First Time Broody - Progression Post

[cluckingheck]

So, I became a first time chicken tender back in March of this year and one of my hens ( still technically a pullet. She’s 31 weeks old ) went broody 4-5 days ago. She was only sitting on a golf ball at first and hadn’t laid in those days, so when I was sure she was broody, I put 5 eggs under her but one disappeared yesterday and she only has 4 now ( what could’ve happened to it?). Nelly has been sitting on them for 3 days now and I was just wanting to make this post because I’m really excited about it despite her having bad timing.

I put tarps up to block the drafts from getting into the coop and her nesting box so the coop will stay warmer as colder weather approaches. I’d appreciate any advice for helping her through her first hatch with winter coming.They should be due around Nov. 21st and she’s currently still in a main coop with 19 other chickens.

 

[sourland]

Good luck. Limit access to the nest so that other hens do not disturb her.

 

[cluckingheck]

Good luck. Limit access to the nest so that other hens do not disturb her.

How would I go about doing that? Should I move her to a separate area?

 

[cluckingheck]

so, one of Nelly’s eggs was cracked when I checked on her today. I hadn’t moved her by herself yet, so I don’t know if she pecked it, one of the other chickens did, or it got cracked in a sort of standoff with another hen. The other 3 were fine. I moved her to the brooder, so she won’t be bothered by anyone else. If another egg ends up cracked again, then I’ll assume Nelly is doing it deliberately. I don’t have an incubator yet or anything to do repairs, so I went ahead and cracked it open the rest of the way to see if they’re developing like they should for day 5. The heart was beating ( which caught me off guard, I figured it would’ve been dead due to the crack in the shell ) and the embryo looked like it had been forming properly. It’s a shame, but I guess stuff like that happens sometimes.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

It was likely the other hens jostling for position in her nestbox that cracked her egg. The embryo was still alive because the membrane was intact, but bacteria would have penetrated the membrane eventually so u did right to toss it. Re the disappearing egg, if its already too cold for snakes, a rat could have removed her egg. Glad u moved her into her own private space. I have 3 cuckoo marans that are now 5 years old. Every single one has gone broody multiple times every year starting when they were pullets, & so have every single one of their olive egger daughters & easter egger grandaughters. 100% broodiness & obviously inherited. I tell people who want broody hens to try cuckoo marans from privett hatchery! If your broody is setting on her own eggs, any girls from those eggs will likely b future broodys too. Good luck & have fun with your hatch!

 

[cluckingheck]

It was likely the other hens jostling for position in her nestbox that cracked her egg. The embryo was still alive because the membrane was intact, but bacteria would have penetrated the membrane eventually so u did right to toss it. Re the disappearing egg, if its already too cold for snakes, a rat could have removed her egg. Glad u moved her into her own private space. I have 3 cuckoo marans that are now 5 years old. Every single one has gone broody multiple times every year starting when they were pullets, & so have every single one of their olive egger daughters & easter egger grandaughters. 100% broodiness & obviously inherited. I tell people who want broody hens to try cuckoo marans from privett hatchery! If your broody is setting on her own eggs, any girls from those eggs will likely b future broodys too. Good luck & have fun with your hatch!

That’s what I’m leaning towards because Nelly was in the favored nesting box ( they had 5 other boxes to pick from, but that one was the favorite ). She definitely had to push some of the other hens out a few times when she was off to get food & water.

I wish i had gotten down to the coop faster to let them out, it seemed like the crack in the egg happened recently. Eh, that’s what my cousin said when I told him. There wasn’t much I could do. Hopefully she doesn’t lose anymore eggs, but if there’s a rat problem? That’s going to be hard to avoid. Could it have been possible one of the other hens rolled it out of the box?

Anyways, I was kind of surprised she went broody. I figured Miss Prissy, my black australorp hen, would’ve been the first one. I just wish I caught what was going on sooner, Nelly stopped laying a few days before she went broody and was only laying on a golf ball. She’s my only Barred Plymouth Rock hen. The eggs she’s sitting on are from different hens. The dark brown ones are from my ISA Browns and the light colored ones were from either my black sex-link or black australorps. If she goes broody again in the spring, I’ll make sure to have her eggs & maybe make sure my BR roo mates her. The eggs now are kind of a test run and the chicks will definitely be a barnyard mix. Who knows who the dads are — there’s 5 to pick from lol

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Hi again. Yes it is possible another hen rolled it away, & heres hoping it was that and not a rat. If u decide it is a rat problem, a private space (wire dog crate, etc) wrapped in 1/2" hardware cloth will keep them out. (And if it was a rat bold enough to take her egg, it will also eat her chicks). And oops sorry about the cuckoo marans dissertation. I wasnt sure if she was barred rock or cuckoo marans, & after looking at her coloring decided on cuckoo. But i dont have any barred rocks so not a good eye for the difference in barring. My bad!

 

[cluckingheck]

Hi again. Yes it is possible another hen rolled it away, & heres hoping it was that and not a rat. If u decide it is a rat problem, a private space (wire dog crate, etc) wrapped in 1/2" hardware cloth will keep them out. (And if it was a rat bold enough to take her egg, it will also eat her chicks). And oops sorry about the cuckoo marans dissertation. I wasnt sure if she was barred rock or cuckoo marans, & after looking at her coloring decided on cuckoo. But i dont have any barred rocks so not a good eye for the difference in barring. My bad!

so! she’s been in the brooder for 3 days so far and nothing else has happened to her remaining eggs. to me, that points all the blame of the cracked egg & missing egg to the other hens pestering her. the chickens can still see her, but they can’t get to her now and I’m hoping there isn’t anymore issues. this is day 9 — 12 more days until they hatch.

 

[cluckingheck]

i candled the eggs today and took pictures of only a couple because i was afraid of dropping them.

this one is on day 5. i put it under her to replace the one that got cracked by the other hens.

this one is on day 10. sorry for the shaky picture, i didn’t know it was like that and i had already put the egg back under Nelly. Though, the only question I had about it concerns the air pocket. I know it’s in the right end, but is being at that angle okay?

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

I think the air pocket is ok; ive had many that looked similiar and hatched fine. Slightly odd angles seem to self-correct as the chick grows. But im not an "air pocket" expert, so someone else may give more input. I had wondered if u would give her more eggs after the one got cracked. But i assume u r aware a 5 day difference in hatching is too long to make the first chicks wait? But is an issue u can work around, & i wont add more info for now unless u werent aware/didnt have plan re how to deal with 5 day hatching difference.