Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[DAFox]

Quote:
The Broody knows what to do, please just let her without interference. Does she have room to go to the bathroom herself? Get food and water? If not, then I would take her off the nest each day. If she does have room, she'll do as she pleases.

There is no "lockdown" with a broody. That is what we do artificially with the incubator.

Most of my broodies snack on the egg shells. It is fine.

Dale-Ann

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
How about candling them? If you can scrape enough poo off to see inside, you might get an idea of what is going on!

Good luck

 

[laughingull]

Quote:
The Broody knows what to do, please just let her without interference. Does she have room to go to the bathroom herself? Get food and water? If not, then I would take her off the nest each day. If she does have room, she'll do as she pleases.

There is no "lockdown" with a broody. That is what we do artificially with the incubator.

Most of my broodies snack on the egg shells. It is fine.

Dale-Ann

Thanks- glad to know my broody's taste for egg shell is normal! (whew!)

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
The Broody knows what to do, please just let her without interference. Does she have room to go to the bathroom herself? Get food and water? If not, then I would take her off the nest each day. If she does have room, she'll do as she pleases.

There is no "lockdown" with a broody. That is what we do artificially with the incubator.

Most of my broodies snack on the egg shells. It is fine.

Dale-Ann

yes, let mama do what she wants. Chickens have been hatching eggs way longer than we have. My broody's get off the nest, until the hatch starts. Then they are there until they need to raise little ones.
It's also my humble opinion, that the broody should be able to get up, eat, drink, poop, whatever needs to be done, on their own. Every broody I have had, has a set time that THEY like to get stuff done. They should not be relying on us to allow them to poop. Well that's how I feel, and do it anyway. I try not to interfere, and only peek at the eggs when the broody is off the nest.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
The Broody knows what to do, please just let her without interference. Does she have room to go to the bathroom herself? Get food and water? If not, then I would take her off the nest each day. If she does have room, she'll do as she pleases.

There is no "lockdown" with a broody. That is what we do artificially with the incubator.

Most of my broodies snack on the egg shells. It is fine.

Dale-Ann

yes, let mama do what she wants. Chickens have been hatching eggs way longer than we have. My broody's get off the nest, until the hatch starts. Then they are there until they need to raise little ones.
It's also my humble opinion, that the broody should be able to get up, eat, drink, poop, whatever needs to be done, on their own. Every broody I have had, has a set time that THEY like to get stuff done. They should not be relying on us to allow them to poop. Well that's how I feel, and do it anyway. I try not to interfere, and only peek at the eggs when the broody is off the nest.

X2

 

[artsyrobin]

they're here!!!

friday i picked up an egg and it chirped at me!!! since this is my first experience- that was so neat! then saturday morning we had a little face.... was gone all day came home and had 3- this morning- here is the family... i think i am addicted!

here is the flock they came from

 

[welasharon]

Whew! Took a while to read this whole thread. I have a serama who hasn't laid even a dozen eggs she is so young but has been adamant about going broody. She sat for several days on an empty nest. I figured she would give up...instead she laid some more eggs. She stays there day and night and screams and attacks me if I reach in. Friday I decided to leave her to it. Yesterday I marked the six eggs in there with a sharpie. For two days running now, she will get up, do all the broody eating, puffing and broody pooping. While she does this the other serama hen will go claim the spot. Sometime later yesterday they switched back. I guess they will figure it out? I only have three seramas and they are penned together. I thought about separating her but I think I will just let them do whatever. I am okay if they hatch some and okay if they don't. Broody hens are rather funny though.
sharon

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well they sure are artsyrobin and beautiful too. Congrats. Those mamas are georgeous too!!!!

welasharon, happy to see you here, I hope they have some chicks, it is so much fun watching them take care and teaching their babies..

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
Have you tried to candle them? they could be rotten, candleing would let you know for sure. sure don't want eggs to blow up in your bator..

 

[welasharon]

Thanks Miss Lydia! I love the idea of chicks...I just don't want to deal with the ugly part so I think I just won't look till little babies peek out!
sharon