Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

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I have had this happen only twice while hatching Sumatra's. I don't know why. I hatched either by broody's or incubator 30 something Sumatra chicks, from blacks and blues. I ended up with 2 with copper coloring in the head and chest area. Not sure why.... I didn't sell those, I thought they were cool....

 

[laughingull]

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If she sat easter sunday, then today is day 23. So tomorrow eve will be day 24.You don't count the day they sat.

Yes, once I had eggs hatch on day 25. 2 of 4 eggs I was JUST about to toss, until I noticed the pip.

Oh Yikes- my math was wrong!!! Thank you Stony. Hmmm... will have to decide- tomorrow is my day off so the only day I would be able to get out to get the chicks. I could wait till afternoon, stick them under her in the eve so her eggs would have one more night of warmth before she gets off the nest which would take her to day 24.5. Hmmmm... Thank you for all of your help. I didn't know I wasn't supposed to count the day she sat!!!

 

[hokankai]

It's day 19 for my first broody's hatch and ONE CHEEPED/WIGGLED!!! The other didn't move, but I did see subtle movement when I candled it and a hatch-ready air cell! I'm so excited

 

[perchie.girl]

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Not as good for ticks as you might be thinking:
http://books.google.com/books?id=8A...Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=ticks guinea fowl&f=false
Dale-Ann

Not a problem any reduction is good in my book. We aren't really overrun with them here in the desert. There are many reasons I want Guineas besides tick control.

 

[josie63]

I have two hens setting at this time, One is on chicken eggs, the other is on turkey eggs. Both hens are doing very well with this job. I have left them in the barn with all my other free range chickens, I was very surprised they have chosen the barn, to do their setting. Because everyone told me they would probally hide somewhere and set. But with that being said when I was a child, my grandma raised chickens for egg's and meat. Her chickens were kept in a barn with a lot, when one became broody she always set them in the barn with the other chickens. Believe me the other chickens did not bother her or her chicks.

 

[stuckinthecity]

I HAVE A BROODY!!!!!!!!

finally... it only took her all of spring to decide she wanted to sit this year! Pictures coming soon... this will be her 4th time sitting for me!!!

I moved her tonight, and will be putting fertile eggs under her tomorrow. YAYYY!

 

[lottyloo]

one out of my 4 broodys has hatched 1 chick!!

a little orange one

hopefully more to come thoughout the day!!

 

[featherz]

Ack! Help! I have pips!!

Now, the big question.. my broody has been getting displaced out of the nest the last two days by two other hens who just want to lay eggs - I THINK it's when she gets up to do her business, but not sure. I am hoping she will not get up at all today with pips?

I have a large cat carrier I can put broody mom and the eggs in - but should I do it now? is it too late? If I lock her in the cat carrier, she may get distressed trying to get back to the old nest , but if I keep the door open she'll probably just jump out. With pips maybe she'll stay on the nest today?

On another note, she had kicked an egg out a few days ago that still looked good to me - one of the other hens pecked it - I covered the hole with scotch tape and put it in my bator, which has eggs a week from hatching (so still turned and still at 40% humidity). Didn't expect much, but it was peeping today! I pulled it out and stuck it back under the hen.

 

[stonykill]

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She may get up with pips, but only for a VERY short time. My Broody Sumatra's will get off the nest BRIEFLY when they have pips. I also noticed something very interesting yesterday while a broody was hatching eggs. Once an egg pipped, she pushed it out from under her, and had it next to her. Once it zippered and hatched she would pull the chick under her. Seeing this got rid of any concerns I ever had about my hens leaving the nest with pips.

I have had ZERO % luck moving broody's. Unless I wait until after the hatch. I wait 2 days, then move the nest with mama, chicks and all to a place the chicks can get in and out of the nest. My Sumatra's will not tollerate a dog crate, so I can't help you there.

Very cool on the egg! My latest broody has been very interesting, and a great learning experience for me. She would, what looked like randomly choose to not sit on certain eggs. Then a while later she was back on them. Being she has been hatching eggs for 2 days now, I have to believe she knows what she is doing.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I don't think you'll have to worry about your hen getting up if theres pipping going on. It's like lock down she'll stay put or mine do anyway. but if you do move her make sure you lock her in the carrier cause they are crazy during this time as you probably already know. Good luck on the egg with tape that is so cool that it made it.. keep us updated on their progress.