My Broody Experiment has ended.. :0(

[Mahonri]

... and these are the days of Neckie's lives....

Will, Andrea try and remove the netting in front of Neckie's nest?

Will, Neckie get so tired of sitting on those eggs that she'll just give up on day 20?

Will, Neckie even realize that her loving owner is Leaving on a jet plane... don't know when he'll be back again?"

Saturday evening will she hear him singing, "By the time, I get to Phoenix.... as he boards the plane back to AZ?

Stay tuned.

 

[needmorechickens!]

hehehehe

Best Wishes on your hatch Mahonri, be sure to give Neckie a good luck kiss before you leave!

And I will be praying for healing in your back.

~Rebecca

 

[Mahonri]

So at lunch today, I go out to the coop and one of the demon barred rocks has Neckie off of her nest and is setting on her eggs.

I feel the eggs and they are still warm.

I smell broody poop so I know Neckie has relieved herself.

I fill her water back up, get her some mash, got some duct tape, threw the BR off the nest and put Neckie back on and then duct taped her into her nest.

She seemed pleased I had come to her rescue. BR was not happy, seems to be going broody also.

So tomorrow is day 19.

 

[Mahonri]

Well, tomorrow is day 21.

I'm wondering if my hen is hearing noises (I'M HOPING) because she hasn't gotten off of the nest. She makes a different kind of clucking noise than I've ever heard her make...it is more quiet and subdued as if she is trying to communicate with the eggs... IS THIS ALL IN MY HEAD??? (Also, she has drank some of the water I left in a can in one corner and some of the mash in the other corner I've left her).

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and we are saying our prayers... hoping for at least two chicks out of the remaining 6 eggs.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The hens can hear the chicks in the shell, I think that is why they sit so tight the last few days. Here's hoping for a lot of babies!!

I've never set shipped eggs under a broody, but they do it better than we do, so I'm sure you'll have a great hatch!

 

[Mahonri]

I am SO hoping you are correct. I have a 14 year old and a 12 year old that will be VERY disappointed (including me) if we don't get any chicks out of this.

If not, Monday I'll go to the feed store, buy three chicks and do autopsies on the eggs.

Then I'll order the best Hovabator w/ an egg turn and get some blue eggs from Pasofino (Melissa) and anyone else who has some REALLY BLUE eggs.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The hens can for sure hear the chicks, and that is probably why she is 'talking' to them. She wants them to know her voice when they hatch! I hope you have a wonderful hatch! How many eggs did you start with?

ETA: Did you candle the eggs at all? I would say if she is talking to the eggs, she hears at least one baby!

 

[Griffox]

My Faverolle eggs from pasofino are due tomorrow, too. Except I have one of those new fangled incubator things. If you have a better hatch than me, I'm sending the bator back and firing up the broody.

Edited to say: I really hope you DO have a good hatch. Didn't want that to come across the wrong way.

 

[miss_jayne]

heck yes, they must be able to hear them! they have super spy hearing!

hope it all goes well, Mahonri!

 

[Mahonri]

I started with 8 beautiful eggs. Somehow other hens got in her nest with her and cracked open two eggs. I cleaned to two eggs that had egg on them the best I could, cleaned out all of the shavings with egg on them, put in new shavings and then screened off her nest.

Twice hens were able to work around the screen but the eggs always seemed to stay warm and covered.

Before day 18 I took her off the nest a time or two to stretch and poop and put a warm microwaved towel over the eggs while she was off. I also put a tuna can of water in one corner that has never spilled and some mash in the other corner and I know she has used both to feed and drink.

I have all of tomorrow and half the day Friday to continue to check on her, then I fly out Friday afternoon. I have instructions for my 14 year old to watch and if more than 3 chicks hatch out he is to put her in an enclosed brooder in the corner of the coop, making a nest for any remaining eggs in the corner with a waterer and chick starter. I get back Saturday night....Like I said... no chicks and monday I'll go to the feed store buy three and then do egg autopsies.

Now is the time when it's nerve racking. I've heard of eggs pipping as early as day 18 and not hatching until day 25. Weird. Monday would be day 25 so without chicks by that date, I'll give up.

There you have it... all of my inner worries and hopes. Que sera, sera!