Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[saracalderas]

Going on day three with my broody. 2 eggs have broke and now the others are a big yolkey mess. Wht should i do about this? Also, i would like to candle them. When is it appropriate to do so?

 

[Johnn]

If you have a easy supply to fertile eggs, i would just chuck them and start fresh. They wont have developed a lot on day 3 and its too early to candle.

 

[saracalderas]

If you have a easy supply to fertile eggs, i would just chuck them and start fresh. They wont have developed a lot on day 3 and its too early to candle.

Thank you, when should you candle them? I would like to show my kids some of the stages. Also I don't have a good supply of fertilized eggs. Would they be okay?

 

[Johnn]

Thank you, when should you candle them? I would like to show my kids some of the stages. Also I don't have a good supply of fertilized eggs. Would they be okay?

Not sure about either question, sorry. Someone will definitley be able to answer though!

 

[what did I do]

We have 2 broody hens who are hatching eggs. When the first egg pipped the hen got off the nest, ran around, and squalked in distress. I had my dd put her in the nest and block her in. Dd had put the h
en back un the nest but left the nest again. When I got home the hen was sitting nicely. Dd blocked the second hen in her nest too, she had a Pip.

What are the chances of the first hen making a good mom?

 

[fisherlady]

Here are a couple of candling links that should help you with what to expect to see and when...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/candling-pics-progression-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/750122/share-your-candling-pics-and-videos

.... cleaning the eggs covered in yolk can be done, but very high risk of infection from the contamination and if you only have one or two left then it may be more worthwhile to save fresh eggs for a couple of days to give her a new clutch to work with.

 

[CarolinaHen]

Here is my grumpy broody girl, Agnes.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Going on day three with my broody. 2 eggs have broke and now the others are a big yolkey mess. Wht should i do about this? Also, i would like to candle them. When is it appropriate to do so?

You can candle any days you like. That's what we did when we started our chicken hatching experiment with white eggs. On day 3 you should see a network of veins and small pin dot of a chick developing. By day 7 you should clearly see a larger dot of a chick in there. On day 14 you will know if the egg is good because by then it either develops into a pretty good size black mass or smells funny. The smells funny one is rotten. Don't keep it just get rid of it. And whatever you do don't break it open inside your house. After day 17 I don't candle them anymore as it potentially disturbs their positioning and I don't want to cause issues with hatching.

As far as dirty eggs goes, it is a risk. My Bunny was having that issue with breaking eggs and yolk everywhere and ended up with no eggs viable. The developing chick absorbs air through the shell and the bloom on the outside of the shell protects the chick from contaminates. If the eggs are completely covered in yolk they will most likely become contaminated and rotten. But if the egg is close to hatching it may still hatch without issue. Smokey had one that was covered in yolk and it hatched into a lovely chick.

I'd see about cleaning the eggs if possible and at the very least candle them within 7 days to see if developing.

 

[bobbieschicks]

We have 2 broody hens who are hatching eggs. When the first egg pipped the hen got off the nest, ran around, and squalked in distress. I had my dd put her in the nest and block her in. Dd had put the h
en back un the nest but left the nest again. When I got home the hen was sitting nicely. Dd blocked the second hen in her nest too, she had a Pip.

What are the chances of the first hen making a good mom?

That's an interesting response and I bet a bit comical to witness. She may have been spooked by something. If you were there watching she might have been trying to scare you away. I've seen my broodies get up during a hatch but its not very common. But hatching isn't mothering. She may be a perfectly awful hatcher, but a wonderful momma.

Once the chick zips and is under her she will hopefully settle down. I'd just keep an eye on things and not worry about her skills too much.

 

[chiqita]

I'd recommend cleaning the egg if you have a chicken safe cleaner like oxine. If not wipe it down with a paper towel and hope for the best. If you have a good candler you might see veining by day 3-4 in a clear white egg. If the candler is under 200-300 lines you will have to wait till day 7 or later.

Thank you, when should you candle them? I would like to show my kids some of the stages. Also I don't have a good supply of fertilized eggs. Would they be okay?