Broody Hen Thread!

[16 paws]

URGENT HELP!!! I had a broody hen sit on 6 pekin duck eggs because I wanted to continue getting eggs from my one female duck. Soon after the first one started hatching I realized that 2 of the eggs were infertile so I had to get rid of them, no big deal. 2 others hatched yesterday do I had 3 ducklings and was waiting for the fourth to externally pip. Everything was going great until last night a skunk got into our coop and stole 2 of my ducklings!!! When I went down to the coop this morning I saw that not only were two of my babies missing but momma had gotten off the nest! I thought that she was just traumatized so she got up for a minute. I went back down around 5 to see that she was STILL OFF. I picked up the egg to see if it was dead and it is not! It's internally pipping and coming along very well... My question is what to do with it?? My first instinct was to pick it up and take it to the house and put it under a heat lamp. I don't have an incubator so what do I do??? I took up the live duckling too as a companion because I was scared the skunk would come back for this one if I didn't. Someone PLEASE HELP ME!! I CANT LET THIS BABY DIE TOO

I heard you can put them under a desk lamp with a sponge near by. I would try that, the heat lamp may dry it out too much.
good luck
Marie

 

[abserbean]

Well, just got back from vacation and while we were gone another girl decided to go broody. Since she was with a pet sitter, she had already been on the next for over a week before I got home. Do you guys have success breaking a broody after they have been sitting that long? I haven't had any success breaking my broodies even when I catch them early, but we have hatched out eggs twice already and don't have room for more chicks. I would love to let her hatch, I think she would be a great momma, but space is currently at a premium! She is a huge large fowl bird, I could get a full dozen under her no problem. She has now been sitting for two weeks, so maybe I can try a couple "sexed" chicks from the feed store? I've never tried to graft baby chicks, and I know it varies from each hen as to how they will do. She is very laid back as a broody though, hasn't pecked me at least. At least if they were pullets it would be easier to find them homes later, I still have a five week old possible roo that I need to find a home for when I'm sure about gender.

 

[fisherlady]

Well, just got back from vacation and while we were gone another girl decided to go broody. Since she was with a pet sitter, she had already been on the next for over a week before I got home. Do you guys have success breaking a broody after they have been sitting that long? I haven't had any success breaking my broodies even when I catch them early, but we have hatched out eggs twice already and don't have room for more chicks. I would love to let her hatch, I think she would be a great momma, but space is currently at a premium! She is a huge large fowl bird, I could get a full dozen under her no problem. She has now been sitting for two weeks, so maybe I can try a couple "sexed" chicks from the feed store? I've never tried to graft baby chicks, and I know it varies from each hen as to how they will do. She is very laid back as a broody though, hasn't pecked me at least. At least if they were pullets it would be easier to find them homes later, I still have a five week old possible roo that I need to find a home for when I'm sure about gender.

Given your situation I would go with the sexed chicks and graft them. Dispose of any eggs she is setting on and replace them with fake eggs until you can get her a few pullet chicks. Then swap them out. If you search for the word 'graft' on this thread for the last 6 months I know methods have been discussed several times.

 

[Banjostorm]

Has anyone stuck a thermometer under their broody hen?
I just stuck 2 different ones under them (there are 4 broody's right now), and their temperature ranged from 101 to 102!
They do better than I at hatching eggs..

Just curious if any else has done this and found the same thing.

 

[TiaRC]

Has anyone stuck a thermometer under their broody hen?
I just stuck 2 different ones under them (there are 4 broody's right now), and their temperature ranged from 101 to 102!
They do better than I at hatching eggs..

Just curious if any else has done this and found the same thing.

I've never done that! Thanks for sharing the info.

 

[abserbean]

Given your situation I would go with the sexed chicks and graft them. Dispose of any eggs she is setting on and replace them with fake eggs until you can get her a few pullet chicks. Then swap them out. If you search for the word 'graft' on this thread for the last 6 months I know methods have been discussed several times.

I think I will attempt a graft, I've never done it before but I have read about other's successes. I will have to attempt to move her first though to my broody/chick pen. She is in with all of the hens now (in the favorite nest box, of course), and I'm not sure how they would do with two baby chicks in their midst.

 

[Flutterbee]

My mama broody, Edna, with her five babies!

 

[emmimini1212]

Ok now I have a new delema.... After placing the egg in a small basket with a heating pad and a towel I waited over night and nothing... What was a lot of activity is very little and I don't even know if it's just my mind playing tricks on me? Now it has this blue thing on the bottom of the egg (picture attached) that it did not have before. The actual hatch date isn't supposed to be until this Saturday but I had heard clear activity in the eg last night. Is the baby dead? Or is it just not ready yet??? I NEED HELP

Edited: ok now if I shake the egg a little bit there's a mass shaking in the egg as well

 

[16 paws]

I cant say for sure but that may be blood. None of my eggs have ever looked like that. I hope someone with more experience sees that and responds.

Good luck
Marie

 

[16 paws]

I think I will attempt a graft, I've never done it before but I have read about other's successes. I will have to attempt to move her first though to my broody/chick pen. She is in with all of the hens now (in the favorite nest box, of course), and I'm not sure how they would do with two baby chicks in their midst.

I have had very good luck with grafting. It worked every time. I would not hesitate to try it. Just make sure you do it at night and it is very dark.
Good luck
Marie