Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Chicken Frenzie]

id love it if she was broody if it was earlier in the year!, it's going to be cold soon so it is bad timing!!

Yeah..

 

[Johnn]

Yeah..

if she is i will still let her hatch

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

if she is i will still let her hatch

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yep. 

Xs2. Although if I know Smokey and Topsy it may be well before spring!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hope they're okay! Poor little things!

The hawk that tried getting my Turken/EE/Silkie is gone.. not sure where it went. The broody who got attacked has really tiny scabs now! Yay


MY egg wont hatch. Just.. not piping. It thinks it can brake the shell by trying to move. UGH..! It's day 22nd, or early day 23rd. Anything I can do to help? It's just not using it's egg tooth to brake the shell! It's just  staying in the egg. Should I wait until day 25, if nothing, should I try to make  a crack by the air cell? I know that's horrible, and I don't want to... but.. ugh. What should I do? Let mother nature do whatever?Poor little thing.. I heard it make a bubbly sound... that's super weird.I also heard a little *pop*. Did it brake the air cell??

Leave it alone. Don't pick it up and let what happens happen. ((hugs)). After day 26 do not crack it open. You won't gain much knowledge and you may upset yourself. Simply dispose of it and make a new plan.

 

[naturespace]

Won't a broody hen help the chick out if she needs to? I think let her be and she will do what she needs to do. If its not meant to be, she will know. Better to not have it hatch, then hatch and have an ill chick.

Stay strong. In the spring you and broody hen can try again.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

Well the first 2 hatches did not make it past the first stage. So sad after we hear them alive. But Mother Nature knows best. I heard the peeps last night, today saw a bill poking out! jumping for joy here!

I only was able to see this because I picked up Mom and forced her outside. She doesn't want me around those eggs.

Community poll time: do you all force your moms off their nests during hatch time? And how long do you allow the moms to stay off? I was so worried about my hatchling cooling off, I sent my son to locate mom and bring her back!

 

[Johnn]

Well the first 2 hatches did not make it past the first stage. So sad after we hear them alive. But Mother Nature knows best. I heard the peeps last night, today saw a bill poking out!

jumping for joy here!
I only was able to see this because I picked up Mom and forced her outside. She doesn't want me around those eggs.
Community poll time: do you all force your moms off their nests during hatch time? And how long do you allow the moms to stay off? I was so worried about my hatchling cooling off, I sent my son to locate mom and bring her back!

i never force myne off the nest but i cant help but peek under the hen to see if there is a chick. If the mother wants anything she will go for it. My friends hen took the first hatched chick out for a drink and some food when it was only a day old...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well the first 2 hatches did not make it past the first stage. So sad after we hear them alive. But Mother Nature knows best. I heard the peeps last night, today saw a bill poking out!

jumping for joy here!
I only was able to see this because I picked up Mom and forced her outside. She doesn't want me around those eggs.
Community poll time: do you all force your moms off their nests during hatch time? And how long do you allow the moms to stay off? I was so worried about my hatchling cooling off, I sent my son to locate mom and bring her back!

Not when hatching is going on, goodness mama is regulating humidity so by taking her off that gets out of whack. Best just to leave her in lock down till hatch is over then she'll get off when she is ready. Keep food and water close by though. Hope hatch is going great.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

Alright. Actually, im not going to hatch eggs... Not for a long time. The chicks at the store we usuàlly get them from are sexed, and have vaccinations etc... But thanks everyone.
In July the broody polish helped the chicks out, but this broody isn't. But at least i think the chicks I hatched in July half of them are girls!