Hatching WITHOUT an incubator

[P-Funk]

I have an extremely broody hen and no roo's. Yesterday I got a dozen fertile (maybe) eggs from a local. Chrissy took to them instantly. She's in a dog crate with hay bedding in a section of the pen dedicated all to herself. Right off the bat she threw out the Leghorn egg, which is sitting under the heat lamp now. Will she turn the eggs by herself or should I intervene?

 

[drumstick diva]

P-Funk don't just stand there gawking - tear up some clean sheets, boil lots of water. I don't know what the sheets are supposed to be for but, with the water you can make hot cocoa. Nothing like chocolate to soothe the soul.

You don't want to upset mama - you want her to stay on the eggs until the last viable one has popped out. Then I believe it is permissible to dump her out of her broody nook, while you clean up the litter and broken shells and get a good look at the chicks. Photos can wait - you want her to concentrate on her brood.

I subscribed to this and your state thread to keep an eye on you. No pressure - just settle down with some slow, deep breaths- exhale slowly,deeply. Better than lamaize - no pillows needed.

 

[Eggcessive]

She will turn them herself. Just put some feed and water in the dog crate, and she should handle everything else. I might take her out to stretch her legs every day or 2.

 

[Judy]

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/broody-hens-1.html

 

[gimmie birdies]

My hens would not sit on leghorn eggs either, it was weird.

 

[P-Funk]

Thanks, Egg! Her pen is actually a coop in a coop. The big one is a converted 12'x12' stall in the barn with a run outside. I built a 3'x8'x 7' tall section inside of it with a roof. She has her own bell waterer and feeder and must be coming out of her crate because the food is slowly disappearing and there is some poo in the fresh bedding.

And Flock - I read part 1 (so far) of the article you sent. Chrissy is an Ancona, not mentioned there, but seems to be doing a wonderful job. Thank you both for all the help - you BYC'ers always have a way of reducing stress levels

 

[nova022]

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/broody-hens-1.html

Excellent article! Thanks for the link/

 

[nova022]

My hens would not sit on leghorn eggs either, it was weird.

Maybe because they are white. Are your other eggs brown?

 

[P-Funk]

The dozen I got range from dark brown to green to blue to tan to white. They are all labeled so maybe Chrissy can read

It's just amazing, or dumb luck on her part, that she happens to be the biggest fattest hen in the flock and is able to cover 11 eggs.

 

[P-Funk]

O.K. This is funny to the point of ridiculous. Every since I built a 'coop in a coop' for Chrissy, the broody, the other girls figured out how to get out of their stall by launching off of it. Now there are eggs all over the barn. Every day is Easter