Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

The 4 blue splash maran eggs arrived today - in the 106F weather without an ice pack - so I don't hold out much hope for them.

Inside the coop temps are 106F and those two foolish chicks are still sitting in the nest boxes - I keep taking them out and they keep getting back up in them.


The maran eggs are sitting in my house resting for tomorrow evening. Two are dark, but two are lighter so I guess they could be near the end of their laying cycle. The dark eggs will be cockerels (or duds) and the lighter ones pullets. JK- LOL!


I'll move the broody girls and their eggs into their new area tomorrow evening since neither one of them stayed on the new nests when I tried to move them earlier - no big surprise. This time I'm going to try not wiring them in or closing the door and see how it goes. I'll be sure to mark any additional eggs I add with the maran ones.


Here's the rest of the large ones from the flock trying to stay cool under the deck of the pool. The baby silkies are under the coop staying cool.

 

[perchie.girl]

When I planned my breed house/coop I planned for a separate pen for bachelors. Then those will be allowed to free range when I let the Guineas free range.

Yep my roo count is up to six total. There is a one roo has a hen and I hope to build a seperate breed partition for them. I adopted two silky roos. Then I have four Wellie Roos two of which are going to get the 14 Wellie hens So my bachelor flock will be at five when I get thing partitioned out right. I am planning on enough space for about ten or twelve roos to be comfortable in the protection of the coop.


This all because I am trying my hardest not to buy from hatcheries who send the boy chicks to the grinders right after the are sexed if they dont have an order for a roo. Sigh. I am trying to buy from local breeders and or get shipped eggs to build up the breeds of chickens I want.

deb

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

up to about 38 chicks ( not counting the ones that haven't hatched ) one day I'll count pullets, always seems like more boys that girls and i just don't want that confirmed! I'm not ready to face reality.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

She's absolutely beautiful.

Thank you

 

[featherz]

The video is a little small (taken with my phone) but here's princess the broody araucana with her babies and a watermelon.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Ok, I swapped the eggs from under Summer. I had to kick her out of the coop anyway; my rule is she must get out and get some sunshine at least every three days. Figured I would swap the eggs while I was at it.

Cross your fingers she stays broody! She has already been setting for twelve days.

 

[mmg2681]

Bobbieschicks,

Thank you so much for the information!
I live in northeast Ohio, and it has been mid to upper 90's here.
When I got home from work today, we had 3 new hatches! YAY! We still have 12 more fertilized eggs under mama hen.
Here's hoping we get the last few chicks to hatch over the next few days!
Thanks again for your help.

It's usually safe to pitch them after the broody gets up from the nest to take care of the new chicks. My broodies usually make a new nest a little away from the old one and that's my clue the old eggs are done. Generally 2 days after the last one hatched.

She's probably itching to get up with the babies - so she'll quit soon. If not, take one or two and candle them. They most likely aren't any good. Especially if they were shipped eggs - where a 50% hatch rate is typical. Also - the length of time depends on weather conditions in your area too - I don't see your location - if you were in VA like me your eggs would be hatching a couple of days early because we're in the 90s-100s and highly humid. So by Day 23 for me - they 'd be duds.

All the eggs I've candled after the pullets have moved from the nest have been duds.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Mostly, I just need a hug from my fellow broody-breeders.
Last September, I had my first successful hatch under my broody (RIP Alice Ann). I got two chicks, and one was a roo.
Now, said roo is beating the living daylights out of his father, and with too few hens for 2 roos, I am running out of options to deal with him.
I am desperately trying to rehome him, but have no takers.
If I don't find him a new home, I am going to have to do the unthinkable.
I'm not normally squeamish about these matters, but have never had to 'do' one of my own personal fuzzy butts.
I find this is my saddest moment in chicken-rearing.

Big Hugs to you Rachel!

**climbs upon soap box**

If I have one more of my 'friends' give me grief about eating one of my roos, or a fox that gets one of my chooks, so help me, I will duct tape them to a chair and force them to watch video after video of how battery hens are kept. No, I would never really do this, because in real life I'm quite whimpy. But my point is this.... when I do cull a roo, or when the unspeakable (a predator finds his sneaky way to my chooks) happens, I remember that MY chickens have lived a far better and pampered life than the $2.79/lb ones that my friends are buying in the supermarket, or the ones that are laying the $1.29/dz eggs that they are buying, and THAT is how i forgive myself.

I hope this helps someone else too. : )

 

[bobbieschicks]

Bobbieschicks,

Thank you so much for the information!

I live in northeast Ohio, and it has been mid to upper 90's here.
When I got home from work today, we had 3 new hatches! YAY!  We still have 12 more fertilized eggs under mama hen.
Here's hoping we get the last few chicks to hatch over the next few days!

Thanks again for your help.

Congrats! She will stick with the eggs if they are viable for sure because she can hear their chirps even when we can't. If they dont hatch soon you may still want to candle the remaining twelve as fertilized eggs can still be quitters along the way. Hoping they all hatch for you soon!

 

[bobbieschicks]

[COLOR=0000FF]Big Hugs to you Rachel!  [/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]**climbs upon soap box**[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]If I have one more of my 'friends' give me grief about eating one of my roos, or a fox that gets one of my chooks, so help me, I will duct tape them to a chair and force them to watch video after video of how battery hens are kept.  No, I would never really do this, because in real life I'm quite whimpy.  But my point is this.... when I do cull a roo, or when the unspeakable (a predator finds his sneaky way to my chooks) happens, I remember that MY chickens have lived a far better and pampered life than the $2.79/lb ones that my friends are buying in the supermarket, or the ones that are laying the $1.29/dz eggs that they are buying, and THAT is how i forgive myself.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=0000FF]I hope this helps someone else too.  : )[/COLOR]

Thank you for the reminder.