Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[AmericanMom]

I have a question for you more experienced. My broody still has three eggs under her that she is adamant about still sitting on them. They aren't due to hatch till tomorrow, should I wait a few more days or go ahead and dispose of them? Thanks for all your wisdom.

If they aren't "due" tiil tomorrow why would you question whether they are viable? Has something happened that makes you believe they aren't? Personally I would give it due date + two days before I even thought about tossing them.. Have you candled them?

 

[earlyredrooster]

If they aren't "due" tiil tomorrow why would you question whether they are viable? Has something happened that makes you believe they aren't?   Personally I would give it due date + two days before I even thought about tossing them..  Have you candled them? 

I ask because six of the nine eggs I put under her hatched day before yesterday. Candled and it just shows a dark mass inside. Thought about water candling to heck for movement.

 

[AmericanMom]

I ask because six of the nine eggs I put under her hatched day before yesterday. Candled and it just shows a dark mass inside. Thought about water candling to heck for movement.

ahh.... I thought about that after I posted but figured I would make sure....

I doubt I would wait much longer, maybe at least until the due date, when the chicks need to eat and drink she will leave the nest. at this point, it wouldn't hurt to water candle them

 

[ChickyChickens]

I know this is not about broody hens...well it kinda is! Anyway I just received my order of 100 broiler chicks today! When I put them out my one broody hen with her one day old chicks decided that she had (HAD) to adopt them..! It was soo cute how the 100 little chickies were following her round! BUT THEN I TOOK HER AWAY AND SHE WASNT AT ALL HAPPY!

 

[702marine]

I know this is not about broody hens...well it kinda is! Anyway I just received my order of 100 broiler chicks today! When I put them out my one broody hen with her one day old chicks decided that she had (HAD) to adopt them..! It was soo cute how the 100 little chickies were following her round! BUT THEN I TOOK HER AWAY AND SHE WASNT AT ALL HAPPY!

Why did you take her away?

 

[ChickyChickens]

Well...
(a) They are broilers and not EE's (like HennyPenny the mother)
(b) I free range my chickens and I don't want her to have to sit in there with the broilers the whole day and
(c) It will cost to much to feed her the same food that the broilers eat!
(d) All 112 chicks wanted to squish under the poor hen...

 

[earlyredrooster]

@American Mom:we had to go to town today and when we got home mama hen had abandoned the eggs. An eggtopsey revealed one nonstarter and the other two died probably last week. Still a 66.6% hatch is acceptable to me.

 

[AmericanMom]

@American Mom:we had to go to town today and when we got home mama hen had abandoned the eggs. An eggtopsey revealed one nonstarter and the other two died probably last week. Still a 66.6% hatch is acceptable to me.

Oh I am sorry, I hate it when that happens!!! But atleast she has some chick

I have two broody's... The first one I gave 9 eggs to, after ten days I candled and 3 were clear, she has six under her now due to hatch I believe Sunday (she is two days behind the incubator) 2nd Broody I gave a dozen to, candled yesterday , not sure but think she is on day 7 give or take a day, one was clear but 11 others show good veining..

I had a young broody sit her eggs last month and then on day 18 kill a chick... I hope to not go through that again!

 

[earlyredrooster]

Oh I am sorry, I hate it when that happens!!!   But atleast she has some chick

I have two broody's... The first one I gave 9 eggs to, after ten days I candled and 3 were clear, she has six under her now due to hatch I believe Sunday (she is two days behind the incubator)  2nd Broody I gave a dozen to, candled yesterday , not sure but think she is on day 7 give or take a day, one was clear but 11 others show good veining..

 I had a young broody sit her eggs last month and then on day 18 kill a chick... I hope to not go through that again!

Oooh it never crossed my mind that they might kill their young. I'm sure that the offending party would get the axe around here, if my wife didn't just wring its neck on the spot. She is very intolerable of such activities.

 

[AmericanMom]

Oooh it never crossed my mind that they might kill their young. I'm sure that the offending party would get the axe around here, if my wife didn't just wring its neck on the spot. She is very intolerable of such activities.

That's my feeling to usually, I don't put up with a lot, aggression and such will get a one way ticket to the freezer, but this lil girl was just 6 months old so I tagged her and gave her a pass, she went to broody break up camp...this time.... When she goes broody again she will get the minimum eggs and we shall see how she does.