Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Mr Marans]

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Thanks Jeeves
I'm sure there will be lots.
Thanks
Gary

 

[featherz]

Woot! Checked under my first time pullet broody and she has three little ones under her. Two or three eggs left, but those were a few days behind the others. She's clucking with them under her and actually let me pull them out and look at them without snapping at me. I hope this means she isn't planning to pull them out and eat them later?

I have to go out of town tomorrow (only for the day) so I've set up a nipple waterer at chick height and chick food right near her.

And even better, the 'discarded' egg with the peck in it? I had pulled out the pecked and discarded egg a few days ago, candled it as 'iffy', placed tape on the peck and put it in my incubator for a few days - no 'lockdown', no nothing, still on a turner. Was peeping yesterday so put it under mom. It hatched!!! I just pulled out a green eggshell with my tape on it.

Pics the next time I get out there, but I see two little grey chickies and one lighter one. All were out of my green eggs, so two take after daddy (cochin X) and one takes after mommy (brown ee).

 

[stonykill]

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fantastic! That is so great about the discarded egg. Can't wait to see the pics!

 

[kannna]

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I like your little set up there. It looks like she will be very comfortable.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Congratulations !!!!!!!!!!!! looking forward to pics. I haven't been out to see my broody yet, she had one as of yesterday afternoon and one peeping so it's probably hatched by now will report in later..

 

[Miss Lydia]

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what cuties laughingull, got

for the little ones and mama!

 

[Sorin]

Hello everyone!

I've enjoyed reading through some of this thread, and I was hoping I could ask a question. I have a broody BO who is sitting on 8 eggs, she's on day 12, I've candled a few of the eggs and they seem to be doing well. I have never had a broody hen before so please forgive my ignorance

when I pick her up from the nest to check the eggs, there is definitely a smell. I've checked each egg individually and there is no smell coming from any particular egg. However, my hen is slightly damp on her underside when I pick her up, is this normal? Is this just normal moisture accumulating form being stuck in one place for 23 1/2 hours a day and is this the probable source of the smell? I do notice that after she is off the eggs for a few minutes the smell dissipates. Thanks for your help!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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I'm not sure about the smell unless she is going potty in her nest box, but you would diff. know that..

but the moisture is just her way of regulating humidity. think incubator

and Congratulations on the Broody!!!

 

[newlyweds]

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A few weeks ago I wrote about my first broody hen Maisie, she hatched 3 chicks that I sold shortly after, she started laying again about 2 weeks ago, and guess who's broody again!!! Less than 5 weeks after she hatched her first clutch. Is this normal? Should I let her brood again?

Anyone have experience with this?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well congratulations on having another broody and it being the same one as before. you know 42 days ago on of my hens went broody she was sitting on 3 brahma eggs and they were not fertile[stupid me] well she wouldn't get up and resume her life as a chicken so I put 3 bantam eggs under her and yesterday they started hatching, she is doing great and since yours had a little break she will probably be fine too..[maybe let her have these chicks and she won't feel the need to go broody so quick again..]