If they want to be Mothers... UPDATE! I HAVE CHICKS! NOW WITH PICS!

[bigdaddyabc]

They quit on me for a couple of days Kittymomma. So, I collected all those eggs since they had sat in 40ish weather for over 48 hours. I boiled them and fed them back to the girls, and quite a few of them had pretty big blood spots on the yolks so I know they are getting fertile at least. Yesterday I left 6 eggs each in two different nests just to see and sure enough good ol Keilbasa sat one all day yesterday, was on last night at lockup, on them this morning at let out, and just got up to eat and such for a while. I am glad cuz it gave me a few minutes to steal the eggs I don't want to hatch and plug in a couple of replacements. I will check in a hour or so and see where she is. How long can she be off the nest and still have the eggs be OK? Do you know? Does she just know?

 

[FireTigeris]

Depends on the temperature and humidity where you are.

She should just 'know'

they can tell about eggs switching, after 24 hours the 'newer' eggs are going to be behind in incubation and she may abandon the whole thing or push them out.

I notice you keep giving eggs or switching eggs.

Hen will lay eggs and not incubate them until there are 'enough' then will incubate them all at the same time for the same hatch date.

What can when other hens lay in a broody's nest is she incubate all of them until there is no room - so they are not all being incubated properly losing the whole clutch, or she sits the 19-23 days and abandons the other eggs.

 

[bigdaddyabc]

I figured she might know I had stolen eggs, but she went right back. I know they will wait until they think it is enough eggs too. I just didn't want her hatching out the eggs that were very small so I took them. I hoped that by putting back a replacement she would be OK. The new nest is new eggs from today and I am hoping another girl will jump on. I will leave them alone for a few days and see how it goes. Hopefully they will get down to the business of sitting. I took ALL of the other eggs after a coouple of days of no sitting to avoid that 3-4 day hatch spread. That would suck for everyone.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I agree that it's ideal to have the broody hens each in their own private accomodations. That way they don't get interrupted by other hens wanting to lay in their nests, and they don't get misdirected on their way back from their coffee breaks. And being in the close dark place helps to keep them inspired to stay setting. Each hen seems to have her own component of broody skills, some just do a better job than others.

When I find a broody hen I'll try to move her to a broody pen (after dark) and then wait to see if she stays with the project. Once I see that she's committed, I'll either leave her to set on the eggs I've given her, or swap them for others I would rather she incubate. I've had bantams incubate standard-sized chicken eggs, and also duck eggs, even goose eggs!

One thing to consider when hatching eggs is what will you do with all the extra roos? It's best to have your plan in place before you set even one egg.

 

[bigdaddyabc]

I have the private accomodations all set up. I tried it once when I thought she was going to stick but she lost her mind and wanted out so I let her. I am not afraid to kill and eat a rooster. Done plenty of that. I have 5 in my freezer right now. Nuff said. The egg swap after dark on the committed chicken is an AWESOME idea. I am going to just leave this situation alone for a few days and see if she commits or not. If she does great, I may move her onto a private nest and set her on "good" eggs. I will keep you posted.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I've found that it's ideal to do any interaction with a broody hen well after dark. Especially big changes like moving her location or swapping her eggs. They're just more calm then, and more oblivious to what's happening. Often I'll shade a broody's new location with feed sacks for the first few days to literally "keep her in the dark" about the changes that have been made. Sometimes you'll get a hen who just wants to quit early, other times the darkness & quiet will help encourage her to continue to set.

My kids & I love to watch a broody hen tuck new eggs deep under her breast, and then do what we call the "Chicky-Cha-Cha" as she rocks from side to side settling the eggs comfortably underneath her. When the hen begins to make those moves the kids will chant "Chicky, chicky, cha - CHA! Chicky, chicky, cha -CHA!"

One time I removed the clutch of bantam eggs under a broody hen and set a goose eggs against her breast in exchange. The little hen just looked & looked at it in surprise for a moment. "Oh -- my -- GOSH!! What in the world is THIS?" she seemed to say. Then she seemed to give a little sigh, and reached far over the egg and tugged it into place under her feathers, as if to say "Awww, you're just a dear baby eggling needing my devoted care!" Her movements were a bit awkward though, when she rocked to settle this big egg underneath her. "Chicky...uh! Chicky...ow! Cha-...ah...CHA!"

 

[bigdaddyabc]

Since tomorrow would have been the day the chicks hatched, I figured y'all were due for an update. Keilbasa simply quit last Saturday. Two weeks she was rock solid on that nest and then last Saturday she was up and eating at 11 am, and was still off when I checked them at 1:30. I tried putting her back on the nest both times, but she was clearly just done. At 4 pm the eggs were stone cold.

The good news is that my silkie (Butch Junior) jumped on about 8-9 eggs the day after Keilbasa quit and those should hatch

next Friday or Saturday.

On Wednesday this week Butch (hence the Butch Junior) plopped right down on a nest of 6 LARGE eggs I left to see if one would. She has settled in nicely. She is also a mutt and obvioously has either Polish or Silkie in her because she also has cool hair. She is one of the girls I got from the guy with the Chinese sexing crystal that said she and ALL FIVE of her sisters were boys. Hilarious!! They are all mutts, but they lay good and clearly want to be mommies....at least Butch does for right now.

I have two more nests with a few eggs I have left to see who else might be interested. We will see.

I will post pics of the new kids on the block next weekend when they decide to arrive.

Rob

 

[bigdaddyabc]

I am getting pretty excited!!!! If I have counted right (I took off my shoes to make sure I used enough digits) then the first hatch should happen tomorrow or Saturday! My one silkie has been on her nest 18 days today!!! WOOOHOOOOO!!! My other crazy little hen Butch is still stuck to her nest, and silly old Keilbasa has decided that maybe she gave up too soon and has been on a nest for 3 days (I think) now. I think alotogether they have about 20 eggs under them, but I haven't messed with them to count. Honestly? Doesn't even matter. I am just excited to have some chicks. I got my broody nest all set up in the coop to seperate the little family for a few days, bought my chick food, I am READY! Happily, they may have timed this better than I anticipated. If the eggs cooperate then I will have a small hatch every week for three weeks, using the brood box in turns. Perfect!

Update with pics when born!

 

[bigdaddyabc]

As I went to lock up the girls last night I heard the familiar peeping of baby chicks! Upon checking it was a few pips but the peeping was clear. This morning I have 4 out, 1 stillborn, and 4 or 5 more to come yet. Mama and babies are doing fine thank you, except for the one who made it almost out but then expired. Cute little mix, and once they are out and in the "nursery" I have ready for the family I will get pics posted. YAY for nature and my silkie's desire to be a Mom. Next is Butch the Mutt, and the Keilbasa seems to be back at it. All told I have about 2 dozen in some stage. Hopefully I will have a high hatch rate.

Rob

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Yay for you! Yay for your

!!

Yay for new

!!

There's a lot of Stuff that can happen to developing & new chicks, those losses aren't surprising. But still disappointing, especially to have a chick develop all the way and get itself out of the shell, only to expire. I too hope your other hens have good hatch rates with their clutches. It's always so enjoyable to watch Mama hens tending to their chickie families.