Broody Hen Thread!

[llandry]

I have a hen who went broody and 2 days later a mallard duck who laid eggs under a bush in my yard hasn't come back to her nest to lay additional eggs in 3 days. I put the 5 eggs the duck laid under my broody hen. I can't wait to see if she'll hatch them!

 

[cbourbeau32]

That happens sometimes. Don't give up on the eggs. Candle them and see if they are showing movement or growth before you dump them. You don't want to throw away viable chicks.

How far along are the eggs? My hen will sometimes be off the nest for an hour or so, and the same thing happened with her. I suspect another hen was in there part of the time because the eggs went on to hatch.

I go against the common knowledge and leave the broodies in the coop until the last few days. I have 2 of them due in a week, and I'll be moving them to the chick coop (I have a smaller, portable coop) over the weekend.

Good luck with the hatch.

I started the eggs Tuesday so they've only been going less than 48 hours. I don't know if that helps or not.

Thanks, Charlie

 

[fisherlady]

I started the eggs Tuesday so they've only been going less than 48 hours. I don't know if that helps or not.

Thanks, Charlie

Since it is so early you can probably give them back to her for another 3 days or so and candle to see if they develop... if they don't then you can pitch them and start over with little harm. If the eggs aren't important in any particular way and you have more available then you can move her, let her settle and then give her new ones to start fresh with.

 

[sharol]

I started the eggs Tuesday so they've only been going less than 48 hours. I don't know if that helps or not.

Thanks, Charlie

In that case, you might want to get new eggs just to be safe. If it were me, I would wait until about day 5 or 6 and candle them. You will be able to tell if they are developing or not. By day 6 you should see increased darkness in the egg and some veining. There is an excellent article somewhere on this forum with images day by day for candeling. Just use a bright flashlight in a darkish room.

If I'm telling you what you already know, I apologize. I am anything BUT an expert in chickens.

 

[cbourbeau32]

Since it is so early you can probably give them back to her for another 3 days or so and candle to see if they develop... if they don't then you can pitch them and start over with little harm. If the eggs aren't important in any particular way and you have more available then you can move her, let her settle and then give her new ones to start fresh with.

I think that is my plan. I've got a coworker bringing me 4 eggs to work tomorrow. I got 2 today and with the 2-3 I get both tomorrow and Saturday that will give me about 10 eggs which is plenty for her as she's a little smallish. I candled several today and before I swap them out Saturday I'll candle the again as there should be significant development if they're still good. If so I'll keep them.

Thanks, Charlie

 

[B-Goock]

I can't get my broody to break. All she does is puff up like a basketball and look for a nest. I did get a message from heirloom orps so maybe my chicks will be on the way soon and I can slip them under her.

 

[Sonya9]

I think that is my plan. I've got a coworker bringing me 4 eggs to work tomorrow. I got 2 today and with the 2-3 I get both tomorrow and Saturday that will give me about 10 eggs which is plenty for her as she's a little smallish. I candled several today and before I swap them out Saturday I'll candle the again as there should be significant development if they're still good. If so I'll keep them.

Thanks, Charlie

Are you saying you plan to mix eggs that are a few days along in development with new eggs under the same hen?

 

[cbourbeau32]

Are you saying you plan to mix eggs that are a few days along in development with new eggs under the same hen?

No, sorry I didn't make myself clear. I'll save up 10 eggs to put under her if the eggs that have been under her don't show development by Saturday. If they don't I'll discard the old eggs and replace them.

Charlie

 

[aart]

Another thing to do with broody hens:
A nipple water bottle was attached to crate after pic was taken.
Thinking my little battery operated 'hot flash fan' might be another good addition to this set up

 

[fisherlady]

No, sorry I didn't make myself clear. I'll save up 10 eggs to put under her if the eggs that have been under her don't show development by Saturday. If they don't I'll discard the old eggs and replace them.

Charlie

sounds like a great plan!