How hatching works under a broody? Newbie help please!

[PouleChick]

It could be that she's talking to them. At day 19, they could be starting to pip internally and she would hear that.

Awwww how cute and exciting! Looking forward to a better hatch rate than last time!

Keep us posted. I love having broodies and chicks. Unfortunately, I lost most of my flock last year so I didn't come into spring with any chickens (I have 30 that are about 5 weeks old now) so I have to live through those of you who do have broodies hatching to enjoy it this year.

Aww that is sad! You can be my hatching / broody hen mentor as this is like a massive learning curve / intense course in broody hens for me!

 

[bobbi-j]

Awwww how cute and exciting! Looking forward to a better hatch rate than last time!
Aww that is sad! You can be my hatching / broody hen mentor as this is like a massive learning curve / intense course in broody hens for me!

It's a learning curve/intense course that never ends. Once I think I have things figured out, I read someone else's great idea and wonder why I never thought of that! Or, I read about a great idea but am so settled into, "But I've always done it this way" it takes me forever to take the plunge.

 

[PouleChick]

It's a learning curve/intense course that never ends.

Absolutely i think I'll still feel like a newbie years from now!

it takes me forever to take the plunge.

At least with me being new to it all I'm just plunging in and trying everything I like the sound of to see what works for me.

Exciting news - I'm pretty sure I heard little cheeps coming from under Doris the slightly dim Silkie this evening! She also looked more alert than I've ever seen her! I restrained myself and didn't peep - I left her alone other than checking her water and putting fresh food in the maternity ward hutch. I'll have a look tomorrow to see what is happening. It will be such a different experience as she seems to trust me and just lets me handle her with no problems at all so hoping I'll be able to see more this time and have a better experience with the chicks. Hermione the Warrier Silkie didn't let me anywhere near her at any point and has told her chicks that I'm horrible and they are all terrified of me except for poor little Edward Scissorbeak who knows where the food comes from and is so keen to get to it he is happy to eat out of my hands and jump up to a bowl I'm holding with no fear poor little thing.

 

[PouleChick]

here we go again - just went down to see what was going on - no chicks, couldn't even see any cracks or anything - there was a bad smell and one of the eggs was oozing so we got that out and washed it, checked in water for any movement and opened it OMG it was gross - hard curdled egg - yet another excellent example of my terrible candling skills not sure I'll even bother next time! I'm really worried now though that that egg may have hurt the others and I don't know why there are no cracks or anything yet - it is the afternoon on day 21 I'll be devastated if none of these work out!

 

[bobbi-j]

Oh, I am so sorry! I’d give it another day or two.

 

[WVduckchick]

I agree with bobbi. Hang on a couple more days.
Sorry for the yucky one. I've had it happen (more than a few times), where they break and egg, and make a mess. Clean it up and the others usually still do fine.

 

[PouleChick]

Thanks both. Do they 'open' from the bottom of the egg or the top? I didn't fiddle too much so wondering if maybe something was happening underneath? I feel so new and dumb I don't know what to do for them - very frustrating as a nurse and midwife

Oh, I am so sorry! I’d give it another day or two.

I agree with bobbi. Hang on a couple more days.
Sorry for the yucky one. I've had it happen (more than a few times), where they break and egg, and make a mess. Clean it up and the others usually still do fine.

I didnt' really realise it was properly leaking (I wasn't sure what was happening, just smelt it and there was feathers etc that is why I brought it to the house to check) but now I think about it her front was a little damp. Should I bother her again by going down and washing her breast feathers? Or leave her calm and in peace and keep my fingers crossed????

I'm going to get eggs this afternoon for my other broody - should I get a couple of new chicks off him (he told me he had ones that would be only a few days) and slip them under he so even if it is a complete disaster she will have chicks? Or could that cause more problems?

 

[bobbi-j]

If you slip chicks under her, she may abandon the ones she’s sitting on thinking they have hatched. How old are the chicks you would get? If they’re only a day or two, it would give you a couple of days to see if anything hatches. If not, slip in the chicks and remove the eggs. If some do hatch, you could maybe slip the new ones in anyway. I wouldn’t get more than a couple, though.

 

[PouleChick]

OK I just went and gently lifted her wings to see what is happening and there is a little hole in one of the shells (maybe little fingernail size) but could only see feathers not a beak or anything. Is that OK? How long would it normally take from that stage to being born? I saw nothing last time as Hermione the warrior silkie didn't let me near her. I'm so nervous about getting chicks out of this I hope it goes OK.

And the bad news, I just spoke to the guy I was going to get the cream legbar eggs from tonight but none of them have laid any eggs today I dont' know what to do - it is quite a drive to get Marans eggs which I can get closer to home and I was only getting the Vorwerks as he had them and I was going to try them. The thing is I really really need to get some eggs under my poor Mabel I just don't know what to do - feeling a bit overwhelmed today

 

[WVduckchick]

The chicks will "zip" the fat end of the egg off. It rotates and breaks the shell, a little at a time.
Here's a freshly hatched one. Feel around for empty shells under the hens, but don't raise their bodies any more than necessary. They are regulating temperature and humidity to be perfect for hatching.


As for getting other eggs and chicks.... the hen that has the egg that has the little hole (that's a "pip"), that one should hatch fully within 24 hours of breaking the shell. You could try giving freshly hatched chicks to her, but she may or may not accept them. If you are giving fresh eggs, they need to go to a different broody, as the one hatching chicks now will not stay on them long enough to hatch. Once any possible ones hatch under her, she will get off any other eggs to teach the little ones how to eat, drink, forage.. etc.