Broody Hen Thread!

[AmericanMom]

Hi could use some advice here. I have a hen that is going broody and I have eggs for her to sit on. My worry is the nesting box is raised over 18 inches off the ground. Will the chicks fall out and get hurt when they hatch? Should I try to move the nesting box to the ground level or make a ramp for the babies to go down when they hatch. I had not intended for her to be broody but don't want to break her from it now that she is

I have two broodys, one hatched her chicks out Friday and one is in the process of hatching now (I just saw 2/10) their nesting box is 3 feet off the ground.. Momma calls them down and they jump, I have yet to lose a chick this way... Before I know they are going to hatch I just make sure there is extra straw or bedding under the nesting site.

 

[aart]

Well today is day 20. I thought I had my broody well separated. Maybe not! Somebody brook through the wire and ate the medicated chick starter I had prepped for the babies. Sooo....how long do I chuck my eggs or do I even need to discard them? Ahhhhhhhh! I could kick myself.

If it was 'medicated' with amprolium, you don't need to discard eggs....read the label find out what is in it.

 

[blkjak]

Has anyone hatched ducklings under silkies? I have 2 broody silkies with eggs and 3 more who want eggs. I think tomorrow i am going to give them some of my duck eggs. Just wondering how many to put under each one.

 

[ShockValue]

ARGGGG!!!!.. Broody has been on these eggs for 2 weeks straight in the same location. Came home tonight to find her trying to incubate 1 freshly laid egg in the wrong location. Her clutch totally cold.

<sigh>

We're going to get to day 21 to see what happens, but I think it might be time to start shopping around for chicks to stick under her next week...

 

[lacymorgan]

ty I feel better now

 

[n3kms]

ARGGGG!!!!.. Broody has been on these eggs for 2 weeks straight in the same location. Came home tonight to find her trying to incubate 1 freshly laid egg in the wrong location. Her clutch totally cold. We're going to get to day 21 to see what happens, but I think it might be time to start shopping around for chicks to stick under her next week...

Mine left her two eggs for another nest twice and those two just hatched today. I think she was off of them 2-3 hrs each time.

 

[christine9]

Well today is day 20. I thought I had my broody well separated. Maybe not! Somebody brook through the wire and ate the medicated chick starter I had prepped for the babies. Sooo....how long do I chuck my eggs or do I even need to discard them? Ahhhhhhhh! I could kick myself.

Are you sure they wont hatch christine9?

Oh my gosh...thats not what I meant. I'm giving her time to hatch these eggs, but my other layers ate the medicated chick starter. Will their eggs have to be discarded and for how long?

 

[aart]

Quote:

Oh my gosh...thats not what I meant. I'm giving her time to hatch these eggs, but my other layers ate the medicated chick starter. Will their eggs have to be discarded and for how long?

@christine9 did you see my post?

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I still don't have a final count but for sure there are 3!

I am a bit perplexed: I set 8 eggs and when I candled on day 18 ( and got the surprise pip egg) I thought I had 4 goods and 4 quitters. I shoved them all back under the girls because I was in shock. I went down tonight to pull the bad eggs and only came out with 2 eggs. SOOOO? Either my candling was off and there are more chicks under there than I thought or

they busted a couple of the quitters and are sitting in

. I pulled a couple large pieces of shell out but not the equivalent of 4-6 eggs.

Guess I will know when they get moving. Can't wait to see them up and out

 

[blkjak]

Sorry christine9. Now that i have read it again ive got it. Must be having a bad day. Spent 4 hours cleaning the coop today. Got the brooder in the coop up and running. Moved the month old chicks out there. 2 broody silkies on a total of 23 eggs that i thought would have hatched already but as far as i can tell have not. 31 eggs in lockdown set to hatch wednesday. Tomorrow i need to clean the winter straw out of my silkie room in the coop then the spring clean will be complete.