Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[popsicle]

I'm sure this has been covered, but can't seem to get much up by searching... so sorry.

When do I give up on eggs under a broody? It's been 22 days today.

I had a Jersey Giant go broody. She's big and stupid, and WOULD NOT take to brooding anywhere besides the most popular nest box. I ended up getting some fertile eggs from the store and put 8 under her--medium white eggs, since all mine lay brown or jumbo white. A week later one of my Brahmas went broody and stole the JG's clutch. I know there was some hen switching, as well as all the other hens coming and laying in the box. One egg disappeared, I assume broke and eaten. I tossed three that were clear. So, there are four eggs left--two under each hen. They've mostly settled down in their own boxes--but the more assertive hens still give them the boot to lay their eggs.

 

[chickydee64]

Well.....
Just call me stupid...........................

Lifted one of the broodys to check eggs................handed her to my DH and she had hidden two eggs..one under each wing..........
They dropped and broke ...............shipped eggs of course.............she still has 10.but really made me feel bad.

 

[chickydee64]

I'm sure this has been covered, but can't seem to get much up by searching... so sorry.

When do I give up on eggs under a broody? It's been 22 days today.

I had a Jersey Giant go broody. She's big and stupid, and WOULD NOT take to brooding anywhere besides the most popular nest box. I ended up getting some fertile eggs from the store and put 8 under her--medium white eggs, since all mine lay brown or jumbo white. A week later one of my Brahmas went broody and stole the JG's clutch. I know there was some hen switching, as well as all the other hens coming and laying in the box. One egg disappeared, I assume broke and eaten. I tossed three that were clear. So, there are four eggs left--two under each hen. They've mostly settled down in their own boxes--but the more assertive hens still give them the boot to lay their eggs.

I go 25................I know some others do it different................

 

[Johnn]

What a odd hen, she just moves her nest around daily. She is a mobile broody!

 

[bigT88]

Well.....
Just call me stupid...........................

Lifted one of the broodys to check eggs................handed her to my DH and she had hidden two eggs..one under each wing..........
They dropped and broke ...............shipped eggs of course.............she still has 10.but really made me feel bad.

That is a real shame. I will have to make sure of that.

 

[chiqita]

Have you candled the eggs? Check and see if there are chicks in them. If there are I'd leave them. If they Snell slosh or are clear toss em. If she gets up a lot the hatch is slower.

I'm sure this has been covered, but can't seem to get much up by searching... so sorry.

When do I give up on eggs under a broody?  It's been 22 days today.

I had a Jersey Giant go broody.  She's big and stupid, and WOULD NOT take to brooding anywhere besides the most popular nest box.  I ended up getting some fertile eggs from the store and put 8 under her--medium white eggs, since all mine lay brown or jumbo white.  A week later one of my Brahmas went broody and stole the JG's clutch.  I know there was some hen switching, as well as all the other hens coming and laying in the box.  One egg disappeared, I assume broke and eaten.  I tossed three that were clear.  So, there are four eggs left--two under each hen.  They've mostly settled down in their own boxes--but the more assertive hens still give them the boot to lay their eggs.

 

[popsicle]

Have you candled the eggs? Check and see if there are chicks in them. If there are I'd leave them. If they Snell slosh or are clear toss em. If she gets up a lot the hatch is slower.

I have candled them--I tossed the clears mid-way. The last time I candled them a few days ago they were mostly dark--so I assume good.

 

[Johnn]

So I decided to try and candle my broodies eggs with my phone torch. What I saw was one was all dark and at the top had a clear patch (but it might have been dark because it was mucky), one had half dark and half light and the other had a dark blob kind of floating around. It's day 7. Are any fertile?

 

[Johnn]

Look how big her nest is for one egg!

 

[saracalderas]

Sounds like the floaty blob is the only viable one.that's how mine were anyway.