Is my almost hen broody? When will the eggs hatch?

[Farmgirl283420]

She shouldn't be weak this early though. Especially if she still has at least 18 days left

Maybe she just seems weak because she’s so nervous and jumpy? It also looked like she was molting so maybe she was shivering? Like I said it looked like she was molting so will she be able to keep her chicks safe or shelter them with her wings?

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Just wandering about candling do you do that with broody hens?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just wandering about candling do you do that with broody hens?

I do, on the hens that let me mess with them. But the super super super aggressive or super skittish ones, I leave be to not stress them out. If yours is already acting that wacky, I wouldn't unless she goes way over timewise

 

[fluffycrow]

Just wandering about candling do you do that with broody hens?

The same applies for broodies, and incubators. If you want to, you can. If she gets too stress, or two defensive, it becomes hard to. She's already sort of icky...so I would leave her

 

[Farmgirl283420]

The same applies for broodies, and incubators. If you want to, you can. If she gets too stress, or two defensive, it becomes hard to. She's already sort of icky...so I would leave her

Ok I’ll just see what happens. She seems calmer around me much much more icky around the hens.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

So I’m wandering what to do if the eggs don’t hatch I have my doubts with her being flighty around the other chickens in the beginning. Should I try to get chicks younger than four days and slip them under her at night? Or just leave her? Amelia also seems stronger. Like I said before her wings are almost bare and she’s missing feathers is this bad?

 

[fluffycrow]

So I’m wandering what to do if the eggs don’t hatch I have my doubts with her being flighty around the other chickens in the beginning. Should I try to get chicks younger than four days and slip them under her at night? Or just leave her? Amelia also seems stronger. Like I said before her wings are almost bare and she’s missing feathers is this bad?

You could post some photos, since you seem quite worried. I don't think the absence of feathers should be you main priority at the moment. If the eggs don't hatch you can try and introduce her to chicks like you suggested, but be aware that it may not work out, especially when we take her experience and age into consideration. If you decide to follow through with getting chicks for her, you should have a backup plan in place. Alternatively, you may break her broodiness, and try again in the future, when she will be more mature, and perhaps the weather more suitable. There is always a possibility that she leaves the nest on her own, and given her age, I wouldn't be surprised if that is what she ends up doing, when her eggs don't hatch

 

[Farmgirl283420]

You could post some photos, since you seem quite worried. I don't think the absence of feathers should be you main priority at the moment. If the eggs don't hatch you can try and introduce her to chicks like you suggested, but be aware that it may not work out, especially when we take her experience and age into consideration. If you decide to follow through with getting chicks for her, you should have a backup plan in place. Alternatively, you may break her broodiness, and try again in the future, when she will be more mature, and perhaps the weather more suitable. There is always a possibility that she leaves the nest on her own, and given her age, I wouldn't be surprised if that is what she ends up doing, when her eggs don't hatch

Good morning! So the hens found they could jump over the cardboard so I put her in a rubber bin in my pole barn with food and water. She’s been great! I let her out every morning to stretch her legs. So today is day 14 and I candled the eggs why she was out. One egg is clear but the other three are big black blobs I could see some veins and the air sack and most exciting I saw them move! I’m also not so concerned about her feathers now. Thanks everyone for all your help!

 

[Yardmom]

Glad you found a place for her to brood in peace. I cage my broodies, but take them out at least once a day.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Glad you found a place for her to brood in peace. I cage my broodies, but take them out at least once a day.

Thanks