OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[OHfarmerswife]

I didn't do that with the one I crated, but it probably won't hurt--they do enjoy getting out (in my broody suite they have a 10 x 10 ft. dog kennel to come out into if they want).  In my experience with broodies, less is more.  I don't bug them, even to candle eggs.  I do keep close track of when the chicks are due.  I've started working with with a breed notorious for infertility, so I don't want my broodies to be stuck brooding forever!  So far though, I've had at least some chicks hatch each time.  Once the chicks are hatched and off the nest, I clean up whatever's left.  

I guess some hens brood well, but then don't snap out of it when the babies hatch--they should be off the nest two days after hatch.  And I've heard some hens are just poor mothers, so you should be prepared to brood chicks if necessary.  But I've had very good results with just letting nature take its course.

Also, chicks raised by hens are less tame with people (even if the hen is very tame).  So I make sure to spend some time hanging out with them every day the first few weeks.  I bring some scratch and meal worm treats and have the hen eat from my hand so the babies get the idea that you're not a monster!

Have fun!

Kirsten

Kirsten:
again thanks for the great information.
i am so excited i can hardly wait.
thanks again.

Barb

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Another thing I've discovered is that hens, broody or not, are quite capable of moving eggs in and out of nests.  I've not seen it done, but I think they tuck the eggs under their wing to manage it.  Some of my coops have nest boxes side by side, divided by walls and I find eggs that started out in one end up in the other.  I have two pairs of hens that go broody together and co-parent well, but when I tried this with an untested pair, one of the hens ended up with all the eggs in her nest and the other hen broke out of her broodiness.  So weird things happen.  After your hatch, make sure all your eggs are accounted for or you could be in for a smelly surprise!

Kirsten

 

[OHfarmerswife]

quote name="KirstenJL" url="/t/12049/ohio-come-on-buckeyes-let-me-know-your-out-there/2760#post_10717441"]
Another thing I've discovered is that hens, broody or not, are quite capable of moving eggs in and out of nests.  I've not seen it done, but I think they tuck the eggs under their wing to manage it.  Some of my coops have nest boxes side by side, divided by walls and I find eggs that started out in one end up in the other.  I have two pairs of hens that go broody together and co-parent well, but when I tried this with an untested pair, one of the hens ended up with all the eggs in her nest and the other hen broke out of her broodiness.  So weird things happen.  After your hatch, make sure all your eggs are accounted for or you could be in for a smelly surprise!

Kirsten
[/quote]

Kirsten:

I learned the hard way that chickens can hold an egg in their wings. When Mary originally went broody right after Christmas I tried to break her by removing her from the nest box several times a day.


One day I removed her and put her outside to free range an egg fell out and broke. From then on each time I removed her I checked her wings.

Now when I remove her from her nest I check her wings first thing.

It is amazing to me how nature equips mothers.

I will be sure to keep checking the nest for unhatched eggs. I understand that the hen will roll out non viable eggs?

I have read that the eggs should hatch anywhere from 20-25 days. When should I remove unhatched eggs? How many days after the hatch due date?

Thanks again
Barb

 

[rottiesrme51]

I do not usually remove mine till about the 29th day or check them to see if they area viable or not.

 

[rottiesrme51]

l'll call u neighbor l'm in Moraine, Ohio

 

[rottiesrme51]

next to you King 4. l'm in moraine what use to be jefferson twp.

 

[king4]

next to you King 4. l'm in moraine what use to be jefferson twp.

I work in moraine right behind the old truck and bus plant

 

[KirstenJL]

quote name="KirstenJL" url="/t/12049/ohio-come-on-buckeyes-let-me-know-your-out-there/2760#post_10717441"]
Another thing I've discovered is that hens, broody or not, are quite capable of moving eggs in and out of nests.  I've not seen it done, but I think they tuck the eggs under their wing to manage it.  Some of my coops have nest boxes side by side, divided by walls and I find eggs that started out in one end up in the other.  I have two pairs of hens that go broody together and co-parent well, but when I tried this with an untested pair, one of the hens ended up with all the eggs in her nest and the other hen broke out of her broodiness.  So weird things happen.  After your hatch, make sure all your eggs are accounted for or you could be in for a smelly surprise!

Kirsten

Kirsten:

I learned the hard way that chickens can hold an egg in their wings. When Mary originally went broody right after Christmas I tried to break her by removing her from the nest box several times a day.


One day I removed her and put her outside to free range an egg fell out and broke. From then on each time I removed her I checked her wings.

Now when I remove her from her nest I check her wings first thing.

It is amazing to me how nature equips mothers.

I will be sure to keep checking the nest for unhatched eggs. I understand that the hen will roll out non viable eggs?

I have read that the eggs should hatch anywhere from 20-25 days. When should I remove unhatched eggs? How many days after the hatch due date?

Thanks again
Barb[/quote]

I find that under broodies the eggs usually hatch about a day early. Before that the hen will start "talking" to the eggs (the chicks are talking back but I can rarely hear them). Eventually the hen should come off the nest on her own, but if she doesn't, I'd take her off no longer than two days after the first chick hatches. If nothing hatches at all, I'd probably remove eggs at about day 24 or so. So far I've not had to do either of these things. I've made it a point to set my eggs so they'll hatch on a workday otherwise I hover around too much!

 

[rottiesrme51]

hello chickawawa, l'm in moraine

 

[Chickawawa]

hello chickawawa, l'm in moraine

Hello! So happy to see people on here from places I've heard of! LOL welcome to the Forum!