Broody Hen Thread!

[sharol]

Actually, I stupidly let her nest in an outside nesting box. She refused to brood anywhere else, so we gave in and let her stay where she wanted to be. Thought it was secure, but the skunk actually tore the latch off the front of the nesting box. It got in with her and was trapped by the door (hinged at the top). It bit her repeatedly and possibly broke her neck in the scuffle. I hate learning lessons at the expense of a life (numerous lives, as it also ate all her eggs).

All of our other broodys are secured in raised coops and the ramps are taken down at night. Small comfort at this point, but I am dedicated to learning ho to care for chickens in this predator laden environment.

Not to sound hysterical, but if you touched any of the skunk's saliva or body fluids, you need to talk to your doctor. Many skunks carry rabies, and if there is ANY chance you contacted his/her fluids, you are at risk. Any chance you killed the skunk?

 

[yyz0yyz0]

So today is day 23 for my broody sitting on the eggs. I have one chick hatched, it is soooo cute.

She is still sitting on the other eggs, how long to I wait before getting rid of the unhatched eggs?

 

[aart]

So today is day 23 for my broody sitting on the eggs. I have one chick hatched, it is soooo cute.

She is still sitting on the other eggs, how long to I wait before getting rid of the unhatched eggs?

Wait until she get off the nest with the chick(s).....
........could be everything's just running a little late and more will hatch.

 

[sharol]

So today is day 23 for my broody sitting on the eggs. I have one chick hatched, it is soooo cute.

She is still sitting on the other eggs, how long to I wait before getting rid of the unhatched eggs?

I'd candle them. If you haven't candled, you can tell if they have developed. I've had eggs hatch at 25 days (in an incubator with unreliable temps). I would probably leave them til mom abandons them if they were developing and don't stink.

 

[rainydayzjmb]

I incubated my blue laced red Wyandotte hen last summer and now it's her turn to do the incubating as a broody mamma. She has 4 tolbunt Polish eggs and 6 mille de fleur D Uccle eggs. Candles at 7 days and everyone is developing nicely under mamma

 

[StarMeKritten]

I incubated my blue laced red Wyandotte hen last summer and now it's her turn to do the incubating as a broody mamma. She has 4 tolbunt Polish eggs and 6 mille de fleur D Uccle eggs. Candles at 7 days and everyone is developing nicely under mamma

Exciting! I have a BLRW hen sitting on eggs right now too. They are due to hatch 7-8. One of my other blrw hens is raising chicks that are about 2 weeks old now. They have been good little moms.

 

[alibabba]

My Red Sex-link hen hatched out 7 adorable chicks! So far, she is fiercely protective, attacking anything that could possible cause harm, including a stationary broom propped up against a wall. I think I may end up abandoning my incubator! My hen makes a much better chicken momma than me!

Brooms are very very dangerous! Ha ha ha!

 

[alibabba]

I incubated my blue laced red Wyandotte hen last summer and now it's her turn to do the incubating as a broody mamma. She has 4 tolbunt Polish eggs and 6 mille de fleur D Uccle eggs. Candles at 7 days and everyone is developing nicely under mamma

Hmmm, D'Uccles and Tolbunts...we have the same taste in chickens....

 

[alibabba]

So today is day 23 for my broody sitting on the eggs. I have one chick hatched, it is soooo cute.

She is still sitting on the other eggs, how long to I wait before getting rid of the unhatched eggs?

just a ?

Did you start all of the eggs on the same day?

 

[alibabba]

Oh the excitement over here is brewing! Chicks due to hatch anytime Monday-Wednesday! I did read sometimes eggs under a broody hatch day 20? So maybe even Sunday? I went into the coop late last night and tried my hand at candling. I could definitely see veining, in some of the light brown eggs I thought I saw movement (the maran and easter egger eggs were much harder to see into!) They are definitely full looking other than an air pocket. Hoping everything is going well. All my current eggs are now infertile so while I wasn't ever planning on hatching eggs I am rather excited now. I brought my 9 year old into the coop with me to see me candling and she just loved it. I told her it was like a chicken ultrasound lol

It is just like ultrasound! ETA: and I am sooo hooked! I candled alot, washed hands, used a rug under(in case I dropped) and dark blanket over my head LOL. Sooo cool. And they all hatched fine.

My green eggs were very dense and hard to see into also. From my "one time" experience. Don't throw anything out, unless it's a clear...yolker...( I still waited 10-12 days to ditch those) or really obvious blood ring?

the green eggs that maybe possibly had something in them (air cell and dark blobs) hatched right on time with the others.