Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

To the person concerned about in breeding: are the chickens siblings for sure? Otherwise, don't worry. I had a couple of broodies last year that I didn't let set. My hatching eggs came from my brother's flock. Josh has only two roosters. Last Summer I had only two roosters with their two at least half sisters and four Red Sex Link gals. I couldn't tell eggs apart so didn't let them set.

Why risk inbreeding issues if I don't have to, right? If I were in the same situation this year (now that I've discovered BYC!), I'd ask around for hatching eggs and let the girl be broody.

I would hazard a guess that birds from a hatchery would NOT be likely to be full siblings. Birds from two or more breeders would probably give you enough genetic diversity to breed within your own flock for generations.

For more breeding information, check out the threads about Heritage Rhode Island Reds and Dominiques. Just about everything written by Robert Blosl (? on the last name spelling) is great. Bob has been breeding chickens for years.

Candling: want to see through those dark eggs? Go to your favorite store that sells camping supplies and look at the flashlight display. Note the LUM rating or the Candle Power number. If I recall correctly the display at Wal-mart had LUMs. Find the flashlight with the highest number. Buy it and install fresh batteries. Take flashlight and egg to dark spot. I hold the egg and flashlight in the same hand. (If I drop something, it will be the flashlight.) Slowly rotate and turn the egg. Even in the darkest eggs I can see the air cell and veining.

During the last hatch I had some light eggs. With this same bright light we could see the chicks react to the light in Week 2.

The egg should look "full" in the last week as the chick fills the space. "Clear" eggs are bad. There are plenty of threads with pictures of eggs at all stages. (And I'm on my phone and looking those up are a major pain, lol!)

Here's hoping this helps someone!

 

[PetRock]

We have a broody BA who has been sitting on a wooden egg for 2 1/2 weeks now. She just is not giving up on the whole motherhood thing! I am trying to decide whether to try slipping 3 day old chicks under her or giving her some fertile eggs to hatch. Do you think that I waited too long to give her eggs and that another 3 weeks of sitting on top of the 2 1/2 that she has already done will be harmful to her health? I keep going back and forth on it but really need to decide soon. If I was sure that she would accept the 3 day olds, that would be the easiest for all of us. But if she doesn't and I end up giving her eggs anyway, we will have a possible 6 with our hen, 3 more babies in a small brooder, and another 9 that we already have in the larger brooder. DH will not be impressed with my chicken math skills!

 

[Equine_Angel]

To the person concerned about in breeding: are the chickens siblings for sure? Otherwise, don't worry. I had a couple of broodies last year that I didn't let set. My hatching eggs came from my brother's flock. Josh has only two roosters. Last Summer I had only two roosters with their two at least half sisters and four Red Sex Link gals. I couldn't tell eggs apart so didn't let them set.

Why risk inbreeding issues if I don't have to, right? If I were in the same situation this year (now that I've discovered BYC!), I'd ask around for hatching eggs and let the girl be broody.

I would hazard a guess that birds from a hatchery would NOT be likely to be full siblings. Birds from two or more breeders would probably give you enough genetic diversity to breed within your own flock for generations.

For more breeding information, check out the threads about Heritage Rhode Island Reds and Dominiques. Just about everything written by Robert Blosl (? on the last name spelling) is great. Bob has been breeding chickens for years.

The Australorps I have hatched myself. All I know if that they have come from the same father, but will have probably come from different mothers. Also, Mama might also be sitting on some of our Red Rock and Red Sussex eggs...they may not all be hers. I will see what happens

I think it would be cool to have a Australorp/SLW cross....fingers crossed on that breeding

 

[Miss Lydia]

Pet Rock, some hens will accept chicks others won't, so you never know. I have a broody that is sitting another 21 days on eggs because I gave her Brahma eggs that weren't fertile. She seems to be doin fine, comes out once a day eatds drinks and poops, then goes right back in. Hers are due on the 19th.

 

[PetRock]

Quote:
Do you just let her come out on her own or "encourage" her to come out once a day? We have been taking her off her nest three times a day because she is just sitting on wooden eggs.

 

[PetRock]

Double post! My crazy computer wants to post things twice!

 

[BlackBart]

I had a Broody kill all of her chicks. What a horrible thing to come home to. I have had a hen kill a chick now and then if it was deformed but not the whole brood.
Must of been something wrong with them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

OhMy gosh Black Bart, how sad so sorry.

Pet Rock, I just let her come out on her own, if i take her out she'll just shake her feathers and go right back in so I just leave it up to her. My Muscovy who is also sitting comes out 2X a day. plus she has food an water inside with her too.

 

[Sudsy Chick]

Equine_Angel - I don't know about the breeding - but congrats on your broody hen and pg!

farmerChef- cute pics! love the bucket nest too - keeps the draft away, holds the chicks, perfect.

congrats Zoomom!

Gold Griffen Chicken Mom - thank you for your advice. I did see that about 1/4 was darker than the rest - but could not see anything else. I will give it one more day & try again.

Black Bart - so sorry to hear that happened to your chicks.

My broody girls are doing well - but my lonely Henrietta has started pulling out her tail feathers. She's really, super lonely

Today it was raining - she looked like the saddest little chicken by herself sitting along the fence...this is going to be the longest two weeks of her life (and I thought it was going to be long for me!) I almost wish she'd just go broody too and then I could give her some of the eggs.

 

[Zoomom]

So now there are 4 chicks - 2 yellow, 1 yellow with a buff back, 1 chipmunk. The last 2 eggs haven't hatched yet. I am giving them another day or two just in case. No peeps from inside last night though.