Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Island Roo]

Here is a great photo from the internet showing a Rooster baby sitting ???/many chicks! I love this photo. My own rooster never harmed the chicks. He would hang out with them a lot, too.

Reminds me of little fuzzy Egyptians moving a monument into position (pyramid not visible in this photo)

 

[Island Roo]

Sounds like it all depends on the roo.
This is my roo getting into position between me and the chicks and giving the "crooked look". This step-dad is really good with chicks. When the chicks are a couple days older and they re-join the flock, anyone going after a chick will have to get thru him first, then the co-parenting moms.

 

[Johnn]

Look what a kind owner I am!, I give them a nice selection:

I think this was her way of telling me to bring the phone no closer!:

 

[Island Roo]

Nice buffet - but no sneeze guard

 

[essyd]

They are so cute!!  I am on day 6 with my broody, and I can't wait!

I'm nearly day 17 so excited!! First time I have ever hatched (well muma hen lol) going to b a loooong week

 

[Jessica Davis]

I'm hoping this thread isn't too old to get a reply...I need some advice. I have a silver grey dorking who went broody right after her companion (my only other chicken) died. She's been sitting on her unfertilized eggs for 7 days now. I've ordered hatching eggs online but it could be another week before they arrive. I've changed out her current eggs with some others that have been refrigerated so they don't rot and explode on her while she's sitting. My concern is that by the time the new eggs arrive, she will have another 20-21 days to sit on those, which could be more than 30 days total. I plan on having an incubator handy in case she won't sit, but would prefer it if she did it, since she'll probably do a better job. Will she sit on the eggs for long enough? The anticipated ship date for the eggs is 5/13, so I'm worried if I pull her off the nest she won't be ready to go again when they do arrive.

 

[fisherlady]

I'm hoping this thread isn't too old to get a reply...I need some advice. I have a silver grey dorking who went broody right after her companion (my only other chicken) died. She's been sitting on her unfertilized eggs for 7 days now. I've ordered hatching eggs online but it could be another week before they arrive. I've changed out her current eggs with some others that have been refrigerated so they don't rot and explode on her while she's sitting. My concern is that by the time the new eggs arrive, she will have another 20-21 days to sit on those, which could be more than 30 days total. I plan on having an incubator handy in case she won't sit, but would prefer it if she did it, since she'll probably do a better job. Will she sit on the eggs for long enough? The anticipated ship date for the eggs is 5/13, so I'm worried if I pull her off the nest she won't be ready to go again when they do arrive.

Hens who are really broody don't care how long they have to sit, they just want to end up with chicks. So as long as she remains healthy she should do fine with the extended time. You may be able to help her out by making sure she has good quality food and fresh water available close by and offer tempting good quality treats to tempt her appetite if she begins to loose weight. This thread was started a long time ago but is very active, if you go back about 20 or 30 pages or so I would imagine you will find answers to many, many questions you may have, if not, then feel free to ask away.

Also, if she fails to hatch any eggs from your shipped eggs for some reason, you may be able to slip a half dozen or so day old chicks under her at night and she may adopt them... many folks have done that also for a broody that had a failed hatch and isn't giving up. Something to keep in mind....
Sorry to hear that your hen lost her companion... hope her hatching goes well.

 

[perchie.girl]

I'm hoping this thread isn't too old to get a reply...I need some advice. I have a silver grey dorking who went broody right after her companion (my only other chicken) died. She's been sitting on her unfertilized eggs for 7 days now. I've ordered hatching eggs online but it could be another week before they arrive. I've changed out her current eggs with some others that have been refrigerated so they don't rot and explode on her while she's sitting. My concern is that by the time the new eggs arrive, she will have another 20-21 days to sit on those, which could be more than 30 days total. I plan on having an incubator handy in case she won't sit, but would prefer it if she did it, since she'll probably do a better job. Will she sit on the eggs for long enough? The anticipated ship date for the eggs is 5/13, so I'm worried if I pull her off the nest she won't be ready to go again when they do arrive.

Never too old..... its been ongoing since the day it started.... LOL

You are going to be fine.... Chickens cant tell time as someone said a few thousand posts back...LOL. No need to pull her off the nest... Just make sure shes getting off once a day to eat and drink and poo. Some hens will take a mad dust bath at that time as well. There have been a couple of hens here who were broody for more than 45 days...

WRT the incubator.... it is always good to have back up on hand .... Just in case.

Good luck and keep us posted with LOTs and LOTs of pictures.... VBG.

deb "whos cooking corned beef and cabbage for Mothersday.... house smells yummy"

 

[OHfarmerswife]

I'm hoping this thread isn't too old to get a reply...I need some advice. I have a silver grey dorking who went broody right after her companion (my only other chicken) died. She's been sitting on her unfertilized eggs for 7 days now. I've ordered hatching eggs online but it could be another week before they arrive. I've changed out her current eggs with some others that have been refrigerated so they don't rot and explode on her while she's sitting. My concern is that by the time the new eggs arrive, she will have another 20-21 days to sit on those, which could be more than 30 days total. I plan on having an incubator handy in case she won't sit, but would prefer it if she did it, since she'll probably do a better job. Will she sit on the eggs for long enough? The anticipated ship date for the eggs is 5/13, so I'm worried if I pull her off the nest she won't be ready to go again when they do arrive.

I am no expert, my first broody stated the day after Christmas. I couldn't break her. I finally put eggs under her in March. She hatched 8 of 8. She is s great mom. If you have an incy as backup I say go for it!

 

[myby]

this is Joy with her hatch. today is 21 days and she hatched 5 of 6.i am sure i put 7 eggs.