Broody Hen Thread!

[AmateurChickie]

I candled our eggs again today!
Two of them are very dark with what I'm getting is the air cell at the fat end. How big are they meant to be? The ones I could see were pretty big. And One of them, I don't think is fertilized, I'm too scared to crack it open though, in case it actually was :/

 

[chickydee64]

I candled our eggs again today!
Two of them are very dark with what I'm getting is the air cell at the fat end. How big are they meant to be? The ones I could see were pretty big. And One of them, I don't think is fertilized, I'm too scared to crack it open though, in case it actually was :/

How many days are they???????

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, my sweet little Silkie has shown she has gone broody again...really..been in a broody sulk for 3 days straight....this is the 3rd time since January...and she has hatched two clutches for me already...the first in February, the last in May, and those just 12 weeks old now (the first are even laying hens!)

So what now? Waste a perfectly good brood?

Well, I have been wanting to get some EE's for blue eggs...had that on my to do list. Was disappointed my grab bag of eggs didn't give me any EE's (like the store said they would)...I think I'll get some nice mixed breed layers, but definitely no EE's

.

Was at the Feed Store yesterday and noted they just happened to get in a September Chicks special...usually our feed stores don't get chicks in except for spring....and they had Ameraucanas (yes I know that means EE in real language)...

Yup...bought two fluffy beards and green legged chicks today (5 day olds) and put them under the Silkie. She was mad at me (as usual), since I took her egg away (unfertile) but seemed okay with them. One was scared of her, the other hopped on board like "Hi Mom, I'm home, mom!"

I've watched them this afternoon and just checked on them tonight....they were up and eating, drank, and now all chicks are safely tucked in bed under momma's wings.

I think I've got a successful foster situation going....keeping fingers crossed.

My last foster situation didn't go well...but that was in February cold and with a store I'd never bought chicks from before (the fosters all died over time while the hatchlings thrived...and momma Silkie was doting on all of them).
These chicks are from my usual store and I've always had good luck with them....here's hoping for two lovely EE's out of this

Lady of McCamley (I'm dreaming of a colorful easter basket...la la la la la la)

 

[AmateurChickie]

How many days are they???????

The first one is about 10 days, the next is about 7-8 days and the other one isn't very far along

 

[Lady of McCamley]

The first one is about 10 days, the next is about 7-8 days and the other one isn't very far along

Here's a good candling chart for development:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

Large air cell with about half dark would be about right for day 10.

I just use a flashlight (bright led) at night, so mine are always darker and less defined. You want to see dark and an air cell at this stage.
Lady of McCamley

 

[sonz77]

Well, my sweet little Silkie has shown she has gone broody again...really..been in a broody sulk for 3 days straight....this is the 3rd time since January...and she has hatched two clutches for me already...the first in February, the last in May, and those just 12 weeks old now (the first are even laying hens!)

So what now? Waste a perfectly good brood?

Well, I have been wanting to get some EE's for blue eggs...had that on my to do list. Was disappointed my grab bag of eggs didn't give me any EE's (like the store said they would)...I think I'll get some nice mixed breed layers, but definitely no EE's

.

Was at the Feed Store yesterday and noted they just happened to get in a September Chicks special...usually our feed stores don't get chicks in except for spring....and they had Ameraucanas (yes I know that means EE in real language)...

Yup...bought two fluffy beards and green legged chicks today (5 day olds) and put them under the Silkie. She was mad at me (as usual), since I took her egg away (unfertile) but seemed okay with them. One was scared of her, the other hopped on board like "Hi Mom, I'm home, mom!"

I've watched them this afternoon and just checked on them tonight....they were up and eating, drank, and now all chicks are safely tucked in bed under momma's wings.

I think I've got a successful foster situation going....keeping fingers crossed.

My last foster situation didn't go well...but that was in February cold and with a store I'd never bought chicks from before (the fosters all died over time while the hatchlings thrived...and momma Silkie was doting on all of them).
These chicks are from my usual store and I've always had good luck with them....here's hoping for two lovely EE's out of this

Lady of McCamley (I'm dreaming of a colorful easter basket...la la la la la la)

Good luck, I love my EE's, and by some stroke of luck, all 3 ended up pullets!! Mine aren't laying yet, they're just shy of 14 weeks!

 

[sonz77]

Been watching Little Miss Broody today, I've seen her off the nest 3 times. Is this a bad sign?? She's the silkie I moved last night to a new coop, but in all fairness, she had been stuck in my spare room for 3 days while the others got to play outside.
When I checked when I put them to bed, she was on her eggs and the others were roosting.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Been watching Little Miss Broody today, I've seen her off the nest 3 times. Is this a bad sign?? She's the silkie I moved last night to a new coop, but in all fairness, she had been stuck in my spare room for 3 days while the others got to play outside.
When I checked when I put them to bed, she was on her eggs and the others were roosting.

I wouldn't worry yet...she's had a lot of transition lately. Just keep things very calm around her and interfere as little as possible now in case she is getting too stressed. If need be, darken her area if you can with a blanket....remember you are trying to extend her brood and we aren't sure how long she's been in one.

Broodies do get up and move and then sit again, some more than others. My Silkie tends to be a rock, barely moving for the 21 days...but others move more.

Keep a watch on her from a distance, and if you notice she is up for extended periods of time, more than once or twice, that could be a bad sign...that she is coming off her broodiness or simply has had too many changes to sit faithfully. Once they begin to hear chicks moving in the eggs, or feel the difference in the eggs with the chicks growing, they get pretty serious and barely move....hopefully she'll be to that stage soon.

You should know if she is committed by the time your eggs arrive....my guess.
Lady of McCamley

 

[AmateurChickie]

Here's a good candling chart for development:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

Large air cell with about half dark would be about right for day 10.

I just use a flashlight (bright led) at night, so mine are always darker and less defined. You want to see dark and an air cell at this stage.
Lady of McCamley

I need to bookmark that! Thanks!
I was only using the torch on my phone, the broody only gets off every few mornings when I let the chooks out for a feed.
I let them out every day, but she doesn't come out every day... just thought I'd clarify lol

 

[orpingtonsrock]

In the morning I take my buff out of the coop because she doesn't go with all the others to free range so she eats and drinks and goes back in to sit... I guess it's fine as long as she's getting food and water