Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Junibutt]

Disaster on Day 20- Its possible all the chicks are dead!

I went to check in on my broody around noon today and found her nest abandoned with 1 extra egg in there. This is I think what happened. She must have gone out to have food and water around 7-8 AM (her usual time). While she was gone, someone else decided to sit in her nest and when she came back, she did not find her nest empty, therefore decided to sit in the regular nest instead (where there was already an egg from someone else). It was down to 33 degrees in the morning (may be 5 degrees higher in the coop). I touched the eggs and they were all all cold, so that indicates probably they had been left abandoned for at least 1 hr but possibly 4 hrs.

Are they all dead now? I quickly brought the broody back into the correct nest and she readily took her spot. I should have listened to my heart last night and brought her inside my house/put her in a dog cage. I had not foreseen this because no one has bothered her for 20 days.

I am not candling them because it may make the situation worse. Any suggestions when should I intervene? I have a feeling that even if they survive, these chicks will hatch late.

 

[ochochicas]

I don't think all hope is lost. I had an egg that was pushed out of the nest one night and it spent probably 8 hours in the corner. In the morning it was completely cold. I think that was around day 10. The chick hatched out just fine on day 21. Granted, it was summer and the temps were in the low 50s at night. However, the eggs do hold a lot of heat in. If your hen wasn't off that long maybe the chicks will be OK. Fingers are crossed for you!

 

[kristin07035]

OMG I love having my broody hatch/raise these babies
I've incubator/brooder hatched last spring and I loved the experience but it is awesome watching her with them.

 

[sktlmt]

Disaster on Day 20- Its possible all the chicks are dead!

I went to check in on my broody around noon today and found her nest abandoned with 1 extra egg in there. This is I think what happened. She must have gone out to have food and water around 7-8 AM (her usual time). While she was gone, someone else decided to sit in her nest and when she came back, she did not find her nest empty, therefore decided to sit in the regular nest instead (where there was already an egg from someone else). It was down to 33 degrees in the morning (may be 5 degrees higher in the coop). I touched the eggs and they were all all cold, so that indicates probably they had been left abandoned for at least 1 hr but possibly 4 hrs.

Are they all dead now? I quickly brought the broody back into the correct nest and she readily took her spot. I should have listened to my heart last night and brought her inside my house/put her in a dog cage. I had not foreseen this because no one has bothered her for 20 days.

I am not candling them because it may make the situation worse. Any suggestions when should I intervene? I have a feeling that even if they survive, these chicks will hatch late.

My broody had the same thing happen around day 18. She sat on the wrong nest for about 6 hours. It was warmer here but the eggs all felt cold. And on day 21 6 of the 7 hatched. Don't lose hope.

 

[Junibutt]

My broody had the same thing happen around day 18. She sat on the wrong nest for about 6 hours. It was warmer here but the eggs all felt cold. And on day 21 6 of the 7 hatched. Don't lose hope.

Thanks. I had one hatch today and one has pipped. I had to take membranes off of the first one though

 

[kabhyper1]

Not much more nerve wracking than assist hatching 3 babies under my broody Silkie. # are out but one of the first 3 to hatch got tangled in mamas feet feathers. During the course of time that was happening, Snow, my broody panicked and stood up and moved all over and shrink wrapped her last 3 eggs. I checked them an hour ago and all were externally pipped but the membranes were dried out and wrapped around each chick. So far air cell ends are off, I'm letting them rest under mama to absorb their yolks and kick themselves out when they are done. I will still have to wet membranes and peel them out every couple hours probably. One hadn't absorbed her blood vessels yet the other two had. I hate it when this happens. The tangled chick is fine.

 

[akashia26]

Disaster on Day 20- Its possible all the chicks are dead!

I went to check in on my broody around noon today and found her nest abandoned with 1 extra egg in there. This is I think what happened. She must have gone out to have food and water around 7-8 AM (her usual time). While she was gone, someone else decided to sit in her nest and when she came back, she did not find her nest empty, therefore decided to sit in the regular nest instead (where there was already an egg from someone else). It was down to 33 degrees in the morning (may be 5 degrees higher in the coop). I touched the eggs and they were all all cold, so that indicates probably they had been left abandoned for at least 1 hr but possibly 4 hrs.

Are they all dead now? I quickly brought the broody back into the correct nest and she readily took her spot. I should have listened to my heart last night and brought her inside my house/put her in a dog cage. I had not foreseen this because no one has bothered her for 20 days.

I am not candling them because it may make the situation worse. Any suggestions when should I intervene? I have a feeling that even if they survive, these chicks will hatch late.

We had a similar thing happen to us this past spring. Our broody hen kept getting in the wrong box. Had to put her back on the eggs several times. Some of the times I am not sure how long she had been off them. Were cold to the touch but out of 15, 13 hatched.

 

[Blooie]

Agatha took Scout outside for the first time today. She's been such a good mommy!

 

[fisherlady]

Agatha took Scout outside for the first time today. She's been such a good mommy!

Scout is looking great! So good to see him (sort of) out and about with mama! LOL

 

[gottsegnet]

Brand new to this. My children just got a flock of silkies in the hopes of having broody hens to incubate their faverolle eggs.

I've read about people ordering eggs for their broody hens but was wondering how long a hen will normally stay broody once she starts. If you give her some golf balls to sit on, would it be reasonable to expect to have a week to collect eggs to give her?