Broody Hen Thread!

[hokankai]

You can candle now if you'd like. My eggs are blue so I waited until day 10 to actually see something. You should see something at day 7 though

 

[Jocasta]

You should be able to see plenty of veining at the seven day mark so go ahead and candle them now

I've got a broody hen (9 month old black orpington) although I've cheated a little. She went broody so I gave her four of the eggs out of the incubator. They are due to hatch on Friday night/Saturday morning. She's an unproven broody so I guess it's just a case of fingers crossed!

Will hopefully get a photo tomorrow

 

[schellie69]

I tried candling last year I could not see anything so I think I will just wait and see. I am so hoping for a good hatch. This is her 1st time broody and only my 2nd broody I love this. All my chicks will be barnyard mixes. I have a mixed Cochin bantam rooster over 2 BR, 2 BA, 2 barnyard mixes, 1 BO, 1 red sex link and 1 black sex link I am not sure which eggs are under her except none are her's I do have the other barnyard mix under her but not sure which others are under her. Guess I will have to wait and see. My rooster does look like a bantam BA with feathered feet.

 

[new chick 203]

Do I need to move her to her own place? I have a tiny coop, so isolation means she has to go live in the garage or something. So far it's been OK, but I just have no idea what happens when the chicks happen. Do we let mama raise them or take them to a brooder box? So confused!

 

[FarmerBoy24]

Quote:
I ussualy seperate my broodies for 3 reasons 1.) To give them privacy 2.) When she gets off her nest to get feed and water her eggs won't get disturbed 3.) So she goes back to the nest box with the eggs.

I LOVE YOUR AVATAR!!!! I WANT IT!!!!

 

[Jocasta]

Pretty much the only reason I separate my broody is because the other hens will lay in her nest and the actual fertile eggs could end up getting kicked out. I don't have a roo so none of the other eggs would be fertile and I wouldn't want a staggard hatch anyway.

 

[Jocasta]

My broody black Orpington Beatrice

She's sitting on one ross cob (only surviver of 12 shipped eggs grr!), and three barnyard mixes.

 

[FarmerBoy24]

Quote:
She looks like she has some gold to her. Is that a GLW?

 

[new chick 203]

Quote:
I ussualy seperate my broodies for 3 reasons 1.) To give them privacy 2.) When she gets off her nest to get feed and water her eggs won't get disturbed 3.) So she goes back to the nest box with the eggs.

I LOVE YOUR AVATAR!!!! I WANT IT!!!!

Thanks.
Do you let the mama raise them or take them away? this seems to be a point of contention between broody owning people. I want the pros and cons please.

 

[Jocasta]

Quote:
She looks like she has some gold to her. Is that a GLW?

Whats a GLW? I'm not great with chicken breed acronyms lol. I got her as a hatching egg and I'm pretty sure she's a black Orpington. Photos on google show that some have some gold to them. Although to be fair, I've never had orpingtons before her so who knows? Lol.