Broody Hen Thread!

[Dmontgomery]

A couple weeks ago, I posted about Miss Ramin, our Banty hen going broody again. She hatched out her first set the first week of May. I did not realize she went broody again till the 12th of Aug., so on Sunday we moved her and the 12 of 20 eggs into the house. The 8 eggs that were around her were ice cold, and since I did not know how long they had been out, I tossed them. From my calculations, I expected chicks on Sept 2nd or 3rd. But the chicks had other plans, on Monday night I hear Peep Peep Peep, and a wet baby climbed out from under Mama. Tues, I see a dark gray chick with a off white chest, poked it's head out, and today a yellow chipmunk was peeking out of Mama's wing. Chick 1 is the black on - she is so tiny, could be Banty size. 8/29 Chick 2 is the gray with a off white chest. 8/30 Chick 3 is yellow and peeking out of Mama's wing. 8/31 9 more eggs to go. Chicks doing well, eating drinking, climbing over Mama and each other. Once she is done hatching out eggs, I will moved her to the oversize cardboard box. I was going to move her this week, before chicks started hatching. I had her in the oversize box for her first hatch in May, she never got off the eggs the whole time, not even to go potty in the far corner. This is her 5th hatch in 4 years, and she never moves off the nest. These are Ramin's chicks from May hatch. Nicole (banty size, feathered feet), Chubby (poofy head) That black chick is the big chick in front, in the grass. Baby Picture (L - R) Stormy, Starlight, Midnight Older Picture - Midnight (front), Starlight (left), Stormy (right)

My apologies to everybody else, but this last picture wins cutest babies of the week! And Miss Ramin is definitely in the running for best mama. Congratulations.

 

[Dmontgomery]

They are so adorable! My Lil'girl is sitting on 8 eggs that are hopefully OEGB eggs. At least I hope they are. Funny story. We have friends who have three OEGB hens and a little Platinum Winged OEGB rooster. They are old and these friends have been looking for younger  OEGB eggs as one of the old hens goes broody once a year. But it's hard to hatch infertile eggs. I told our friends that the next time I had a hen go broody, I'd do my best to find OEGB eggs for her to hatch and they could choose from fledglings if they wanted any. When Lil'girl went broody, I left three eggs from my girls under her and went to work knowing I had 24 hours to find OEGB eggs. I was lucking out until I remembered that more than once I had been driving by or stopped at one of our Amish neighbor's house and had seen a few diminutive roosters leading hens around and diminutive hens leading chicks around.  Desperate I drove down to his house. These are really nice people but I get such a kick out of them. I asked him about his chickens and well, yeah, a guy had given him a OEGB rooster because he wanted him to raise fighting birds for him but he didn't want to do that so he had this rooster and now they were mostly OEGB chickens........in the mean time his boy went into the barn and came out with 8 small white eggs that he gave me to. I couldn't say no. They were so happy to help me out. So I brought these little white jewels home and tucked them under Lil'girl who graciously settled herself down upon them. I had no idea how far along they were and started to feel a real surge of panic. So I candled at 6 days and saw that the air chamber was pretty much on line with my three eggs and pretty much where they should be at 6 days.

Lordy I hope fuzzy little OEGBs hatch out of those little white eggs in about two weeks.

Great story. Neighbors helping neighbors. I hope it all works out the way you want it to.

 

[Nksg75]

I have a question for those of you who purchase shipped eggs to put under Broody hen. How long did you let the eggs settle before placing them under your broody? I know the recommended amount is between eight hours to 24 hours to help with detached air cells. However that is usually recommended for people who are going to incubate them selves, and usually they keep them up right for most of the incubation. With a broody I don't have that option of keeping them Fat end up. I was thinking of letting them settle for 48 hours, double the recommended time. In the hopes that this might give the detached aircells a better chance to reattach . I realize it really depends on how badly the air cells are when they arrive, so Lets just assume that they are really bad.
How long do you let them settle with success? Do you wait till the aircells are completely solid, or just improved a bit, and not at wobbly?
Has anyone started incubation themselves to help with detached air cells and then placed them under your broody? If so what day of incubation did you place them under your hen ?
I have not ordered them yet nor is my hen broody yet, I just wanted to ask a question before that time came. My silkie hen is still rasing three chicks right now.
Thanks for any input

 

[Dmontgomery]

Henrietta's new babies.
Breakfast first

Nap time already

 

[nchls school]

I have a question for those of you who purchase shipped eggs to put under Broody hen. How long did you let the eggs settle before placing them under your broody? I know the recommended amount is between eight hours to 24 hours to help with detached air cells. However that is usually recommended for people who are going to incubate them selves, and usually they keep them up right for most of the incubation. With a broody I don't have that option of keeping them Fat end up. I was thinking of letting them settle for 48 hours, double the recommended time. In the hopes that this might give the detached aircells a better chance to reattach . I realize it really depends on how badly the air cells are when they arrive, so Lets just assume that they are really bad.
How long do you let them settle with success? Do you wait till the aircells are completely solid, or just improved a bit, and not at wobbly?
Has anyone started incubation themselves to help with detached air cells and then placed them under your broody? If so what day of incubation did you place them under your hen ?
I have not ordered them yet nor is my hen broody yet, I just wanted to ask a question before that time came. My silkie hen is still rasing three chicks right now.
Thanks for any input

I've let mine sit twenty-four hours before placing them under a broody hen. The results have varied; sometimes good and sometimes bad. I have used an incubator for a week then moved the eggs under a broody; but only because I had no broody when the eggs were delivered. There was no appreciable difference.

 

[slordaz]

I've let mine sit twenty-four hours before placing them under a broody hen. The results have varied; sometimes good and sometimes bad. I have used an incubator for a week then moved the eggs under a broody; but only because I had no broody when the eggs were delivered. There was no appreciable difference.

Each hen is going to be different according to my flock. I have one that we are going to hatch a few in the incubator and give her chicks, she doesn't have what ittakes to brood the eggs 21 days but might make a good surrogate as she's determined to have chicks to raise, she's looking good but won't come outta wanting to brood for nothing a week didn't phase her in the broody buster and she has been this way going on 4 months , her latest escapade was she was gonna steal the ducks babies as the BR she's been helping to take breaks isn't getting off next since yesterday or allowing her in, see if that helps calm he down and restore peace.

we interact quite a bit even though they free range so kinds know who our problems are. Painted the ones toes as the 3 buffs all look the same but 1 likes to escape to the neighbors yard she wants to nest over there lol.

 

[Nksg75]

Ok thanks. I may order 12 when time time comes and after the eggs rest put 1/2 under broody and 1/2 in incubator. If any develop in the incubator till day 10 or so, I will place them under the broody, and remove any eggs that are not developing under her.
Do you think letting the eggs rest 48 hours is overkill?

 

[RobandSue2]

When can I lift my girl up to see how things ar going? I have seen 5 out of the 11 hatch today...but the5th has been MIA since sh/he fist appearance...
Will I harm the process if I simply pick my hen up and look underneath?

Candled the eggs and worried on or two may not make it and do not want the "worse case scenario"

She recently did a hoody poop too in the nesting box so want o clean that up...

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

I don't think you would hurt in the process. But be very gentle with those eggs

 

[carlf]

I picked my broody hen up almost every day. She fussed but didn't otherwise bother her.