Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

If there's a lot of broody poop on one of the eggs, can that hurt the chick? It's only the one egg, but its pretty nasty. 

ETA it's about day 20 by my estimation, if that changes anything. 

Yes it can hurt if its significantly covered. Try to wipe it off with a paper towel. If that won't work, look up how to wash dirty hatching eggs.

 

[TheRookie]

I have this in emergency section too but I figured I would ask here too just in case...

My broody had 12 eggs to start with. Three got eaten and one disappeared, leaving her with eight. Well when the others hatched, I moved her out to the tractor where she will live with them untill they are old enough not to need heat. I was cleaning out the dog cage she hatched in, and found the egg that had disappeared. It was in a totally different are from the rest of her eggs and I knew it hadnt been moved recently so I figured it was a dud... well after cracking it partway open, I realized that it was moving!!! So somehow it developed but there is still a lot of fluid in the egg and from what I can tell (never seen an egg hatch before) hes not totally developed and ready to hatch. The momma wants nothing to do with him so Im on my own... I know to keep the membrane from drying out but other than that,what else could I do? Or is this a lost cause since I accidentally tore the membrane before I realized it wasnt a dud?

 

[bobbieschicks]

I have this in emergency section too but I figured I would ask here too just in case... My broody had 12 eggs to start with. Three got eaten and one disappeared, leaving her with eight. Well when the others hatched, I moved her out to the tractor where she will live with them untill they are old enough not to need heat. I was cleaning out the dog cage she hatched in, and found the egg that had disappeared. It was in a totally different are from the rest of her eggs and I knew it hadnt been moved recently so I figured it was a dud... well after cracking it partway open, I realized that it was moving!!! So somehow it developed but there is still a lot of fluid in the egg and from what I can tell (never seen an egg hatch before) hes not totally developed and ready to hatch. The momma wants nothing to do with him so Im on my own... I know to keep the membrane from drying out but other than that,what else could I do? Or is this a lost cause since I accidentally tore the membrane before I realized it wasnt a dud?

It's stuff like this that makes me not open unhatched eggs. You either incubate it until it hatches or dispose of it humanely. There's a reason why the broody abandoned it and you may nurse it and find it does great or it could pass soon after hatching. Decide how much effort you want to go through for this one potential chick and go from there. If you have a bator you can pop it in there and see if it will hatch. Figure it's on day 18 humidity levels. Once it hatches it will be behind in growth compared to the others so you will need to make a brooder with heat lamp and raise it until it can be merged with the others at maybe a week old? The broody may reject it then too so be prepared to brood it to six weeks. Or you tuck it into the nest after the broody goes to bed tonight and allow what happens to happen.

 

[stonykill]

Originally Posted by TheRookie

I have this in emergency section too but I figured I would ask here too just in case...

My broody had 12 eggs to start with. Three got eaten and one disappeared, leaving her with eight. Well when the others hatched, I moved her out to the tractor where she will live with them untill they are old enough not to need heat. I was cleaning out the dog cage she hatched in, and found the egg that had disappeared. It was in a totally different are from the rest of her eggs and I knew it hadnt been moved recently so I figured it was a dud... well after cracking it partway open, I realized that it was moving!!! So somehow it developed but there is still a lot of fluid in the egg and from what I can tell (never seen an egg hatch before) hes not totally developed and ready to hatch. The momma wants nothing to do with him so Im on my own... I know to keep the membrane from drying out but other than that,what else could I do? Or is this a lost cause since I accidentally tore the membrane before I realized it wasnt a dud?

It's stuff like this that makes me not open unhatched eggs.

You either incubate it until it hatches or dispose of it humanely. There's a reason why the broody abandoned it and you may nurse it and find it does great or it could pass soon after hatching. Decide how much effort you want to go through for this one potential chick and go from there.
If you have a bator you can pop it in there and see if it will hatch. Figure it's on day 18 humidity levels. Once it hatches it will be behind in growth compared to the others so you will need to make a brooder with heat lamp and raise it until it can be merged with the others at maybe a week old? The broody may reject it then too so be prepared to brood it to six weeks.
Or you tuck it into the nest after the broody goes to bed tonight and allow what happens to happen.

x2, what Bobbies said. Now for the next question. What do you mean by "until they are old enough not to need heat" ? Mama hen supplies the only heat needed. You don't mean heat lamps do you? Heat lamps bad, very bad

 

[TheRookie]

Originally Posted by TheRookie

I have this in emergency section too but I figured I would ask here too just in case...

My broody had 12 eggs to start with. Three got eaten and one disappeared, leaving her with eight. Well when the others hatched, I moved her out to the tractor where she will live with them untill they are old enough not to need heat. I was cleaning out the dog cage she hatched in, and found the egg that had disappeared. It was in a totally different are from the rest of her eggs and I knew it hadnt been moved recently so I figured it was a dud... well after cracking it partway open, I realized that it was moving!!! So somehow it developed but there is still a lot of fluid in the egg and from what I can tell (never seen an egg hatch before) hes not totally developed and ready to hatch. The momma wants nothing to do with him so Im on my own... I know to keep the membrane from drying out but other than that,what else could I do? Or is this a lost cause since I accidentally tore the membrane before I realized it wasnt a dud?
x2, what Bobbies said. Now for the next question. What do you mean by "until they are old enough not to need heat" ? Mama hen supplies the only heat needed. You don't mean heat lamps do you? Heat lamps bad, very bad

What I meant was that they would stay with momma till they are old enough not to need her, ie, she kicks them out. Then they will go into the coop with the other big kids. Momma will stay in the tractor.

 

[stonykill]

What I meant was that they would stay with momma till they are old enough not to need her, ie, she kicks them out. Then they will go into the coop with the other big kids. Momma will stay in the tractor.

ok.

 

[lcw1995]

I've got 1 hatched out and I think 3 more pipped they're not due till monday

 

[farmer boy]

what day are you on ???

 

[bobbieschicks]

what day are you on ??? 

They must be on day 19 if they're chicks and were due on Monday.


How is your hatch going? Have you reached day 23 yet? Have you candled any of the eggs?

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Yesterday, it poured rain. Vertical walls of it, leaves flying, etc. So when i went to check everyone, the other way I could tell who was who, one hen decided to sit it out in te run and the other stayed in the coup. Who was dry, and who was soaked was a good indication of which chick belonged to which mama. She didn't seem to notice them scolding her for letting them get soaked, since she was busy drying her feathers - after all, she was the most wet, having been the umbrella for most of it....maybe she thought they all could use a bath. The sun came out and all are shiny and fluffy again-and so clean! Ready for Sunday school!