Broody Hen Thread!

[newbiejones]

 

[Angie16hearts]

sweet babies. 8 chicks so far, 7 eggs still under her. She's doing great and so are babies

Congratulations !! So sweet!

 

[Angie16hearts]

Glad I'm not the only one with a broody living in the house! My gal has 3 weeks to go with 10 eggs under her. She is so used to everyone coming and going that her nest box is pretty much part of the scenery now... She still has a pretty strict No Mop Zone where she won't let me clean, but aside from making sure she has food and water, the family just leaves her alone to do her job...

So sweet !

 

[Angie16hearts]

Finally pepper left the best today. So I quickly checked on eggs. I have 3 chirping

so from what I understand the chirps will be hatching with in 24 hrs ? I'll be home by 5:30 western time. With the sun still up a bit. The days are about 79 degrees humidity 87. I'm so excited!! I hope I see a little head pop out from under her soon. I may even leave work so I can try to catch them hatching. I promise I'll leave her alone. Once 1-2 come out and are dry I move her? Broody coop is ready to roll!

 

[mymilliefleur]

Finally pepper left the best today. So I quickly checked on eggs. I have 3 chirping

so from what I understand the chirps will be hatching with in 24 hrs ? I'll be home by 5:30 western time. With the sun still up a bit. The days are about 79 degrees humidity 87. I'm so excited!! I hope I see a little head pop out from under her soon. I may even leave work so I can try to catch them hatching. I promise I'll leave her alone. Once 1-2 come out and are dry I move her? Broody coop is ready to roll!

Where do you have? Yes, if they are chirping you will probably have chicks very soon. I always wait until the hen gets off the nest on her own, and than I move her. That way I know that all the eggs that are going to hatch have hatched.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Where do you have? Yes, if they are chirping you will probably have chicks very soon. I always wait until the hen gets off the nest on her own, and than I move her. That way I know that all the eggs that are going to hatch have hatched.

I have her subdivided in the main coop with the other hens and Roo . I'm not worried because she is top and I was too late on moving her so I know they're going to come out soon! I'm hoping that I can get to her in time for one or two to be dry move the move her and the chicks to the broody box. We set it up so her nest is identical to the Nash is in because I didn't plan for her to go Brudi I slip something underneath all that wood chips that I would safely be able to move the eggs without shaking them. She is sitting on 10 how long does it usually take after chirping 24 hours? I hope I make it home in time from work to check it out but won't the baby chick be underneath her ?

 

[mymilliefleur]

I have her subdivided in the main coop with the other hens and Roo . I'm not worried because she is top and I was too late on moving her so I know they're going to come out soon! I'm hoping that I can get to her in time for one or two to be dry move the move her and the chicks to the broody box. We set it up so her nest is identical to the Nash is in because I didn't plan for her to go Brudi I slip something underneath all that wood chips that I would safely be able to move the eggs without shaking them. She is sitting on 10 how long does it usually take after chirping 24 hours? I hope I make it home in time from work to check it out but won't the baby chick be underneath her ?

Do you mean Pipping? If so, than yes chicks usually hatch within 24 hours hours after they pip. And yes, the chicks will be underneath her.

I'm guessing you will have some chicks when you get home.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Do you mean Pipping? If so, than yes chicks usually hatch within 24 hours hours after they pip. And yes, the chicks will be underneath her.
I'm guessing you will have some chicks when you get home.

Yes pipping , learning the language

I'm crossing my fingers ! I wanted my children to see a bit here and there. Of course it back to school/ work time . I just hope they are dry so I can move the rest of clutch.

 

[fisherlady]

Do you mean Pipping? If so, than yes chicks usually hatch within 24 hours hours after they pip. And yes, the chicks will be underneath her.

I'm guessing you will have some chicks when you get home.

I agree that they usually externally pip and hatch within 24 hours of the internal pip... any who are hatched will still be under mama for the majority of the first two days. I wouldn't worry about moving her before tomorrow evening. Moving is usually done for protection of the chicks but if she is already divided right now then they should be fine for at least that long.

Just leave mama alone for the evening and don't lift or disturb her while the heavy hatching is going on, the less disturbance during hatch the better.

 

[Lutz Farms]

Well that is frustrating...I would think you would have heard something with a stethoscope, but I haven't tried that, and I've read that chicks will typically hold very still when the egg is picked up...a natural reaction.

Wait it out another day...cold weather can delay hatches by a day or two. Then candle. The egg should have a clear air space and very dark blob taking up most of the egg. I've even gently shake to see if I feel weight....if there is a "slush a slush," it means the contents have putrified.

I see that you are in Wisconsin, so I imagine it gets wicked cold where you live...but I have had very successful hatches in 20's and teens with very cold wind chill in our wet Oregon (that many Easterners complain feels much colder than their "dry" cold.) The hen and the chicks just need to be out of drafts and direct weather and have a dry nest. I've never used heat in my broody hutch, momma does a great job as a warm up tent for the little chicks...who do have nicely zipped down jackets. It totally blows the mind after you've heat lamp brooded chicks, checking that temp so it doesn't get below 96 degrees or so that first week, to see momma have the babies out on day two or three scratching in sub freezing temps.

Good luck! Keeping my fingers crossed you'll be posting pics of newly hatched chicks soon.
LofMc

Messed this up....check the next submission below. Lol