Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[CAjerseychick]

I have been able to have a good look at my broody's nests today because I had more time. Anyways, Yous know how one of the broodies broke a egg and had one left which as dirty? Well I put that under the other broody and give the one on the floor a clean one. She has managed to get that one dirty too. Do the eggs even stand a chance anymore?





Heres the other broodies eggs:

MY last hatch had several dirty egggs (egg yolk and stuff not poo though) and were pretty dirty and 4 hatched out of 8 left-- 2 were still developing and 2 got broken day 18- they looked healthy-- so yes I think there is still a chance....
Also my current Broody broke an egg so this batch is dirty too-- what I did notice, is that by week 3 and shes barely leaving the last 3 days, she kinda rubs them clean with her body....(I have Jersey Giants and the hens are so weighty they tend to break eggs)...

 

[bobbieschicks]

Dirty eggs doesn't equal disaster.

 

[chickeneer45]

So i just checked under my broody and one of the eggs looked half cracked open. I think a chick was coming out of it but I cant be sure. How long until the chick fully comes out? Its way past thr pip stage since half of the eggs is broken...

 

[bumpercarr]

So i just checked under my broody and one of the eggs looked half cracked open. I think a chick was coming out of it but I cant be sure. How long until the chick fully comes out? Its way past thr pip stage since half of the eggs is broken...

Usually just a few hours for mine, but sometimes I think it takes all day from what I've read on here.

 

[bumpercarr]

The young boys are often clingy towards the broodies and will hang around in the coop to try and snag some unsuspecting hen as his mate. I'd be surprised if he were the egg culprit. Perhaps the eggs were bad and she kicked them out or ate them herself if she doesn't leave the nest?

Maybe, but I didn't have this problem last time she was broody. It is possible that she ate them herself, but I also think I have been missing collecting eggs. Something or someone for sure is taking them. Now that the two chicks are rehomed, we'll see if I lose any more. If so, then I've got to look for another culprit.

 

[chickeneer45]

The egg is still halfway broken open.When I checked, it looked kind of like a hardboiled egg because the chick must have been yellow. It looks like he is kicking to get out of the filmy part of the egg since he has already broken the eggshell. Fingers crossed he hatches soon!

 

[Johnn]

Bella has taught her adopted babies to perch! (they are her siblings. Once their mother give them up to go back on the eggs, Bella took over and looks after them now!)

 

[chickeneer45]

three baby chicks now!!

 

[Nike]

three baby chicks now!!

woo! congrats!!!

 

[Nike]

I had 20 eggs under my one hen, i thought... and then I counted today and there was only 19

So I reaaaaallly hope it just fell on the floor somewhere and rolled away to never be found because otherwise I brought it in the house with my eating eggs