Hatching Under a Broody Hen

[song of joy]

And count how many eggs are left.

Yes, that too. I'm just not used to finding unhatched eggs. I've been lucky enough to have 100% hatch rates so far when using broody hens.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

@EggSighted4Life what would you recommend to mark eggs with, if not pencil?

Edit to add: I'm looking at food coloring markers, would that be good?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I use a black Sharpie. It's permanent and does not wear off. Some people do not like to use a Sharpie or ink of any kind, afraid the fumes will somehow enter the egg and harm the embryo. Obviously I am not worried about that but some people are.

If you use a pencil I suggest a very soft-leaded pencil. I used pencils when I was a kid many decades ago. A hard-leaded pencil does not make a dark mark and can really be hard to see after it has spent time under the broody hen. When I used a pencil to mark then I laid the point sideways and made a wide dark band. A lot does wear off but it lasted long enough.

I even used a crayon once when I was a kid. The hatch rate was good then too. The egg shell is porous and air needs to enter the egg so the chick can breathe fresh air. You do not want to use something that will block too many of those open pores sot he chick suffocates. If you get too handy with a crayon you might plug enough of those pores to cause a problem but I'd suspect it would take a lot of coloring.

 

[WVduckchick]

Broodies "know"
Brother and sister were little helpers, I was lucky enough to capture pics from above.

 

[MageofMist]

My silkie hen left the nest for a toilet break both times she had a clutch pipping and hatching, leaving the humidity to drop and causing the membrane to start browning. So I had to put mine in the Incubator both times. First time, she rejected the chicks and so I raised them, but the second she rolled the offered chick back under herself like an egg and raised the 5 babies herself.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Hi! So it’s day 21 for most of the eggs under our broody Spitzhauben. I know that number is just an average for a incubator, so they might not hatch today, but I have a couple questions.... I guess I’m... asking if the rules for hatching under a broody hen are as strict as they are in an incubator?

The rules for hatching chicks under a hen are few. However they are much more strict than the rules that govern incubators. The most frequently rule violated is the rule that says, "Leave that hen alone" (up to a point) because hens and their ancestors have been hatching their own eggs for millions upon millions of years while Electric Incubators have only been on the scene for less than 150 of these years. I am probably as guilty as the next person about monkeying with a sitting hen and her unhatched eggs because the human tendency to play God when God is fearful to act is a hard human sin to resist.

With the one exception of gathering and storing your hatching eggs in a correct manner. all your monkeying around with a setting hen should occur B-E-F-O-R-E she lays the first egg. Then everything is in place to ensure a successful hatch without imposing mans' fallible ideas on Mother Nature's infallible plan.

I will sit back and monitor this thread because I have identified numerous violations about hatching chicks under a hen. This is the first violation of the rules. So it’s day 21 for most of the eggs under our broody Spitzhauben. I know that number is just an average for a incubator, so they might not hatch today, but I have a couple questions....

 

[WVduckchick]

will sit back and monitor this thread because I have identified numerous violations about hatching chicks under a hen. This is the first violation of the rules.

Are you the broody police?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Are you the broody police?

No, but I do want to help the members enjoy the chicken hobby and limit the headaches and heartaches of hatching biddites.

 

[WVduckchick]

No, but I do want to help the members enjoy the chicken hobby and limit the headaches and heartaches of hatching biddites.

Then I'd suggest doing it in a more respectful/helpful manner, rather that spouting off about "violations", like someone broke the law. No harm in telling what usually causes issues with some, and what works better with others. I just think you could be a little less high and mighty about it.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

We are discussing "rules" here. Rules seem to always be made to be VIOLATED! Now look at who is being "HIGH AND MIGHTY" It sure wasn't me.

Ok here goes in a less High and Mighty manner. The OP first violated the rule about staggering the hatch dates of his or her chicks. That is NEVER a good plan. Are you happy now? Staggered hatching is a great way to end up with every egg or chick dead or destroyed.