Broody Hen Thread!

[Alex1010]

Quote:
My first hatch was incubated, and they took 25 days (BUT, my thermostat was off a degree so they were just a trifle too cold). Last year my first time broody left the nest with her first hatchling. I put the other 8 eggs in the incubator, and 7 of them hatched. The first one was a fluke who hatched on day 19 and the others hatched a couple of days later. She wouldn't take them, so they had to be raised in a brooder (what a pain), but the upside is that they are really tame.

Yeah except I'm not using a incubator inn scared she's going to get up and let the eggs freeze

 

[sharol]

Yeah except I'm not using a incubator inn scared she's going to get up and let the eggs freeze

I hear that. It is a risk with winter hatches. Just let her keep the eggs until she comes off the nest. You could try putting them under a heat lamp, but temps are hard to regulate.

Sometimes nature just has to take its course (however much we want to fight it.)

 

[Alex1010]

I hear that.  It is a risk with winter hatches.  Just let her keep the eggs until she comes off the nest.  You could try putting them under a heat lamp, but temps are hard to regulate.

Sometimes nature just has to take its course (however much we want to fight it.)

I'm hoping there will be more when I get home

 

[Alex1010]

Got home to another one and the hen has gotten up with them I'm scared the eggs are going to get cold

 

[fisherlady]

Got home to another one and the hen has gotten up with them I'm scared the eggs are going to get cold

If she has gotten up then you can candle and move viable ones to an improvised incubator box...

 

[Alex1010]

If she has gotten up then you can candle and move viable ones to an improvised incubator box...

she got on them back within a minute she's staying on the nest

 

[CherriesBrood]

If she has gotten up then you can candle and move viable ones to an improvised incubator box...

she got on them back within a minute she's staying on the nest

Good to hear! Hens will typically abandone the nest after 24 hours from when the first one hatched. Some will stay on it longer some won't. It just depends on the hen, and if she feels she needs to start raising the chicks that have already hatched.

 

[Alex1010]

Good to hear! Hens will typically abandone the nest after 24 hours from when the first one hatched. Some will stay on it longer some won't. It just depends on the hen, and if she feels she needs to start raising the chicks that have already hatched.

Yeah I'll keep an eye on her. Tomorrow is going to be the last day they have a possibility of hatching

 

[CherriesBrood]

Good to hear! Hens will typically abandone the nest after 24 hours from when the first one hatched. Some will stay on it longer some won't. It just depends on the hen, and if she feels she needs to start raising the chicks that have already hatched.

Yeah I'll keep an eye on her. Tomorrow is going to be the last day they have a possibility of hatching

How many more does she have to hatch?

 

[microchick]

We are on day 2. Not that we are counting days or anything....

But it's just amazing to realize that if our girl's eggs are fertile, (if they aren't I know 4 roosters that are going to be wearing boxer shorts instead of tighty whities) that there are little hearts already beating in those eggs.

The last three days since Aggie started incubating her eggs, the other hens aren't laying worth a darn. We were getting 7-9 eggs a day. The day Aggie started brooding there were 6, 5 she has tucked under her and one I brought in. Then yesterday, we got two eggs that also went under Aggie, and then today, another two. Co-incidental? Maybe because she has her own Occupation set up in their favorite box? Anybody else had that happen when a hen went broody?

Congratulations on the additional chicks, Alex1010. Of course we are all eagerly waiting pictures....