First Broody Hatch Attempt.

[Below frigid]

First Broody hen we caught early and snapped her out of it. This is our second one she's an Easter Eggers 10 months old. She was too far gone to snap her out of it, so I purchased a dozen fertilized eggs and gave them to her. Thinking I maybe should of gave her less with temps down into the 30f range on some nights.No real cold nights since she got the eggs but it can get down to 20f. She is doing a great job so far day 3 is almost over! Do you think I may need some heat. Nothing real cold for at least the next week. She did not come out the first few days. Yesterday she jumped out when I cracked the door to check on her. She ate and drank a lot and took a dust bath. She was put into her current nesting spot at night in a hypnotic trance so she went back to her old spot. I just picked her up and moved her back to the new spot. She was angry when I picked her up but settled right in once I put her back on the new nest with the egg! Any thoughts or pointers? Do you think the eggs will hatch being winter? Just checked mid 30s to low 40fs temps for the next 10 days. Daytime 60-70. If I see it is going to get down in the 20f range the last week will I need supplemental heat? Will she be able to keep the chicks warm enough if they hatch? Thanks for any help. Laughing at myself being worried about a chicken. Don't tell anyone! Lol

 

[chuckachucka]

Im not too sure about this one because the lowest temps my broodies have sat through is mid thirties. Generally if the pullet is warm enough then the eggs and chicks should be too. Is her nest spot well insulated and free from drafts and damp? If so then my betting is most of the eggs will hatch ok.

You might find a few that have been set near the edges of the chicken's body will have been cooled and wont hatch, since you said there were a dozen. Also it is very likely that they will hatch a little late because of the low temperatures (maybe day 22).

If they hatch, they will be fine with the mother as long as they all fit snugly underneath her until they are feathered or the weather warms up. So if they take roughly five weeks to feather in, they will need to stay close to the mother for those weeks and you will probably find that there wont be room for all 12 (if 12 hatch) to stay warm enough under her, if the temps stay as low. Therefore you might need to provide some form of heat in the near future, depending on how many hatch and the weather in the coming weeks.

 

[song of joy]

A dozen eggs is a lot for cold-weather incubation. Be sure to candle around 7 days into incubation and remove any clear eggs so she has fewer to cover.

Also, make sure she can't get back to her old nest location.

 

[Below frigid]

Thanksfor your input. I'm sort of surprised how well she spreads out over the eggs. Its actually warmer than normal for almost January 75 today. I just have a feeling that temperature is going to plunge the last week. We did have 18 a week or so ago. Fingers crossed!

 

[Below frigid]

Sort of counting on some of them not hatching, lol, being my first time doing this. Of course my wife wants them all to hatch! She definitely has them all covered and is turning them often.

 

[WVduckchick]

Just keep her in a place free from cold drafts and possible predators or others that might bother her, she can handle the rest.

I also agree with candling around day 7 to pull clears. And hatch may be slightly delayed if it gets really cold.

Good luck!

 

[Below frigid]

Going to town to get a candler tomorrow. Never done it before but have seen pic's. Looks sort of hard to tell at 7 days?

 

[WVduckchick]

Going to town to get a candler tomorrow. Never done it before but have seen pic's. Looks sort of hard to tell at 7 days?

What breed/color eggs did you buy? White or light colored ones are usually easiest to see into, but dark ones can be candled too. Get a flashlight with the highest lumens you can find. 200-250+ usually works well. Candle straight into the fat end, where the air cell is. Look for redness and blood vessels that look like spider webs. Here's what i did to my flashlight, just wrapped some craft foam around the top, with a small hole cut. Good for protecting the egg from bumps, and focuses the light beam. And an early candling pic

 

[Below frigid]

I bought a mixed dozen, easter, olive, maran, and ? How many days is that egg in the photo?

 

[WVduckchick]

I bought a mixed dozen, easter, olive, maran, and ? How many days is that egg in the photo?

That egg is actually at day 13, but typical of what you can see by day 7-10, sometimes sooner with lighter eggs. Olive and Marans are usually the toughest to see though, so you may have to wait longer, and look for the black dot of the eyeballs instead of seeing as much veins.
Brightest light and candling in good darkness will help.