Hens go broody when you don’t want them to… and won’t go broody when you do. 
tripleee
Songster
- Apr 30, 2020
- 84
- 123
- 101
A couple of weeks ago my favorite hen, Mumbles, flew the coop while I was at work and something got her. So I did what any logical, grieving, chicken mama would do and bought a new incubator, pulled all the eggs I had from her out of the refrigerator as well as 2 that were still in the coop and popped all 9 of them in the incubator. I knew it was a long shot but this hen was freaking awesome and I am so sad that she died. She was my first and only Olive Egger and the first chick I have ever had hatch from shipped eggs.
So I have been on pins and needles waiting to see what happens. On day 7 it looked like 6 were developing which was amazing. I didn't remove any, and as of day 14 (Monday) there was additional development in all of them!! Admittedly one looks like it might be a quitter but the shells are so incredibly dark that I am hesitant to pull it just in case.
So now today is day 17 and I am starting to turn into a nervous wreck. I can usually successful get quite a few eggs to lockdown but that is where they quit on me. Admittedly this is the first time I have incubated my own eggs instead of getting them shipped in, but with so many having been washed and refrigerated I am on pins and needles. It is also truly killing me that I can't see through the dang shells and am having to judge them off faint movements and/or how big the dark mass is.
Guess I just need good thoughts and a chill pill.
For funzies the chicks can be a whole pile of interesting. We have some pretty cold winters and I am just starting to get breeding trios together for the spring. The result was that this winter there was a ton of birds all living together until the weather got nice. So the boys are 2 cochins (buff cuckoo and a silver partridge whom was obsessed with her) Blue Silkie, Bielefelder, Cream Legbar (who I am desperately hoping sires one of the chicks since I got him for her in the first place), or a White Leghorn cross.
Don't have a lot of picture of Mumbles but here is one, shes the black hen next to the silkie, her baby picture, and then some of her pretty eggs.
So I have been on pins and needles waiting to see what happens. On day 7 it looked like 6 were developing which was amazing. I didn't remove any, and as of day 14 (Monday) there was additional development in all of them!! Admittedly one looks like it might be a quitter but the shells are so incredibly dark that I am hesitant to pull it just in case.
So now today is day 17 and I am starting to turn into a nervous wreck. I can usually successful get quite a few eggs to lockdown but that is where they quit on me. Admittedly this is the first time I have incubated my own eggs instead of getting them shipped in, but with so many having been washed and refrigerated I am on pins and needles. It is also truly killing me that I can't see through the dang shells and am having to judge them off faint movements and/or how big the dark mass is.
Guess I just need good thoughts and a chill pill.
For funzies the chicks can be a whole pile of interesting. We have some pretty cold winters and I am just starting to get breeding trios together for the spring. The result was that this winter there was a ton of birds all living together until the weather got nice. So the boys are 2 cochins (buff cuckoo and a silver partridge whom was obsessed with her) Blue Silkie, Bielefelder, Cream Legbar (who I am desperately hoping sires one of the chicks since I got him for her in the first place), or a White Leghorn cross.
Don't have a lot of picture of Mumbles but here is one, shes the black hen next to the silkie, her baby picture, and then some of her pretty eggs.
