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

[ChickenCanoe]

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?

Because sometimes they make mistakes. Lots of them. Off the top of my head, I've had them move to a different nest mid term and sit on no eggs, abandoning their own and sometimes they just quit mid term (adolescent phase). They also tend to steal eggs. My most successful technique is to break a first time broody (if under 10 months) and move all broody hens to their own clean 'apartment'.

 

[HeyHo]

Because sometimes they make mistakes. Lots of them. Off the top of my head, I've had them move to a different nest mid term and sit on no eggs, abandoning their own and sometimes they just quit mid term (adolescent phase). They also tend to steal eggs. My most successful technique is to break a first time broody (if under 10 months) and move all broody hens to their own clean 'apartment'.

OK thanks, that is what I suspected. Let them show a commitment and skill for brooding before you actually trust them with eggs or chicks.

 

[Mimi13]

The verdict is in. I quickly read a few posts, ate my supper, then weathered up to go up to the coop to candle four of the eggs. The only difference this time is I had a bit of confidence in my back pocket, thanks to y’all.

There were four definite clears. I did remove those. Eight did seem a lot for her to cover, but, hey, she was doing it.

Of the remaining eggs two are blue and two are brown. Armed with the confidence from y’all, I took more pictures of the four questionable eggs. Guess what? They ALL have veins, they all have veins!

Egg#7 - Brown Egg/Unknown Pullet (2 pics)

Egg #3 - Blue Egg/Blk Ameraucana (3 pics)

Egg #1 - Blue Egg/Blk Ameraucana or CCL (2 pics)

Egg #6 - Brown Egg/Unknown Pullet (3 pics) This little booger was moving. What I thought earlier as sloshy was actually the embryo moving.

I am beyond ecstatic, as I’m sure everyone was at one time. I am thankful to know that the “sideways” egg is or can be normal for a broody.

There may not be a need to candle the broody’s eggs, but there is definitely a want. With my first it’s a given. And like so many have said, there is no need for the broody to sit on clears or quitters. It would be my luck for one of the quitters to bust. Getting down under the poop board to visit with her wouldn’t be so much fun if that happened.

Thank you all so very much @aart, @casportpony, @WVduckchick and all the others who responded as well. I am in awe of everyone’s knowledge and hope one day I am able to know a quarter of what y’all do.

 

[Mimi13]

...and after multiple incubations, I don't candle as often as when I was first beginning.

Exactly! It’s all new and exciting and there would be no need for me to even be doing this if I couldn’t be excited and learn in the process.

I’ve also gained the trust of many broodies that were very skittish prior to sitting,

My little girl already seems much more at ease with me than before. She was not one to just come jump on my lap - probably still won’t be.

Since I'm down to a single extremely rare breed that I'm working on perfecting,

I guess it would be easy to say none of my birds are perfect, except to me, and I’m fine with that. I take very good care of them and, in return, they’re just happy to let me learn using them.

I usually always break a first time broody.

Breaking her was my first thought, but then my second thought was, why not. I’m anxious and am wanting and able to learn. Yay me!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The verdict is in. I quickly read a few posts, ate my supper, then weathered up to go up to the coop to candle four of the eggs. The only difference this time is I had a bit of confidence in my back pocket, thanks to y’all.

There were four definite clears. I did remove those. Eight did seem a lot for her to cover, but, hey, she was doing it.

Of the remaining eggs two are blue and two are brown. Armed with the confidence from y’all, I took more pictures of the four questionable eggs. Guess what? They ALL have veins, they all have veins!

Egg#7 - Brown Egg/Unknown Pullet (2 pics)
View attachment 1627108 View attachment 1627117

Egg #3 - Blue Egg/Blk Ameraucana (3 pics)
View attachment 1627109 View attachment 1627110 View attachment 1627111

Egg #1 - Blue Egg/Blk Ameraucana or CCL (2 pics)
View attachment 1627112 View attachment 1627113

Egg #6 - Brown Egg/Unknown Pullet (3 pics) This little booger was moving. What I thought earlier as sloshy was actually the embryo moving.
View attachment 1627114 View attachment 1627115 View attachment 1627116

I am beyond ecstatic, as I’m sure everyone was at one time. I am thankful to know that the “sideways” egg is or can be normal for a broody.

There may not be a need to candle the broody’s eggs, but there is definitely a want. With my first it’s a given. And like so many have said, there is no need for the broody to sit on clears or quitters. It would be my luck for one of the quitters to bust. Getting down under the poop board to visit with her wouldn’t be so much fun if that happened.

Thank you all so very much @aart, @casportpony, @WVduckchick and all the others who responded as well. I am in awe of everyone’s knowledge and hope one day I am able to know a quarter of what y’all do.

Nice!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Exactly! ...

Breaking her was my first thought, but then my second thought was, why not. I’m anxious and am wanting and able to learn. Yay me!

I'm the same way. There is no way to know what will happen till you try.
That's all good. I'm truly wishing you and your hen luck.
I can only relay how I have come to manage.

 

[Mimi13]

Because sometimes they make mistakes. Lots of them. Off the top of my head, I've had them move to a different nest mid term and sit on no eggs, abandoning their own and sometimes they just quit mid term (adolescent phase). They also tend to steal eggs. My most successful technique is to break a first time broody (if under 10 months) and move all broody hens to their own clean 'apartment'.

I had all those dilemmas, but in the end I decided to take a chance on my young broody. We are both learning together. I have an incubator for the eggs should she abandon them. She is also in her own ‘apartment’ with food and water, which she has never touched. I check on her welfare 5-6 times a day and let her out once each day. I closely observe her actions and behavior while she is out. Nature is truly amazing.

 

[Mimi13]

I'm the same way. There is no way to know what will happen till you try.
That's all good. I'm truly wishing you and your hen luck.
I can only relay how I have come to manage.

I am sure I’ll most likely change the way I do things too. That all comes with learning.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I am sure I’ll most likely change the way I do things too. That all comes with learning.

It is fun isn't it? I've been teaching poultry classes for years and I tend to be matter of fact so I probably come across as a cranky old man - which I am. But I'm still here to help.

 

[Mimi13]

Oh, I forgot to mention I also set 18 eggs in the incubator today! Yes, @aart, I’ve got it bad. I’ll bet 50% of these aren’t fertile either. Which is just fine. I’m learning with each step.