Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[6littlechicks]

What I do is bring them in everyday and set them in an egg carton on the counter so I always have a dozen room temp fresh eggs just in case.

 

[Cheerful]

Getting excited, though also prepping myself for disappointment. Hatch day should be tomorrow or Wednesday. This is our first time with a broody hen - a SLW, and I really hope she at least gets a few chicks! I had an issue with her pooping in the nest and though the eggs aren't too dirty they are somewhat dirty, and I hope some chicks still hatch (for her sake as much as ours!) She's got seven eggs. She's been so dedicated. So do I just keep an ear open when I go in to check on her to hear any peeping??

 

[Moni]

How l

What I do is bring them in everyday and set them in an egg carton on the counter so I always have a dozen room temp fresh eggs just in case.

How long will they stay good for hatching. I don't use an incubator I just want to use hens if they go broody. I have one hen sitting on 11 eggs now and my other hen that goes broody is laying now. But when she decides to sit i would like to put a variety of eggs under her from my other hens. How many days old would you consider is to old for an egg?Thanks for the info

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi everyone i have quick question. I have assorted bantams and i like to let them raise their own chicks so i not going to pick up their eggs right away to use for eating. I have 2 japanese hens that are very good about going broody, but my other hens have just started laying. I go out every 2 days and mark all of the new eggs with the date. My question is how long will eggs stay viable for hatching? I'm thinking by marking them i will pick up old eggs so that there are viable eggs in the nests at all times if they decide to go broody. I hope that makes since. The temps here right now are around 50 at night and around 70-75 in the day.

best way to do it, let us know when one starts to sit.

at those temps you can leave them quite a while probably won't take long for one of your bantams to go broody, I have 2 bantams sitting now.

 

[Miss Lydia]

How l
How long will they stay good for hatching. I don't use an incubator I just want to use hens if they go broody. I have one hen sitting on 11 eggs now and my other hen that goes broody is laying now. But when she decides to sit i would like to put a variety of eggs under her from my other hens. How many days old would you consider is to old for an egg?Thanks for the info

I'd leave the eggs, the oldest for no longer than a week if they haven't gone broody by then take out the oldest and start again.
the reason i say this is from what I've read about those that use a bator, the eggs start going down hill after 7-10 days.

 

[gg706]

Nothing yet. I have only gone out 2 times today. I did not stick my hand under her I just looked through the window and listened to see if anything was happening.

So here is hoping it will be time sooner than later....It is driving me crazy! It is like Christimas Eve waiting to open a present as a child! I cant wait to see what they look like!

 

[Debs55]

My co broody silkies lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

My co broody silkies lol

Cute

 

[Miss Lydia]

Nothing yet. I have only gone out 2 times today. I did not stick my hand under her I just looked through the window and listened to see if anything was happening.

So here is hoping it will be time sooner than later....It is driving me crazy! It is like Christimas Eve waiting to open a present as a child! I cant wait to see what they look like!

If you go inside just listen you maybe able to hear peeping.

 

[Moni]

Ok thanks for the input everyone. Sounds like I'll stay on course with what I'm doing and not go over 7days with my eggs. I should have some little fuzzballs for my birthday with my little hen that is sitting now and hopefully some of my other girls will jump on the band wagon!!!