Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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Alexander can you candle some of the eggs? if this is day 21 I'd give it a few more in the mean time candle if you can and maybe start looking for some day olds to put under mom while your waiting.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Thanks stony, yep it's hard. and thanks about the chicks, isn't it funny how we forget how small they are when first hatched out, they grow so fast.

 

[Alexander]

Well actually my eggs are in my village 360 kilometers away but i will tell my dad to candle them tomorrow.

But why are they so light?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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pontoosuc, they are adorable! congrats on the hatch.. and please tell me what you did for Mother when she was egg bound I have one that is and I am worried. I have given her soaks, liquid calcium and massage and so far nothing has helped. Thanks.

 

[perchie.girl]

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Can you candle the eggs? I also heard someone mention here that it could be a day or two longer because you cant count the day they start setting on the eggs.

I am certain someone else more experienced will answer because the most times I ever had broodies I didnt know where they were till they appeared out of the shrubs in the yard with their chicks. Or they were nesting in a dog house with about thirty eggs of which only about five hatched. And STILL didn't know how long they were in there.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

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Little Bit kicked an egg out today and I opened it up. It appeared not to be fertilized at all. I candled the eggs remaining under her and don't see any development in them either. I am very disappointed in our roo! I candled a couple of Desiree's eggs (due to hatch the 30th) and they look like something might be happening in them but I'm really not sure. Because our hatches were 10 days apart I don't know what to do now. Finding day old chicks will be tough. Can I let Little Bit keep sitting for a few more days and then give them each a chick at the same time? That would be a few days early for Desi and a few days late for Little B. I am sad. We really can't have more chickens, lawbreakers as we are now. Selling the silkies would have been easy. For each chick that stays another will have to go. Right now, I am thinking our roo will have to go.

All the pics of mamas and babies are so cute! Keep 'em coming, gives me hope.

I'm sorry fox that it's not meant to be from this hatch, but i don't see any reason why you can't give both girls a chick each, I have seen where others have given week old eggs to their broody and she has accepted them, Not every hen will do that though. But I think if you can get both of your broodys to sit tight it can be done. One of my bantams only has 1 chick, the other eggs weren't fertile, they are so cute together.. Try to find the youngest chicks you can, day olds if possible. Heres

for you..

Thanks Miss Lydia. I have now candled all the remaining eggs, opened a few, and I just don't think it's happening. Not fertilized. Our Roo!

Ok, now for timing advice on chicks. If I give the hen a chick 1 full week before she was set to hatch will she know the difference?

So sorry about your hen. And thanks so much for the help!

 

[Glenmar]

There is nothing cuter than a Momma with babies.

Ok. I need advise. These are my first broody hens. I worked nights last night, picked up some fertile eggs from a friend. I gave 3 eggs to my Langshan and 2 eggs to my Barred Rock this morning. When I checked them at 1pm today the Langshan was off the nest. Maybe
she was just taking a break. The eggs were still warm. The Barred Rock had switched nest boxes, so none of the eggs were covered.

All eggs still felt warm. I moved all 5 under the Barred Rock. Now I am back at work and can not check on them until midnight. Both girls were broody for over a week before I brought them some eggs. Do I need to worry??

 

[stonykill]

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I'm sorry fox that it's not meant to be from this hatch, but i don't see any reason why you can't give both girls a chick each, I have seen where others have given week old eggs to their broody and she has accepted them, Not every hen will do that though. But I think if you can get both of your broodys to sit tight it can be done. One of my bantams only has 1 chick, the other eggs weren't fertile, they are so cute together.. Try to find the youngest chicks you can, day olds if possible. Heres

for you..

Thanks Miss Lydia. I have now candled all the remaining eggs, opened a few, and I just don't think it's happening. Not fertilized. Our Roo!

Ok, now for timing advice on chicks. If I give the hen a chick 1 full week before she was set to hatch will she know the difference?

I know others have done just what you are saying. Chickens can't count, so as long as they accept the new chicks, all will be well in their chicken world.....

 

[Miss Lydia]

X2

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Are they LF or bantam? I will go out and check an egg my broody is sitting on against one thats just been laid and see if I can tell any difference.