Broody Hen

[arrienwilliams]

Hi everyone! I am the proud owner of four amazing silkies: 2 roosters and 2 hens. I've had them since they were about a week old and now they are nearing one year! About three weeks ago, my hen, Ronda, started to go broody. It was so exciting because I've been wanting chicks for awhile but I didn't want to buy an incubator, I'd rather have the chickens hatch the eggs naturally. The reason I'm posting this is because it's been more than 21 days...I'd say it's been around 25 days and I'm getting worried... I've seen the roos jump on top of the hens many many times so the eggs should be fertilized right? Ronda's been doing a great job, she sits on them all day and night except to get up once early in the morning to eat and drink. Oh that reminds of another question, I thought broody hens were supposed to get up several times during the day to eat and drink, since she only eats once a day she has lost a lotttt of weight. Is this normal? Anyways, I've checked the eggs every day for the past couple days to check for possible emerging chicks...but no such luck. One egg has a straight crack about a centimeter long on it and another one has a big dent on it (like if you take a hardboiled egg and bang on something hard to start peeling it). Could these be possible viable chicks or did Ronda accidentally step on them or something? So many questions, but I'm worried and I haven't really found any useful info on the internet about this.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Before a hen even starts to lay eggs she builds up excess fat, mostly in her vent area called a fat pad, but other places in her body too. This is pretty much what she lives on while she is broody. Most of the weight loss you see should just be her using up this excess fat.

I’ve had a broody hen leave her nest twice a day and stay off for over an hour each time. I’ve had a broody hen come off her nest once a day for about 15 minutes, then rush back. They use these trips to eat, drink, take a dust bath, and poop. A broody hen holds it so she does not poop in her nest. I’ve had many broody hens that I never see off the nest but they do get off when I’m not watching. Otherwise they’d poop in their nest. Don’t worry about her losing weight or not getting off much. They can handle it.

Those dents and cracks should be the chicks pipping. That’s where they peck holes in the shell so they can come out. Hopefully you should have some good news very soon. It’s also possible the hen did damage those eggs, especially if they are pretty thin-shelled. It’s hard to be sure without being there to look at them.

It’s not that unusual for eggs to be a day or two early or late, even under a broody but 25 days is stretching it. Next time try to write down on the calendar when she started so you can count the days better. That could help you make decisions.

Good luck!

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

If any of the eggs have cracks or dents, they are not going to be viable. Sometimes broodies do step on or crack the eggs. You might try to candle the eggs to see if anything is growing in them. We have a couple articles in our learning center on how to candle eggs...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/candling-pics-progression-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-egg-candler-using-common-household-materials

I do hope you possibly have some late hatchers. But if you don't get any chicks this time, I surely hope you eventually do.

Welcome to our flock!

 

[gander007]

Hi everyone! I am the proud owner of four amazing silkies: 2 roosters and 2 hens. I've had them since they were about a week old and now they are nearing one year! About three weeks ago, my hen, Ronda, started to go broody. It was so exciting because I've been wanting chicks for awhile but I didn't want to buy an incubator, I'd rather have the chickens hatch the eggs naturally. The reason I'm posting this is because it's been more than 21 days...I'd say it's been around 25 days and I'm getting worried... I've seen the roos jump on top of the hens many many times so the eggs should be fertilized right? Ronda's been doing a great job, she sits on them all day and night except to get up once early in the morning to eat and drink. Oh that reminds of another question, I thought broody hens were supposed to get up several times during the day to eat and drink, since she only eats once a day she has lost a lotttt of weight. Is this normal? Anyways, I've checked the eggs every day for the past couple days to check for possible emerging chicks...but no such luck. One egg has a straight crack about a centimeter long on it and another one has a big dent on it (like if you take a hardboiled egg and bang on something hard to start peeling it). Could these be possible viable chicks or did Ronda accidentally step on them or something? So many questions, but I'm worried and I haven't really found any useful info on the internet about this.

Well how is everything going with your Silkies ????

And are you finding your way around BYC alright

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Bes wishes with your broody!

 

[Duckopolis]

Good luck with your poultry raising adventures, and I hope you find everything you need to know. Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions! There is always something new to learn! Glad to have you here! See you around with the flock.

 

[drumstick diva]

Two roosters to two hens is to many. One rooster can handle 10 hens - a lot less and the girls get overbred, sometimes to the point of damage. Young broodies are just learning the ropes and may be too rough/careless with eggs and break them.

If your broody doesn't leave the nest you have to put her out 2 or 3 times a day, so she will eat , drink and poo. Broody hens are often so determined they will literally starve themselves to death if you don't see that they go out to eat.

There is lots of good information available in the various forums. Young roosters will try and breed everything but, their technique may fall short of completion. If they were not doing their job properly the eggs may not have been fertilized.