First time Broody will hatch her babies this Sunday!

[mtnfam]

Hi everyone! I am so excited, I can barely stand it! I have a Buff Orp that is sitting on 6 eggs. Sunday is day 21. Her name is Gertie. She is a first time Mom and I am a first time chicken hatcher! We are almost there. I moved her last night at midnight to her secure and safe area (the dog kennel) inside the coop. She stayed put. That was a relief. I gave her food and water. Today was day 18 and she got out for a little while this evening and ate and drank. It is very warm here. Then she was back on the eggs. I believe the last 3 days she will remain on the nest and not get off? Not sure what to expect these last 3 days. I have read a lot about pipping, I am not sure what that is. Also I should just leave her be? Correct? Don't candle after 18 days and just let her do her job? Thanks for any advice. I am a bit nervous and excited all at the same time. I would be so happy to be able to have a least one live chick as a result. I want to post pictures when I figure out how to do it on this forum!

Teri

I have 26 chickens. 1 Silver Polish Roo, 1 Barred Rock Roo, 6 barred rock hens, 2 Buff orp hens, 5 pearl leghorns, 3 red leghorns, 1 partridge leghorn, 1 Columbian Wyandotte, 3 black australorps, 1 blue andalusian, 1 splash andalusian, 1 black Minorca!

 

[gumpsgirl]

That's exciting!!!

Make sure you offer her plenty to drink and food to eat, so she doesn't get dehydrated with (especially with the high heat) and can keep her strength up.

I wouldn't candle anymore either. Just leave mama and her eggs be, other than making sure mama gets off of her nest every morning or evening to stretch her legs and go poo up to day 20. She will need you to assist her in doing that, as she is locked in and won't be able to do it on her own.

A pip is when the chicks poke a hole in the shell with their beaks, like this. -

Then they zip, like this! -

I hope that helps and good luck to you and mama hen!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

If you are like me the urge to constantly check on mama is almost overwelming. LEAVE HER ALONE!

Yes, I know it's almost impossible to not pick up that hen when you hear those sweet little peeps under mama. You'll just have to sit on your hands. Maybe scream a little. Don't touch though!
Mama hen will do just fine all by herself. I never see pips when I have a broody on them. All of a sudden you just hear peeps and then tiny little heads pop out. It's magic!

I block mine off from the other chickens so that the babies are protected. I too put food and water in with the hen. Actually I put a chick feeder and waterer near mama. It won't hurt her to eat the (non-medicated) chick food and she can teach the early hatchers how to get to it while still sitting on the remaining eggs.

Good luck! YAY for your first hatch! It's like Christmas when those little heads pop out!!!

 

[Beau coop]

So exciting! Not that you asked, but let me share a bit of advise. I learned this the hard way with my broody.

DO NOT TOUCH THE EGGS!

I was so anxious to see a pip that I picked up an egg to look into it. The little beak was moving around in there. Nope, I didn't drop it. I put it back under mom. But I must have put it back the wrong way and suffocated the poor chick. Talk about feeling gulity.

Good luck to you and Gertie. Wait until you see that first little fluufy face poke out from under momma's wing!

 

[lauralou]

Your hen is so cute, with her comb flopping over! I have an Andalusian that looks like that when she's broody. Adorable!

Your first time broody will probably do just fine. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Chickens have been hatching eggs on their own since the dawn of time, and in my experience it's pretty rare to get one that doesn't do well.

The advice about putting food and water close enough for her to reach it from the nest is good advice. I like to do that, too. I move the bedding back and put in a board that will hold the chick feeder and waterer level and stable.

Then just let her do her thing. Next thing you know, you'll have cute little babies running around.

I'm very excited for you, and hope you have a successful hatch.

 

[mtnfam]

Thank you for the wonderful advice! Today I got home from work and she is sitting tight. I did put her food and water close, but it looks like it has not been touched. I am not worried though, up to this point she has eaten and drank each day. When I closed up the coop for the night and all the chickens were dark and quiet, I listened to my broody and I could hear a cheep, cheep! I think the eggs are cheeping! I was so excited! I was sitting there in the dark coop, kneeling in the straw with all the chicken roosting around me and listening to my eggs! Today was the completion of day 19. Tomorrow, day 20. I can't believe it is going to happen. My hubby is going to build me a special area for Mommy and chicks when they are all hatched, but for now she is safe inside her kennel and locked away from the others, however she does feel comfortable in the coop with the other chickens.

 

[crazy huhn]

I bet, you will have some babies tomorrow. Usually people say it takes 21 days for a chick to develop, but I experienced many times with a broody it often just takes 20 days. Leave water and feeder as you did and leave her alone. Show us some photos soon.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Yes. We will need lots and lots of pictures.

 

[mtnfam]

I just got home again from work today (Sat) and there are 4 little chickie heads poking out from under Gertie!! I am sooo excited! She still has two eggs under her, so hopefully tomorrow those will hatch! I will post pictures tomorrow as well. It is too dark here now! I ran from the coop into the house to announce that I had 4 fluffy chicks to my husband and son! Of course they had to come and see.....There are 3 fluff balls of white and one black fluff ball! Couldn't wait to share the news! Mine and Gertie's first hatch ever!

 

[drmeyes236]

Congrats on your and Gerties first hatch can't wait to see pictures!