Broody Hen Thread!

[PD-Riverman]

Thanks for the info...We are trying very hard to be patient, but it is difficult! I was careful not to turn the egg, just picked it up, looked and put it back down. Hope we didnt mess anything up.

I totally understand. I do not want Newbie's to have to go through what I did when I was learning years Back so I speak out---trying to help. When you say you "just picked it up" was the hen off the nest or you looked under her and got it?

 

[cafrhe]

Hen was off the nest. We picked her up after dark to confirm what had hatched and what had not. With the 2 chicks hatching so early in the day (just checked my text to daughter--1st one was peeping at noonish) , I am a little concerned about the 3rd egg. We did start with 11 'fertile' eggs and when candled at day 11 & 15 (breeder suggested candling again at 15 and then removing the non-viable eggs), saw that only 3 had developed. To be emotional--I feel badly that the 2 chicks seemed to hatch so easily and the 3rd one could be stuck....

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hen was off the nest. We picked her up after dark to confirm what had hatched and what had not. With the 2 chicks hatching so early in the day (just checked my text to daughter--1st one was peeping at noonish) , I am a little concerned about the 3rd egg. We did start with 11 'fertile' eggs and when candled at day 11 & 15 (breeder suggested candling again at 15 and then removing the non-viable eggs), saw that only 3 had developed. To be emotional--I feel badly that the 2 chicks seemed to hatch so easily and the 3rd one could be stuck....

If the hen was off the nest for any length of time, IF the egg that was left in the nest was alive---it would have more than likely died because she was not keeping it warm. Usually the broody will hear the chick in the egg and will not leave the nest(if all the eggs were set at the same time) till it hatches.

Another question---how did you know there was 11 Fertile eggs to start with or are you saying they were suppose to be fertile?

Another thing---I see nothing wrong with candling the eggs on day 11 and 15---I would suggest day 17 then leave her alone completely till she comes off the nest---observe her from a distance so she does not get upset and stomp eggs.

 

[cafrhe]

She has not voluntarily left the nest for a few days that I can tell. I always flatten off her food so I can see if she ate anything. The food has been undisturbed for 2-3 days. When she does eat, she generally knocks the whole container over.

We bought 11 hatching eggs. Breeder was sure that they all would be fertile. We picked them up the day they were laid. We put them under our hen a couple of hours later. We checked at day 11 and it did not look like anything had happened in 8 of them. I am disappointed in the number that developed, considering how enthusiastic the breeder was about his fertility...


But not sure if they were not fertile, or if something happened to them very early.

When Peanut went broody, we were not really planning on it. Now that she has brought us through this process, we are set up for the next broody. We now have the private nest box and a 2.5' x 4.5' private area in the coop for hatching. Originally she was one of the regular nest boxes. When I saw how disruptive this was, I made her a separate nest box, then found we had to enclose her so the others didnt use her box (on top of her since she didnt move).

 

[Rhandi74]

If the hen was off the nest for any length of time, IF the egg that was left in the nest was alive---it would have more than likely died because she was not keeping it warm. Usually the broody will hear the chick in the egg and will not leave the nest(if all the eggs were set at the same time) till it hatches.

Another question---how did you know there was 11 Fertile eggs to start with or are you saying they were suppose to be fertile?

Another thing---I see nothing wrong with candling the eggs on day 11 and 15---I would suggest day 17 then leave her alone completely till she comes off the nest---observe her from a distance so she does not get upset and stomp eggs.

I think this has a lot of factors that go into it. My hen hatched 3 chicks and was off her nest, off and on, trying to take the 3 chicks to explore, when her egg was peeping and I thought there was no way it would ever hatch but I let her set on it overnight and in the morning she had a healthy chick. This was during the summer in the south and I do not think if it was during cold temps it would have survived. I did not have an incubator to put the egg in so I hoped that it would hatch but really was very surprised to see a chick in the morning.

 

[ChickyChickens]

So cute!

X2

 

[cafrhe]

Thanks Rhandi and PD...My daughter checked in on her a few times today. She hasnt left the nest that we can tell. 2 chicks are still under her. Dont know if there is a 3rd at this point. Do we check on the egg at some point or just wait until she decides she is done? Today is day 21. Thanks again for the help!!

 

[kmollyhughes]

Thanks Rhandi and PD...My daughter checked in on her a few times today.  She hasnt left the nest that we can tell.  2 chicks are still under her.  Dont know if there is a 3rd at this point.  Do we check on the egg at some point or just wait until she decides she is done?  Today is day 21.  Thanks again for the help!!

I would peek. I know some say let them go, but I think checking the egg to see if there's actually a viable chick in there can make it easier on the hen. Some girls just won't give up and if they stay on the nest it can hinder her being a good mom to the other chicks. Wait until night time and sneak in with a flash light and candle the egg or see if it's hatched. If there's no movement in the egg, pull it, or if you have an incubator you can put it in there.

 

[darajosami]

Last check I had 5 chicks and one pipping, will check back later to see if I can get a pic without disturbing Mumma Hen too much.

Hubby was just asking how long from when chicks hatch does a broody hen start laying again and also how long do they need their mother for?
Thanks

 

[ChickyChickens]

Last check I had 5 chicks and one pipping, will check back later to see if I can get a pic without disturbing Mumma Hen too much.

Hubby was just asking how long from when chicks hatch does a broody hen start laying again and also how long do they need their mother for?
Thanks

Well, if you are raising chicks with a broody she will do the weaning for you!! Sometimes early sometimes late!!
Also she should start laying about 2-3 weeks after she has weaned the chicks!!