Broody Hen Thread!

[Sonya9]

I'd recommend to graft any chicks on before day 3, is the 7/25 day 21, because bantams normally hatch on day 18-20... You could try buying the chicks that are to be grafted and graft them at day 2, then hope your broody stays on the nest long enough for her egg to hatch? just an idea...

Thanks. You are right, typically the bantam eggs do hatch a couple of days early. Yes, the 25th will be the 21st day so hopefully we will be looking at a hatch date around 7/23.

This broody is a first time mother but I expect she will be excellent, she is 5-6 years old (retired show oegb adopted a year ago) and her sister has hatched out two clutches, both times the sister stayed in the nest for a couple of days with the chicks. I would expect this broody will do the same.

 

[Sarah4]

I have a broody barred rock hen who has been so for about 3-4 days. I gave her a clutch of fertilized eggs yesterday and it's her first time setting on eggs. There are 12 under her and I'm not sure she knows exactly what she's doing as she doesn't tuck the eggs under her she just kind of lays on them. Am I being a paranoid step mother by checking on her every hour to make sure most of the eggs are covered? Or should I just leave her be and let nature work it's wonders?

 

[sharol]

Quote:
How hot is is it where you are? If it is really warm (95 or more), she may be adjusting the temp of the eggs so they don't get too hot. Or,, she may just be inexperienced. Is she a large hen? BR's vary so much. I put 12 smallish eggs under my first time broody BR, and she abandoned 10 when the first one hatched. 8 of the remaining 10 hatched a day later in the incubator. I suspect she will do better next time, but she is very attentive to the one hatchling.

 

[Sarah4]

No it is probably around 73-76 degrees today and the coop is mainly in the shade. There is a towel with straw and cedar bedding under the eggs because my nesting box is drafty so I put the towel under them to keep out the draft which is working well. She seemed to cover most of them but then I check on her and one is uncovered. I need a chicken cam to spy on her 24/7
I may have gotten too many eggs but she is a big bird. The man I bought them from told me to get 12 Incase she broke some being a first time broody hen so I did but I'm afraid I just wasted my money in getting more eggs. I didn't think barred rock girls went broody but she is definitely broody. She isn't even a year old yet ~10 months. Hopefully she hatches a few out that would be exciting. If not I learned my lesson and she will not get a second chance if she turns broody in the future. I'm still nervous for her eggs because I don't have an incubator incase she fails. Sold it thinking I was done with chicks. Any advice that can be given as far as Brody hens and hatching eggs would be greatly appreciated as this is my first broody I have let sit on a clutch of eggs.

 

[sharol]

Quote:
Sounds like she is about the age of mine. Sis went broody at about 10 months. She is a heritage Barred Rock that last summer's broody hatched at the end of the summer. Just hang in there. More eggs is probably better. I would give them 5-6 days and then candle them to see if they are developing. What kind of eggs did you get for her? Mine hatched true Araucana and Breda Fowl eggs from a local breeder. Well, she mostly hatched them. I finished some of them, but I always have an incubator ready just in case.

 

[Sarah4]

I have a local breeder of swedish flower hens and quite a few different colors of English Orpingtons, as well as cream legbar and rhodebar eggs. And I have 2 buff polish laced eggs as well. So a variety. Wishing I had kept my incubator now that I have these guys and I Ike all the breeds so I am hoping I get one of each at least to hatch.

 

[sharol]

Quote:
yeah that is what happened to me. I went after a few eggs for a couple of broodies last spring and ended up with a variety of English Orp colors -- BBS, Chocolate, White, Lavender, and Jubilee. Of the 18 eggs, 9 hatched out -- 2 chocolate, l lavender (pullet), 1 white (pullet), 1 BBS (cockerel), 4 Jubilees (who knows gender on them?) I really don't have room for any more chickens, but I love the variety of colors in my "yard art." Last year I added a speckled sussex and my little barred rock.

 

[Sarah4]

She isn't covering about 3 on one of her sides I don't know if it's because she isn't sure how to spread her wings over and squish them into her or what. She kind of seems like a dopey broody but I'm hoping she'll get the hang of it in a few days time before it's too late for those guys on the edges.

 

[Sarah4]

So I have a broody sitting on some eggs and it's been 2 full days. This evening I came back from work to discover that all but 1 had rolled out of the nest. Poor nest box choice by me. They were cold but not freezing.
Are they ruined? I quickly fixed that issue and she is attentively sitting back on them in a plastic tub with deep sides. Will they still be viable or,have I ruined her chance at being a first time momma hen?

 

[chicksurreal]

So I have a broody sitting on some eggs and it's been 2 full days. This evening I came back from work to discover that all but 1 had rolled out of the nest. Poor nest box choice by me. They were cold but not freezing.
Are they ruined? I quickly fixed that issue and she is attentively sitting back on them in a plastic tub with deep sides. Will they still be viable or,have I ruined her chance at being a first time momma hen?

I've had girls be off the nest for hours and still hatch. Especially if you're in a warmer climate, it should be fine.