Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

Oh my gosh BG I am so sorry your having to go through this with your girl, I hope you got it all this time.

I am not seeing alot of improvement in Lydia, but she has eaten good today and I have soaked her leg in epsom salt water. I am still hoping for full recovery.

I hope every one has had a great 4th. we ate barbecue deer, coleslaw, baked beans and homemade brownies with vanilla icecream, now i feel like a stuffed bear.

bbq venison. Now I'm hungry again

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I just finished making a nest box out of a cardboard box, hopefully Summer will appreciate it. I keep catching her sister nearly sitting on her head at night. She has got to be the most even tempered broody ever. Other threads talk about loosing limbs to broodies, she didn't even cluck at DH when he went to take her eggs and hasn't warned her sister off at all.

Figure I will set up the box with the fertile eggs and swap the whole thing when the time comes. Put the box w/eggs in the coop, put Summer in the box, remove old eggs, slide the box into the corner she picked. Critiques?

I can't wait for those eggs to arrive. The wait is killing me.

I am really going to have issues waiting for Hatching Day.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Awwhhh so cute!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Isn't it about time the site managers created a whole separate section for this subject?

With all the interest in this, incubator hatching and broody hatching should really have their own categories, I think--totally different subjects...

Where or to whom should this be suggested?

I think it's been suggested before, but you can post it in the general thread BYC feedback, etc that pops up under forums.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Haha, don't worry. I'm on day 2.




but i have a question... for candling eggs, are you suppost to see the veins in the yolk, or somewhere else?

You should be able to see veins in the entire egg with a little spot of dark in the center starting about day 3 of incubating, either in a bator or under the broody.

There are lots of threads with good pics on BYC. Do a search for it and you'll find them. They should help better then just words from us. I'm sorry I can't link you up, I'm on my iPad tonight.

 

[bobbieschicks]

First Timer here.  I have a silkie that has gone broody.  I am worried because its awfully hot here in south louisiana right now! Also, can I candle when she steps off for her daily "break?"   If so, what day is best?  She started setting two days ago...   Any help would be greatly appreciated ya'll, Thanks!

I know what ou mean about hot! I keep taking my pullets eggs and kicking them out of the nests in hopes no one will go broody in this heat.

If you are going to candle, I think the best days are Day 5 to see if they are not fertile, if they are clear they are tossed. You could maybe tell by day 3, but I like to err on the side of caution. Then day 14 to see how many might hatch and get rid of any early quitters, blood ring or stinkers. Then the last time is day 25 to see why she's abandoned them.

Also I would candle them at dusk so it's dark enough to see rather then try to do it while she's off the nest. But if you can see them, take advantage of the break time.

Congrats on your broody! Keep us posted!

 

[bobbieschicks]

  bbq venison. Now I'm hungry again 

Venison? I've never eaten deer meat. But we did have BBQ pork ribs today

Congrats on the broodies Stony!

Hope your Lydia heals quickly Lydia.

 

[bobbieschicks]

You might not be able to put the others back, she may not take them so if you try stay close by so you can get them out quick. Congrats on the new chick. 

How old are the others again? If they are just a few days old I'd put them back at night with the mom and baby. They will eat along good enough. If they are older then five days I would not merge them together nor would I attempt to have the broody raise them.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I just finished making a nest box out of a cardboard box, hopefully Summer will appreciate it. I keep catching her sister nearly sitting on her head at night. She has got to be the most even tempered broody ever. Other threads talk about loosing limbs to broodies, she didn't even cluck at DH when he went to take her eggs and hasn't warned her sister off at all.
Figure I will set up the box with the fertile eggs and swap the whole thing when the time comes. Put the box w/eggs in the coop, put Summer in the box, remove old eggs, slide the box into the corner she picked. Critiques?
I can't wait for those eggs to arrive. The wait is killing me.
I am really going to have issues waiting for Hatching Day.

Sounds like a plan.

Are you changing just the eggs or nest box location too? If both I'd do the move now in case she rejects it. do it at night and cover her head with a towel.

If just eggs, then I like to switch them after I put the ladies out to TCB so they return to the new eggs. I make sure they get back on them before calling it done.

One more thing, both of my broodies pooped in their nests despite me removing them daily to TCB. It can be pretty messy in their nests if they poo, so not sure how cardboard will hold up as I haven't tried it.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Bobbieschicks- She isn't in any kind of nest box at the moment. She is nesting in the most open corner of the coop possible. I decided to keep her in the same spot, I just wanted to put in an extra barrier against Snowi's interference. She keeps laying her eggs into the clutch and I don't want her disturbing Summer like that or possibly crushing an egg. I could try and find a different nest box, I just don't know anywhere around here that carries them.

There are just the two hens in that coop at the moment, including Summer. I just don't know if it is better to simply swap the eggs or add that extra nester component or if I need to do this in different steps or if ther is an Option C. I really have nowhere else to move either hen to so separating them isn't really an option.

The eggs are support to arrive tomorrow or Friday, so I don't have much time to work it out.