Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

yep I have 2 girls!

Lilly does come off the nest all fluffed up even her head! She does have a few feathers in her nest but other then that she just goes lays the eggs sits there then covers the nest up leaves and comes back the next day. Maybe she will go eventually. Oh and yes, she talks to EVERYONE! They both do!

Thats what they do Tripp, they will continue to lay, cover up the eggs then when they feel they have enough[how do they know?] she will settle down for her broody time. Probably won't be long now.

But are you going to get her fertile eggs?

 

[farmer boy]

day 19 can't wait for my babies to hatch its gonna be awesome first time hatch with broody

 

[lcw1995]

ive got two hens due to hatch on sunday one has seven the other has two

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Just like real life... (the circle of life, that is)
I just finished processing my first home-brooded rooster from last fall, and lo and behold, I discovered I have a hen who has never, ever shown the slightest tendency to brood setting on 5 eggs (from the day before yesterday's lay), screaming and pecking me like Broodzilla.
Her little belly is bald and warm and she seems quite committed.
I noticed her last night, when I did my night count, so she has only just begun.
Of course she has chosen the Premium nest to set in, much to the chagrin of the other 8 hens. But I was all involved and pushy last time trying to do everything "right". This time, I am leaving hen to brood, and I will wait. (I did mark the eggs so I would know if they were the same eggs, with no new additions)
I know it is probably too early to begin crossing my fingers, but since my last broody was lost to a predator, and I was sure I wouldn't have another, this is almost too exciting for words!!!

 

[farmer boy]

congrats mine will hatch tomorrow or the next day i hope all hatch fingers crossed

 

[Tripp16]

Thats what they do Tripp, they will continue to lay, cover up the eggs then when they feel they have enough[how do they know?] she will settle down for her broody time. Probably won't be long now.

But are you going to get her fertile eggs?

Yeah Im going to get her some eggs. It just finding duck eggs is the problem....

 

[stonykill]

Yeah Im going to get her some eggs. It just finding duck eggs is the problem....

hmmm, you and Miss L both in N.C. Miss L has ducks.......................

 

[farmer boy]

can chicks hatch before 21 days like on day 20 ???

 

[Johnn]

can chicks hatch before 21 days like on day 20 ???

yeah day 19 to 21 is normal one of my friends hatched yesterday at day 20 amd 2 today at day 21

 

[stonykill]

can chicks hatch before 21 days like on day 20 ???

yes. Day 19 to day 21 is the norm. Up to day 23 isn't that uncommon.
I almost always have one or 2 day 19 chicks