Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Sterl18]

We all make mistakes, don't be hard on yourself!

Thanks, Johnn! Trying to move on and next time I'll know a little bit more!

 

[Sterl18]

Soo nervous to go out to the girls tomorrow because I doubt I am going to find anything but un-hatched eggs.

Hoping for some good news....

 

[Johnn]

Day 21- NOTHING! I am starting to come up with my back up plan. On Monday I will crack the eggs open, if there are dead chicks in them due to the hen leaving them un covered, I will put the divider back in the nest box and give her some more eggs. If no eggs were fertile I will take the risk of buying some and keep my fingers crossed that she sits long enough for them to hatch.

 

[CherokeeFlats]

I'm also at day 21. nothing so far. She let a couple eggs get cold so I am hoping they hatch tomorrow. If not, I'm totally putting more under her!

 

[Johnn]

I'm also at day 21. nothing so far. She let a couple eggs get cold so I am hoping they hatch tomorrow. If not, I'm totally putting more under her!

Mine left one uncovered today too!!

 

[karlamaria]

Well it's finally happening, the mama hatched out a baby and another is on the way. I think what happened yesterday was one broody want to sit on the babies and the mama wanted them and that's what she was trying to do, grab them. I'm hoping for 4 chicks, hoping for a few girls at least ! 1 down, one half way out, and 2 to go.

 

[karlamaria]

Day 21- NOTHING! I am starting to come up with my back up plan. On Monday I will crack the eggs open, if there are dead chicks in them due to the hen leaving them un covered, I will put the divider back in the nest box and give her some more eggs. If no eggs were fertile I will take the risk of buying some and keep my fingers crossed that she sits long enough for them to hatch.

day 21 means nothing ! I'm on day 23 and there coming now. It will happen it takes time. A watched pot never boils lol. My girl hatched out 2 yesterday and she and another broody fought over them and they died. I heard peeps yesterday from an egg but after that nothing, I figured it had died since there is yolk all over it. It's going to happen, just be patient

 

[Pyxis]

Well, my girl is on again off again. I think I broke her by changing the bedding in the coop! Yeesh, people who want to break them have to lock the up in mesh bottom cages for a week and the one I buy eggs for breaks after I clean the coop If I lock her in she broods, but I don't want to have to do that, for the sake of the other birds. Wish I could persuade my silkie to go broody so I wouldn't have to do the eggs myself. Ah well.

 

[Johnn]

I plan to crack the eggs open on Monday which is day 23, I really do just think they are dead. She will be getting less this time as I don't really want many chicks.

 

[karlamaria]

Well, my girl is on again off again. I think I broke her by changing the bedding in the coop! Yeesh, people who want to break them have to lock the up in mesh bottom cages for a week and the one I buy eggs for breaks after I clean the coop If I lock her in she broods, but I don't want to have to do that, for the sake of the other birds. Wish I could persuade my silkie to go broody so I wouldn't have to do the eggs myself. Ah well.

when my first broody. Had eggs she was back and fourth, I finally locked her up and only let her out to poop and eat, drink. Then I took her right back in. I put food in the crate and water and shut her up. She hatched out all her eggs. I locked up my next broody because she kept getting off the eggs and sitting on the other infertile eggs laid that day. It's cold here still and the eggs were super cold every time I came home and found er in another nest box. I finally had enough and locked her up, all but four hatched
Now this last broody was great but the mama of the last babies wanted to sit on these eggs every time broody mama wanted to go eat. All but 6 eggs were destroyed. Now with each hatch mama kills the chick. Only one is alive under her now and dry and ok..2 eggs to go, praying she allows them to lie