First time with a broody- hatch day is here-not sure what to do?!!??

[chickenreferee]

I am so disappointed. Still nothing. No pips, no peeps. I feel sorry for Ida. Looking for some day olds now so she can at least have some sort of pay off for sitting so long. I may bring the eggs in when I find some babies, but right now I am more interested in Ida not getting dehydrated or loosing too much weight because she won't leave the nest. Oh well. Still thankful for everyone's help! And now that I have the incubating bug.........hehehe

 

[Soap Junkie]

I am so disappointed. Still nothing. No pips, no peeps. I feel sorry for Ida. Looking for some day olds now so she can at least have some sort of pay off for sitting so long. I may bring the eggs in when I find some babies, but right now I am more interested in Ida not getting dehydrated or loosing too much weight because she won't leave the nest. Oh well. Still thankful for everyone's help! And now that I have the incubating bug.........hehehe

You said that you were not sure when she started to sit on them, are you sure that you are that far past your date? I just hate to have them be good but you had your dates wrong. Can you candle them to see?
Also you said she was panting, I have only seen them do that when it was hot out, but has she been eating and drinking? Has she been off the eggs at all? I guess I am an old die hard, and I still have hope for your chickies! I still have my fingers crossed for you! Have you taken her off the eggs?

 

[chickenreferee]

Crap. Ya'll are going to think I'm an idiot (if you don't already). I am off a whole stinkin' week. I was out of town the weekend before she started sitting and had the wrong dates in my head. It looks like they aren't due until next Sunday/Monday/Tuesday- somewhere in there. It looks like we're only on day 16 or so. She got up and turned the eggs yesterday, I guess that should have clued me in that something was wrong with my dates. I feel so embarrassed. Hope I am not misinterpreting the egg candling too.

I'm still concerned that she isn't getting off the nest to poop. Nothing in at least 5 days and she has eaten maybe 1/4 cup of feed or so over the last 3 days....Should I pick her up off the nest and set her down so she has to walk a few steps back to it?

I'm so sorry again. I don't mean to be a pest, I just got over zealous and should have checked a calendar first.

 

[Soap Junkie]

Crap. Ya'll are going to think I'm an idiot (if you don't already). I am off a whole stinkin' week. I was out of town the weekend before she started sitting and had the wrong dates in my head. It looks like they aren't due until next Sunday/Monday/Tuesday- somewhere in there. It looks like we're only on day 16 or so. She got up and turned the eggs yesterday, I guess that should have clued me in that something was wrong with my dates. I feel so embarrassed. Hope I am not misinterpreting the egg candling too.

I'm still concerned that she isn't getting off the nest to poop. Nothing in at least 5 days and she has eaten maybe 1/4 cup of feed or so over the last 3 days....Should I pick her up off the nest and set her down so she has to walk a few steps back to it?

I'm so sorry again. I don't mean to be a pest, I just got over zealous and should have checked a calendar first.

Oh, I am so glad to hear that!!! So we still can have chickies! I take mine off every couple of days if she doesnt do it herself. I leave everything open and she runs around for a few minutes and then goes right back on the eggs. That is so cool, we are due the same time! Mine are due this sunday, 06/10/12. Good luck!

 

[chickenreferee]

Oh, I am so glad to hear that!!! So we still can have chickies! I take mine off every couple of days if she doesnt do it herself. I leave everything open and she runs around for a few minutes and then goes right back on the eggs. That is so cool, we are due the same time! Mine are due this sunday, 06/10/12. Good luck!

Yes! Hopefully we will still have chickies! (Despite Ida's crazy human.)

Just went an aggravated her off the nest for a minute. No poo, but I will try again until we get too close to hatch. Good luck to you as well! So cool!

 

[bobbi-j]

Personally, I'd just let her be. She's not burning any calories, so she's not going to eat much. Looks like you have water near her, so she has access to that. How do you know she's not getting off the nest to poop? She could be getting up when you're not watching her. Also, if she's not eating much, there's not going to be much to come out. I know, people talk about the big broody poops, but just because you don't see it doesn't mean she's not going somewhere. When hatching time gets closer, leave her alone. As in, don't be sticking your hand under her, don't be sticking your head close to her to listen for peeping, don't be taking her off the nest to poop. Just let her be. They were designed for this. This is the advantage of an incubator - you can sit there all day and all night and watch if you'd like. (I know this - I've done it!

) With a broody, you have to wait patiently for the chicks to hatch and for her to take them off the nest before you know what you've got. OK, you probaby don't HAVE to, but your broody will be much happier if you do. They really don't like to be pestered. That's why they peck at you - they're telling you to go away.

 

[chickenreferee]

Personally, I'd just let her be. She's not burning any calories, so she's not going to eat much. Looks like you have water near her, so she has access to that. How do you know she's not getting off the nest to poop? She could be getting up when you're not watching her. Also, if she's not eating much, there's not going to be much to come out. I know, people talk about the big broody poops, but just because you don't see it doesn't mean she's not going somewhere. When hatching time gets closer, leave her alone. As in, don't be sticking your hand under her, don't be sticking your head close to her to listen for peeping, don't be taking her off the nest to poop. Just let her be. They were designed for this. This is the advantage of an incubator - you can sit there all day and all night and watch if you'd like. (I know this - I've done it!

) With a broody, you have to wait patiently for the chicks to hatch and for her to take them off the nest before you know what you've got. OK, you probaby don't HAVE to, but your broody will be much happier if you do. They really don't like to be pestered. That's why they peck at you - they're telling you to go away.

Guilty! haha I have really been stressing. I was only concerned about the pooping and eating because for the first half of incubation she had been doing both- her poops were HUGE. She has been confined to a smaller area away from the other hens and I've seen no poop, hence why I figured she hasn't gone.

Thanks for the encouragement and advice bobbi-j. I'm trying to not pester everyone here to death, I just want them to hatch sooooo bad. Like me messing with her will make them hatch faster.

I'm going to be pretty busy the next few days which is probably for the best. No time to pester Ida or listen for chicks....or stick my hands under her.....or take her off the nest.....now that I know better I will just STOP.

I'm so appreciative of everyone here. Ya'll are awesome.

 

[bobbi-j]

It is hard to wait, isn't it? I love having a broody do the hatching, but like I said before, I'm glued to the incubator when I'm using it! That's the most frustrating part of having a broody - I can't watch the eggs hatch! Don't worry about "pestering" everyone here. If people didn't want to read your posts and help out, they wouldn't be here. I've found the majority of people here on BYC to be quite helpful and encouraging. Happy hatching!

 

[sumi]

Crap. Ya'll are going to think I'm an idiot (if you don't already). I am off a whole stinkin' week. I was out of town the weekend before she started sitting and had the wrong dates in my head. It looks like they aren't due until next Sunday/Monday/Tuesday- somewhere in there. It looks like we're only on day 16 or so. She got up and turned the eggs yesterday, I guess that should have clued me in that something was wrong with my dates. I feel so embarrassed. Hope I am not misinterpreting the egg candling too.

I'm still concerned that she isn't getting off the nest to poop. Nothing in at least 5 days and she has eaten maybe 1/4 cup of feed or so over the last 3 days....Should I pick her up off the nest and set her down so she has to walk a few steps back to it?

I'm so sorry again. I don't mean to be a pest, I just got over zealous and should have checked a calendar first.

Haha, well that explains it! I was wondering if those little ones are ever going to hatch! Well, I'm glad to hear every things on track.
Like Bobbi-j said, she's probably doing her poops somewhere you can't see them. As long as she's eating and drinking she'll be fine. My broodies also eat very little and sometimes they go for 3 days without leaving the nest.
BTW Ida's gorgeous!

 

[chickenreferee]

It is hard to wait, isn't it? I love having a broody do the hatching, but like I said before, I'm glued to the incubator when I'm using it! That's the most frustrating part of having a broody - I can't watch the eggs hatch! Don't worry about "pestering" everyone here. If people didn't want to read your posts and help out, they wouldn't be here. I've found the majority of people here on BYC to be quite helpful and encouraging. Happy hatching!

Oh it IS SO SO very hard to wait, and worse since I can't see them hatch- you're right! I've started looking at incubators now....I think the madness has only just begun! lol I'm thinking duck eggs would be fun to hatch....and since I only have three ducks anyway.....