Broody Hen Thread!

[motherhen71185]

My Broody Silkie is sitting tight and i can't keep her off her nest so i have some eggs coming in from CA. Should be here tomorrow or saterday. This is my first time hatching eggs, but i figured letting a broody do all the work is a good way to start. I will post pictures on here as soon as i get the eggs and will give you guys updates. I got a nice mix of cream legbar, isbar, poilsh and barnevelders. How long after i set them under her should i candle them to take out the bad ones? I don't want to have one explode on her and with the heat wave we are having it wouldn't surprise me if one did.

 

[Ginger Assassin]

My Broody Silkie is sitting tight and i can't keep her off her nest so i have some eggs coming in from CA. Should be here tomorrow or saterday. This is my first time hatching eggs, but i figured letting a broody do all the work is a good way to start. I will post pictures on here as soon as i get the eggs and will give you guys updates. I got a nice mix of cream legbar, isbar, poilsh and barnevelders. How long after i set them under her should i candle them to take out the bad ones? I don't want to have one explode on her and with the heat wave we are having it wouldn't surprise me if one did.

candle at day 7

 

[Cynthia12]

I can hear peeping from under my girl! Wondering if she will have a baby by tonight, if not, by morning for sure. Crossing fingers she will be a nice mom. This is her first time being broody..mommy. I've heard some horror stories. I hope she loves them.

 

[fisherlady]

I can hear peeping from under my girl! Wondering if she will have a baby by tonight, if not, by morning for sure. Crossing fingers she will be a nice mom. This is her first time being broody..mommy. I've heard some horror stories. I hope she loves them.

Hoping the best for you!!!

 

[Cynthia12]

Thanks fisher. One has hatched under her, she is clucking..so she sounds happy about it. Plus, I had a RIWhite hatch in my bator, so I snuck it under her. Took an egg away and put it in my brooder. I think I will do this until she has four babies either way. I can make sure they all hatch this way. All at once. Little stink got up this afternoon while that one was zipping. Guess when ya gotta go, ya gotta go. I always wondered about that lock down thing with the broody hens. Maybe she will stay on the babies now for a while. I hope so.

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks fisher. One has hatched under her, she is clucking..so she sounds happy about it. Plus, I had a RIWhite hatch in my bator, so I snuck it under her. Took an egg away and put it in my brooder. I think I will do this until she has four babies either way. I can make sure they all hatch this way. All at once. Little stink got up this afternoon while that one was zipping. Guess when ya gotta go, ya gotta go. I always wondered about that lock down thing with the broody hens. Maybe she will stay on the babies now for a while. I hope so.

I have seen our broodies up off of the nest at hatch time, though it isn't often and the few times I have seen it they have only been off a couple of minutes. I figure the hen knows what she is doing, so real short interuptions in the temp and humidity must not be a problem.
I also have one hen who I don't think moves the last 2 or 3 days... she has now hatched a day early the last 2 clutches?? So I quit trying to figure it out and just enjoy the experience with them.

We have one more due in a couple of weeks... then maybe things will slow down for the summer! I hope so!

 

[motherhen71185]

My Isbar eggs are here!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!
Perfect condition!
I am not excited or anything.... LOL

 

[Chickenlover42]

i have a broody hen who has been an ok mom befour so i have been letting her sit. i just looked at her eggs, i gave her 10 but not she ate 3 of them i have clam shells in her food so i dont know why she would do this. should i take the rest of the eggs away?

 

[Ginger Assassin]

i have a broody hen who has been an ok mom befour so i have been letting her sit. i just looked at her eggs, i gave her 10 but not she ate 3 of them i have clam shells in her food so i dont know why she would do this. should i take the rest of the eggs away?

i would she is thinking instead a am going to be a mama she is thinking all you can eat buffei.

 

[Cynthia12]

I have 5 babies under my broody, and I plan on taking one more out. She is being so good. I think she can handle one more. They are all doing well. I can't wait for her to bring them out..how soon is that anyway before mom brings them out? I can see them waiting a few days.