Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

We lock our hens up. Every evening they take themselves in to. The coop, however we noticed one was missing so we searched all over and nothing, we were worried as there has been possums hanging round lately so we do doing 2 hour possum searches lol, the next day about 12 she appeared from nowhere, so we decided to keep them in there coop for a day, I let them out yesterday and he never returned again so again I went looking finding her sitting on over 20 eggs....... My question is will the eggs still hatch I left her there and she is still there this morning

I think the eggs will develop if fertile. A hen can spend up to two weeks gathering the clutch, during the process she will spend some time on the nest but usually returns to the flock each day/evening and roosts with the flock until she has enough eggs in her 'clutch' to satisfy her.... at that time she will begin setting and this is when most folks think a hen has 'gone missing'.
The eggs will begin developing after they are all brought up to a particular temp for an extended period of time. Interruption on the first day of that incubation probably didn't kill them, though if some were genetically weak or vulnerable it may have. I would allow her to sit on as many as you think she can handle, then candle on day 7-10 and remove any clears. If they are all clear at that time you can get her new fertile eggs. Just make sure you know of a source of eggs before the candling so you aren't caught unprepared if you need to replace her clutch. If it is only going to take you a day to get new eggs she can remain on the duds till you have the replacements for her.

 

[sonderah]

Went out to check on my broody EE, who's eggs are due to hatch Saturday. And she had a white feather hanging from her beak, she's dark grey and red. Lol
Well apparently, someone got a bit too close for comfort and while they only lost a feather, a Crested Cream Legbar egg was crushed in the apparent chaos!
So, I was checking to be sure no more were crushed, & I noticed a pip on a blue Orpington egg!!!! Yay! Here we go!!!!

 

[ochochicas]

Congrats on your baby ducklings! We use radios, too, to keep the coyotes out of the yard when we aren't home. They seem to be working pretty well so far. The chickens are so happy in the yard that I hate to keep them cooped up all the time.

 

[Penny Hen]

So feathers sprouting on the wingtips of newly hatched chicks indicates they are females? Cool. I learn something new every day. That's why I love coming here.

Well it is in some breeds. You have to have the male linked slow-feathering gene. My Olive Eggers have it. I don't know whether it came form the Marans side or the Ameraucana side, or both, but it is there. It is the way that those breeds possessing it are sexed by the hatcheries. This is because it takes much less fine eyesight and skill than vent sexing. The people who can accurately vent sex a day old chick are well paid. It is an art. I can do it by the time they are about 2 months with very strong reading glasses. By that time what you are looking for is at least 4 times larger than at a day old.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Great story!  It just goes to show that there is no one "right" way to hatch out eggs.  I even had an egg crack and it still hatched out a nice little pullet.  

Love your story and what a pretty lady!

 

[varikia]

...

I think the eggs will develop if fertile.  A hen can spend up to two weeks gathering the clutch, during the process she will spend some time on the nest but usually returns to the flock each day/evening and roosts with the flock until she has enough eggs in her 'clutch' to satisfy her.... at that time she will begin setting and this is when most folks think a hen has 'gone missing'.
  The eggs will begin developing after they are all brought up to a particular temp for an extended period of time. Interruption on the first day of that incubation probably didn't kill them, though if some were genetically weak or vulnerable it may have.  I would allow her to sit on as many as you think she can handle, then candle on day 7-10 and remove any clears.  If they are all clear at that time you can get her new fertile eggs.  Just make sure you know of a source of eggs before the candling so you aren't caught unprepared if you need to replace her clutch.  If it is only going to take you a day to get new eggs she can remain on the duds till you have the replacements for her.
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[varikia]

Thank you for that she has been sitting ever since ce not moved off them I have put fresh food and water by her, she did settle right next to my outdoor hot water tank I have touched the eggs and they are very very warm they all seem tp be solid at this time so I shall check again if she moves off them

 

[ChickyChickens]

i can hear cheeping in my broodies eggs! On day 18, is it normal for it to be so early?

 

[sonderah]

4/8 so far on Day 21!! It was enough to move mom, eggs, and babies to a lower nest and not worry about her leaving the rest of the eggs. Lol 3 CCL (1 boy 2 girls) and a blue Orpington.

 

[krista74]

We have a baby!

'Peepers' hatched out on Day 20, the first of 7 eggs in in the nest.

He was somewhat of a surprise. We didn't think any of the eggs would make it.

So very excited for my Broody Hen!

- Krista