Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

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....

It sounds like you gave her eggs on 3 consecutive days? This would create a staggered hatch which can be problematic come hatch time. You can do a 'search this thread' for the phrase 'staggered hatch' to learn more about them.

 

[Alex1010]

How many more does she have to hatch?

6 but I doubt they're going to hatch

 

[Alex1010]

It sounds like you gave her eggs on 3 consecutive days? This would create a staggered hatch which can be problematic come hatch time. You can do a 'search this thread' for the phrase 'staggered hatch' to learn more about them.

I didn't I gave her all the eggs on the same day. It might just be that it's really cold outside

 

[microchick]

No, I gave her 5 eggs on Saturday afternoon as the hens laid them and an additional 2 on Sunday morning so they should all hatch pretty close to one another. I would have liked to have set more under her but I was giving her 'fresh' laid eggs over a 24 hour period of time to avoid the staggered hatching thingy.

We have to keep an eye on things as the other hens like to 'donate' eggs to her cause.

 

[the poppster]

I have a nest box with a cage attached to it...I can close off the box from the inside of the coop...and give the broody food and water in the cage...she can hear the other birds...but they can't get into her nest to add eggs or disturb her. I've used it for at least a half a dozen broody hens so far and haven't had any problems...the cage has a hinged lid, so I can keep it clean...and I put the food and water in cage dishes...they hang from the wire, so don't take up much room...every hen so far has settled in and hatched out her chicks...it also makes it easy to keep an eye on the eggs....once they have hatched I move Mom and chicks to a chicken tractor in the yard across from the main run...the birds get to know the newbies at a safe distance....until they are ready to start to mix with the flock.

 

[fisherlady]

No, I gave her 5 eggs on Saturday afternoon as the hens laid them and an additional 2 on Sunday morning so they should all hatch pretty close to one another. I would have liked to have set more under her but I was giving her 'fresh' laid eggs over a 24 hour period of time to avoid the staggered hatching thingy.

We have to keep an eye on things as the other hens like to 'donate' eggs to her cause.

Ok, I misunderstood the phrasing then... I just use a black sharpie and draw a circle around the center of each egg, then it is quick and easy to check for new donations. Ours do their sitting and hatching in the coop also most of the time, so checking daily for extras is needed.

 

[fisherlady]

I didn't I gave her all the eggs on the same day. It might just be that it's really cold outside

Alex, my post was directed to microchick... I remember yours were all set the same time.

 

[CherriesBrood]

How many more does she have to hatch?

6 but I doubt they're going to hatch

If you didn't give them all on the same day then they are probably not all going to hatch, she will start incubating them once you give them to her. Therefore some are more developed than others and will hatch sooner than others. Next time when you want a broody to hatch eggs store the eggs until you have enough you want to put under a hen, then they should all hatch the same day and she can raise them all. If you did give them all on the same day it might be some have died, some never developed or it could be that it's really cold outside and cause the eggs to hatch later.
Any more hatch this morning?

 

[Alex1010]

If you didn't give them all on the same day then they are probably not all going to hatch, she will start incubating them once you give them to her. Therefore some are more developed than others and will hatch sooner than others. Next time when you want a broody to hatch eggs store the eggs until you have enough you want to put under a hen, then they should all hatch the same day and she can raise them all. If you did give them all on the same day it might be some have died, some never developed or it could be that it's really cold outside and cause the eggs to hatch later.
Any more hatch this morning?

Just 3 and I gave them all in the same day. I candled all of them they were all viable. Could be the cold

 

[Alex1010]

Alex, my post was directed to microchick... I remember yours were all set the same time.

Lol sorry