Hatching Under a Broody Hen

[Smuvers Farm]

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.

I'd have to admit, I believe we lost a viable chickie under our broody because I kept peeking under her. I probably spooked her off her nest.....

 

[WVduckchick]

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.

Ah, so I see she did ask for "rules". I don't go by any rules. So I'll back away...

My apologies to @Arya28

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Ah, so I see she did ask for "rules". I don't go by any rules. So I'll back away...

My apologies to @Arya28

I don't think you should back off...... I find your advice valuable beyond belief!

 

[Arya28]

Ah, so I see she did ask for "rules". I don't go by any rules. So I'll back away...

My apologies to @Arya28

I also definitely find all of your advice very helpful and valuable. I did ask for rules, just because I’ve never done this before and am not sure if there are any “rules” per say- but it was also sort of a figure of speech to see if anyone has certain ways they do things. Just like with anything people are going to have differing opinions about what the rules are.

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.

I do appreciate that you are trying to help me “understand the rules” so to speak- but just like with anything people aren’t always going to agree on them. I was just looking for some advice. However, I don’t remember mentioning that I staggered the hatch dates. In our incubator, yes we had a staggered hatch but that wasn’t really our choice. As for our broody hen, quoting your rule about not playing god, we didn’t. She decided to go broody on her own and sat on them when she decided to. So I’m not really understanding how “I staggered the hatch dates”.

Because I said “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 think maybe you’re not understanding what I said. I mean, 21 days for an incubation period, is actually just an average under perfect conditions in an incubator- in other words, that that incubation period doesn’t always apply in nature. Not that we staggered the hatch. I meant I was aware that they might not hatch on day 21 just because that’s not actually the average for hens.

 

[Arya28]

Anyway... we finally have pipping and peeping!

 

[Arya28]

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.

Definitely good to note!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Anyway... we finally have pipping and peeping!

Apparently, :trumpets isn't a thing, but Good for you!
May your peeps be many and your troubles light.

 

[Arya28]

Apparently, :trumpets isn't a thing, but Good for you!
May your peeps be many and your troubles light.

Thank you!
Cringing because we want to see what’s going on but don’t want to disturb her lol. Definitely needing to practice patience because we know it just needs to happen in its own time!

 

[song of joy]

@Arya28 - I'm so glad things are progressing! I know . . . it's hard to wait. But just listen from a location where she can't see you, so she remains undisturbed during the hatching process.

After the broody hen is done hatching, she'll take the chicks off the nest to eat/drink. That would be a really good time to provide some mashed, scrambled eggs to the hen and chicks. It will be a highly nutritious meal to help the broody hen get her strength back (the shivering you saw was probably a sign of physical stress from weight loss during incubation). The mashed eggs are also very good for the chicks. (Don't mix the eggs in with the chicken feed; just provide it separately).

 

[EggSighted4Life]

the shivering you saw was probably a sign of physical stress from weight loss during incubation

The broody's do also get shaky from sitting in long stints without stretching or using the muscles.

Both reasons I prefer my girls not to sit too long and why I provide a little more protein (than layer) and put oyster shell on the side for girls who are still laying.