I’m not Mother Nature, but..... My journey hatching broody and bator chicks

[Abriana]

I have heard of broodys who will not get off of the nest. they will literally die they are so devoted. Definitely removed her once a day and make sure she is back on the eggs before you leave. Usually I provide food and water in an enclosure within the coop and let the broody out to poop in the evening. My dearest girl, named Bantam (who was a bantam!) passed away last thursday. She was the best broody ever, so devoted. I miss her but she is in a happy place now.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

No reason not to tho either.
I didn't candle as often under a broody, just because it was inconvenient.
...and after multiple incubations, I don't candle as often as when I was first beginning.

True but I don't like unsettling any of my birds and especially setting hens. They are in a trance with a 24 hour, 3 week job to do. I don't want them to have any unnecessary distraction. Candling broody hens' eggs is an unnecessary distraction. There will be chicks in your future.

I have a chicken aficionado friend that has had chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and almost every other type of bird/animal. She helps me a lot but she is a pet person and likes to hassle my chickens. I don't like to stress my birds.

 

[WVduckchick]

True but I don't like unsettling any of my birds and especially setting hens. They are in a trance with a 24 hour, 3 week job to do. I don't want them to have any unnecessary distraction. Candling broody hens' eggs is an unnecessary distraction. There will be chicks in your future.

I usually only check them once early on, mostly to see how many are fertile and developing. I have too many broodies, so I have to limit their amount of eggs, so I candle and decide how many to leave them with. (I’d be even more overrun with chicks than I already am!)
Then I candle once near the end, just to see if any have quit along the way. Some hens will sit too long, and not take care of chicks, and could be awaiting a chick that has already died.
Different methods work for different situations. No absolute right or wrong.

 

[WVduckchick]

I’ve also gained the trust of many broodies that were very skittish prior to sitting, by being a little more touchy/feely with them while they sit. A light stroke down their back every few days, just to say Hi. Once they are sitting and realize I’m there to help, they are much more calm with me around their chicks.

 

[HeyHo]

Good luck with your broody! I'm a worrier too that recently lost a beloved lab. These animals touch our hearts in a special way and the world is better for it.

And worrying is good, it means we care. Don't apologize for it! (Just make sure you are using your powers for good instead of driving your family up a wall, which I am sometimes guilty of.....!)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I usually only check them once early on, mostly to see how many are fertile and developing. I have too many broodies, so I have to limit their amount of eggs, so I candle and decide how many to leave them with. (I’d be even more overrun with chicks than I already am!)
Then I candle once near the end, just to see if any have quit along the way. Some hens will sit too long, and not take care of chicks, and could be awaiting a chick that has already died.
Different methods work for different situations. No absolute right or wrong.

So true. One needs to manage their birds as they see fit.
What breed/s do you have that are so broody?
I like having a broody breed but I usually break them about half the time.
Since I'm down to a single extremely rare breed that I'm working on perfecting, I want them to continue their tendency to set but, IMHO if a bird will kill itself by not taking food, water and defecation breaks regularly on her own, I don't want her here to reproduce her kind. Sitting till one dies is a defective genetic trait worse than crooked toes, human aggressive cocks, double yolks or almost any other.
I've had countless setting hens but have only allowed about 50 or so to hatch eggs. I've never had one that wouldn't get off the nest on her own.
Obviously I'm not a chicken pet person.

 

[chickengr]

So true. One needs to manage their birds as they see fit.
What breed/s do you have that are so broody.
I like having a broody breed but I usually break them about half the time.
Since I'm down to a single breed I'm working on perfecting, I want them to continue their tendency to set but, IMHO if a bird will kill itself by not taking food, water and defecation breaks regularly on her own, I don't want her here to reproduce her kind. Sitting till one dies is a defective genetic trait worse than crooked toes, double yolks or almost any other.
I've had countless setting hens but have only allowed about 50 or so to hatch eggs. I've never had one that wouldn't get off the nest on her own.
Obviously I'm not a chicken pet person.

first time broody might not know what to do. 1 of mine didn't get up when she was sitting for the first time. she improved later and hatched and raised a lot of chicks. it was worth helping her.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I usually always break a first time broody.

 

[chickengr]

I usually always break a first time broody.

I do it now, but first and only broody ever was precious, lol.

 

[HeyHo]

I usually always break a first time broody.

Can I ask why? I am hoping for a broody in the spring and am wondering whether it is better to let them go broody a few times first....? You know, to make sure it's not just an adolescent phase?