Broody Hen's are eye opening to hatching

[RoosterDon]

I used to worry so much about following the directions exactly to how the incubators called for, and was constantly searching and reading in this forum about every step of every day of the incubation.

Then I had my first hen go broody. I was so worried when the eggs were exposed while she left. LOL. They were exposed to very hot weather and very cold weather (have had several broody's now. And mother nature takes care of those chicks during those 19-23 days.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

Totally agree; my phoenix hen went broody on the 19th day of my first hatch EVER! (In a brinsea eco 20) I didn't choose to get some eggs for her until my eggs were at the most agonizing day... day 21. I was so stressed about my own brood of chicks hatching that I had not a single worry about giving her some eggs of her own. So yesterday I acquired some eggs from a family member and placed them in front of her pancaked little body and she tucked them underneath and made a happy little sound to her new children haha. Seeing how sure that little chicken was helped ease my mind a bit on my own hatch. She was actually so determined that I had to forcibly remove her from the nest the second day to get some water, food and a little poop break. I am super curious about what her foster chicks will look like, they are EE X Gold Laced Polish... Imagine how cute those guys are gonna be!

 

[JaeG]

I too have just hatched chicks under a broody hen. I was amazed at how, even when eggs were pipping my girl was still getting off for breaks, rearranging her pipping eggs constantly (not gently!) and I was really amazed at how fast the babies dried off under a broody mum. I think they are quieter too. I have 2 older chicks I bought off the lady I had got my eggs from (my daughter really wants a frizzle) and they have been adopted by the 12 week old d'uccle pullet I had got from her also. Those 2 chicks chatter a lot more than those hatched under my broody.

 

[BzosChickie4971]

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[BzosChickie4971]

 

[Braxton Brigade]

My poor broody gal was setting on infertile eggs... so as her loving (yes I love this particular bird haha) chicken caregiver I shall try to find her some fertile eggs. I am thinking about some BBS Ameruacanas from a lady I know with some nice birds.