE eggs and 2 Bantie eggs. Have no idea how she managed that considering how out nesting boxes are divided.

 

[fisherlady]

Hens are fine taking care of their broods even in cold weather as long as they are dry and rprotected from wind. you can probably just put a blanket or tarp over the dog pen and they should be fine.

 

[16 paws]

Thank you all so much for your support. I guess I've just been trying so hard to do the best I can for her, and am fear of the same result as the last hatch. I actually burst into tears when I saw it, the memories of my other broody sitting on a stinking nest of rotten eggs for days came flooding back.

Interestingly, Hubby just came in and confessed something to me though. He said he had to catch one of the other girls yesterday morning to put an apron on her, and during the kerfuffle she flew up and into the Broody's nest and jumped on top of her.

I am wondering if the pressure of two birds on top of one egg may have caused it to break, rather than explode?

I must confess, last time when the egg exploded the stench hit you before you even got into the coop. This time, whilst the nest didn't smell 'nice' it wasn't gag-worthy. It just smelled like it had warm egg in it. The egg had obviously been broken/exploded for a full day before I figured it out, as the egg yolk stuck to the remaining eggs was set solid.

Also, I wiped down three of the remaining eggs which were the messiest with a chux cloth soaked in water. I now read that you should use a damp cloth which is hotter than the egg, and mine was cold water. Is it likely my action has now doomed those eggs, or could they still potentially survive? (You live and learn.....I won't be doing that again either.)

Thanks once again for your comments,

Krista

I do not think the eggs are doomed. I would still have high hopes for them. Out in the wild things happen to the eggs also. They could easily get wet. What day are you on again? Can you candle them?

No more tears

Have faith!

Marie

 

[ChickyChickens]

Given that the nights are cooler now, is it ok for Momma and babies to be housed in outside pen with field size dog crate, once they hatch? I want to lock them in at night and thought this might work as a temporary fix. Peeked under her yesterday and she has 6 EE eggs and 2 Bantie eggs. Have no idea how she managed that considering how out nesting boxes are divided.
Yes, she should be fine!

Yes, she should be fine!

 

[krista74]

Hi Marie,

We are now on Day 11, and I candled them yesterday morning. At that point I thought all the remaining eggs were ok, so maybe the one that exploded did get squashed when hubby was chasing the girls around the coop, rather than explode.

I am intending to candle again around Day 17, then leave Broody to it. I do give her a pat each morning and stick my head in over her, and can't smell anything bad like last time.

Oh, this hatching business is so stressful!

Roll on, Day 21!

- Krista

 

[krista74]

Given that the nights are cooler now, is it ok for Momma and babies to be housed in outside pen with field size dog crate, once they hatch? I want to lock them in at night and thought this might work as a temporary fix. Peeked under her yesterday and she has 6 EE eggs and 2 Bantie eggs. Have no idea how she managed that considering how out nesting boxes are divided.

Hi Sadie57,

I am in Australia, and we are in very early Spring here, with frost on the ground each morning.

Two days ago I moved a Momma Hen with her sole chick into an outside pen in our front yard. The pen is made of chicken wire but has two sides cladded in tin sheeting. Tin sheeting is also covering approximately 3/4 of the roof, with the remaining 1/4 open to let in sunshine during the day. The other two sides are only chicken wire and are not sheeted at all. This is the side away from the wind, so whilst they get a bit of a breeze the worst is blowing in at the sheeted side, so they are protected.

They also have an old bin which is lined with hay, and they sleep in that. Baby Peepers sleeps underneath his Momma if it's really cold, but otherwise sleeps on top of her, nestled into her feathers. He is only 12 days old and they are both doing great outside.

This morning I looked out at 6.30am and there was a heavy frost. It didn't seem to bother Momma and Peepers though - they were already up! They were scratching around their pen already, despite the cold! When Peepers got chilly, he would chirp to his Momma, and they would both run back to their bed and snuggle until he was warm again. I think as long as your girl and her babies are kept dry and have some nice, warm bedding to sleep in, they will be fine.

- Krista

 

[MrsMommaJones]

Little Mrs. Beatrix is sitting on 2 eggs. We're on day 7. So far so good.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Little Mrs. Beatrix is sitting on 2 eggs. We're on day 7. So far so good.

Congrats!

 

[16 paws]

Hi Marie,

We are now on Day 11, and I candled them yesterday morning. At that point I thought all the remaining eggs were ok, so maybe the one that exploded did get squashed when hubby was chasing the girls around the coop, rather than explode.

I am intending to candle again around Day 17, then leave Broody to it. I do give her a pat each morning and stick my head in over her, and can't smell anything bad like last time.

Oh, this hatching business is so stressful!

Roll on, Day 21!

- Krista

Funny about the exploding egg thing. I did a little experiment, I saved quite a few eggs that didnt hatch and just laid them out in the sun in my garden that is sectioned off from everyone. Do you know that none of those eggs ever exploded on their own? I always had to crack them after a few months, they did smell pretty bad when I finally did crack them. Some of them were in full sun and a couple were in shade. That is one thing I never did have happen was an egg exploding in the nest. I would not worry about that happening and try and enjoy this special time before the babies arrive. Yes, come on day 21!!!!!!!!!!