First timer, any tips?

[andreanar]

This is Ethel, little bantam Cochin. Lowest in peck order and the only bantam in flock of 7. She's broody. I offered her 12 fertile eggs, LF Cochin and some mixes of black Cochin mother with a phoenix rooster. She took 8 and is sitting on them happy as a clam (why are clams happy? ).

Any how, she is in the coop and I have netted off her box and area with food and water available. Another hen kept kicking her off her nest, so that prob is now solved. I marked the eggs with pencil. Now I just have to wait I guess.

Ugh. How do you guys wait!? I keep going to look at her.

 

[PrettyChickens15]

What a cutie It is really hard waiting! sure you know this, but make sure she is getting fresh air at least one time a day. Also some broody moms are so devoted to their babies that they wont eat, drink or poop so just be sure she is doing those things.

 

[andreanar]

I'm just going to keep documenting her progress and any questions I might have on this thread.
Today is day 5 and she is still sitting fiercely.
I looked at some eggs with the flashlight and seen obvious veining in a few. I'll check again around day 10.
I bring her this little cut off paper cup with water and watered down food. It's so hot, I want to keep her hydrated.
Maybe ill mix some electrolytes in her water.

 

[MROO]

The waiting is definitely the hardest part! I have a Nankin bantam hen in what I hope are the final days of setting. By normal count, her eggs should hatch on or about this Friday. By the "eggs I stole from my sisters' nest" count, there may be some a few days later, if she doesn't give up, first. I candled them about a week ago, but it was the first time I'd ever done it and I don't really trust my skills, yet. I only saw four eggs that looked even close to viable. I'm hoping that some of the shadowy ones were the late starters. We'll see ...
I guess you and I ... and a whole raft of others in the same boat ... will just have to keep our fingers (feathers?) crossed together!

 

[KittyCat13]

She's very cute! Good luck with your hatch

Is she getting off the nest to eat and drink as well as you feeding and watering her on the nest? I've found it to be a good idea to encourage them off the nest to eat/drink as otherwise they will sometimes poop on the eggs, which isn't something you want them to do, especially as broody poops are huge!!

 

[andreanar]

She's very cute! Good luck with your hatch

Is she getting off the nest to eat and drink as well as you feeding and watering her on the nest? I've found it to be a good idea to encourage them off the nest to eat/drink as otherwise they will sometimes poop on the eggs, which isn't something you want them to do, especially as broody poops are huge!!

Yes, she gets off once a day usually

 

[andreanar]

Update... chicks due June 29. I candled this morning, 6 eggs growing nicely. And then...i dropped one! I'm so mad at myself, it cracked and started oozing. I'm not touching them again, only to look and check if they are hatching. I took some photos, they are graphic so don't keep scrolling if your squeamish.
I could see it still moving a little bit. I'm freaked out and disappointed in myself.

 

[C3 mommy]

It happens! Don't beat yourself up!! If I dropped one I don't think I'd be able to handle them again either! But good luck with the rest!!

 

[ldawntaylor]

I could see it still moving a little bit. I'm freaked out and disappointed in myself.

I think we all end up doing things like that. The more you handle eggs the more likely an accident like this can happen.

 

[andreanar]

I was trying to be too gentle and didn't grip it firmly enough. Ugh. It was a large fowl Cochin, and I really wanted that one to hatch!