New Broody

[jdwilk]

Hi everyone
This is my first year with chickens and I have my first broody buff. She is sitting on 8 fertilized eggs and it’s hot and it’s day 3. I am not sure if she has got up at all! I keep reading there is this horrid broody poop and I haven’t seen (or smelled) anything! My question is this. I am sure she won’t starve. I have food and water right near her. But I am curious about keeping the nest clean? Is there a point I should just pick her up and check things or should I just leave her alone for a bit?? Do you always candle eggs around day 10? She is not horribly nasty to me. Very much enjoys some scrambled eggs and frozen blueberries! She is my favorite chicken and I feel like a nervous mom. Thank you!

 

[nchls school]

Hi everyone
This is my first year with chickens and I have my first broody buff. She is sitting on 8 fertilized eggs and it’s hot and it’s day 3. I am not sure if she has got up at all! I keep reading there is this horrid broody poop and I haven’t seen (or smelled) anything! My question is this. I am sure she won’t starve. I have food and water right near her. But I am curious about keeping the nest clean? Is there a point I should just pick her up and check things or should I just leave her alone for a bit?? Do you always candle eggs around day 10? She is not horribly nasty to me. Very much enjoys some scrambled eggs and frozen blueberries! She is my favorite chicken and I feel like a nervous mom. Thank you!

Food and water should always be away from the nest. When the hen leaves the nest she will defecate at that time and the nest will stay clean. If the food is where she does not have to leave the nest she will mess in the nest and that's bad for the eggs and more work for you. Also, a broody hen does need to exercise to stay healthy.

As to candling, it's a good idea to remove eggs that are not developing so they don't rot and break in the nest. However, birds have been hatching babies since the beginning of birds. Candling is a choice. It can be done anytime after day 4. For those that have little, or no, experience in candling, day 8 on is a good time to candle. By this time development is obvious.

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

Hi everyone
This is my first year with chickens and I have my first broody buff. She is sitting on 8 fertilized eggs and it’s hot and it’s day 3. I am not sure if she has got up at all! I keep reading there is this horrid broody poop and I haven’t seen (or smelled) anything! My question is this. I am sure she won’t starve. I have food and water right near her. But I am curious about keeping the nest clean? Is there a point I should just pick her up and check things or should I just leave her alone for a bit?? Do you always candle eggs around day 10? She is not horribly nasty to me. Very much enjoys some scrambled eggs and frozen blueberries! She is my favorite chicken and I feel like a nervous mom. Thank you!

i agree to not offer food or water, the broody’s body will slow down so they don’t need food or water as often, also don’t need to poop as often. I learned the hard way last summer with my first broody buff Orpington to pretty much be hands off and let them do their thing. We tried candling after a week (saw nothing!) and as we were putting the eggs back under her, she tried to peck us but missed and pecked her egg open. It was tough to see the little embryo in there . All 7 Eggs were fertile, Hatch rate was 100% and it was SO much easier letting her do all the work raising them! The same hen jus went broody again, so we shall see how this one goes. Good luck with your hatch.

 

[jdwilk]

i agree to not offer food or water, the broody’s body will slow down so they don’t need food or water as often, also don’t need to poop as often. I learned the hard way last summer with my first broody buff Orpington to pretty much be hands off and let them do their thing. We tried candling after a week (saw nothing!) and as we were putting the eggs back under her, she tried to peck us but missed and pecked her egg open. It was tough to see the little embryo in there . All 7 Eggs were fertile, Hatch rate was 100% and it was SO much easier letting her do all the work raising them! The same hen jus went broody again, so we shall see how this one goes. Good luck with your hatch.

Good luck with your hatch too! Unfortunately she won't get off to eat drink or poop so I have been taking her off once a day. I will leave her be at day 18. She luckily is pretty nice to me still. I hope you next hatch is successful!! I honestly hope something hatches here. She is diehard want to be a mama.

 

[NorthernMIFlock]

Thanks! Mine is extremely serious about it, and was last summer too. It’s def hotter this year tho, I’m sure it’s not easy for them. Mine recovered very quickly after her chicks hatched, and she was a great young mama (She had just turned 1) Don‘t forget to post some pics!