Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ochochicas]

Mine are candled at day 7 or 10. That will give you a chance to toss the clears or the ones with blood rings. No use having your hen sit on eggs that aren't going to hatch.

Also you should mark your eggs so you know which ones are supposed to be in the nest. My broody stole an egg from a different nest box yesterday, and another hen has laid an egg in her box 3 times. The new eggs should be removed (daily) since they are not going to hatch with the others anyway. I also candle again at day 14 or 16 and toss any that aren't developed. Bad eggs can also rot and explode on the healthy ones, so it is a good idea to get rid of them.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

You can...it is fun to see if anything is developing...but you don't have to in your situation.

I only find it "necessary" to candle if I have some shipped eggs that I am trying to maximize my percentages of hatch on (as shipped eggs are usually much less successful than non-shipped) and thus have some under the broody and some in an incubator...then I candle on day 5 and 10 and adjust so that the broody has the best developing eggs for hatching.

The only other time I find it necessary is in warmer weather as you have greater risk of those non-fertile or "quitters" (started but stopped developing) going bad and exploding in the nest...not the end of the world but definitely stuff to clean up for the hen and you with risk to the other eggs of bacterial contamination.

It can be helpful if you have staggered eggs at all so that you know if any late hatches are expected.

Otherwise, it is simply preference and curiosity.

Lady of McCamley

EDITED TO ADD:  Welcome to the Broody thread...watching the broodies and chicks is great fun!

Thank you! She was still happily sitting the day away when I came home. I may candle half way through, just for curiosity's sake. I was fortunate to get some eggs from a kind member on this forum who lives about an hour away. Fingers crossed!

 

[fisherlady]

Thank you! She was still happily sitting the day away when I came home. I may candle half way through, just for curiosity's sake. I was fortunate to get some eggs from a kind member on this forum who lives about an hour away. Fingers crossed!

Anne,
I would use a sharpie or other similar permanent marker to draw a circle the whole way around the center of the egg. This will allow you to tell at a glance if there any intruder eggs in there.
Candling is basically just a preference thing, as already said it can allow you to pull clears or sloshy eggs, but I usually only do it on around day 10 or so when the clears or quitters are more obvious and I try to do it when the hen is off of the nest for a break.

I have had hens do well with nests in the main coop and other hens who have had trouble with nest confusion (getting back onto the wrong nest) or trouble with other hens pushing them out to lay in the nest (which can cause broken eggs). If your hen is higher on the pecking order then she will probably have fewer problems than a low ranked hen but watch for problems and have an alternative plan figured out ahead of time.

Good luck... looking forward to the pics!

 

[ChickyChickens]

I LOVE BROODIES

LOL....that was random...

 

[CandylandRanch]

Thank you to all who have replied! Momma hen is in my bathroom on her eggs where there is only one nest, so no more confusion. I candled tonight and many look like the good viable photos from the link! One was a yoker, so I threw that one out and one looked like this..

Blood ring?

Also, should you always see movement when candling? Or will they sometimes remain still?

I will be sure to keep everyone updated, thanks again

 

[ChickyChickens]

Thank you to all who have replied! Momma hen is in my bathroom on her eggs where there is only one nest, so no more confusion. I candled tonight and many look like the good viable photos from the link! One was a yoker, so I threw that one out and one looked like this..

Blood ring?

Also, should you always see movement when candling? Or will they sometimes remain still?

I will be sure to keep everyone updated, thanks again

Could be a bloodring...but I don't really know...

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Mine are candled at day 7 or 10.  That will give you a chance to toss the clears or the ones with blood rings.  No use having your hen sit on eggs that aren't going to hatch. 

Also you should mark your eggs so you know which ones are supposed to be in the nest.  My broody stole an egg from a different nest box yesterday, and another hen has laid an egg in her box 3 times.  The new eggs should be removed (daily) since they are not going to hatch with the others anyway.  I also candle again at day 14 or 16 and toss any that aren't developed.  Bad eggs can also rot and explode on the healthy ones, so it is a good idea to get rid of them. 

The fertile eggs are marked with a pencil, and it they are from Cubalayas, which apparently lay a much smaller egg, so it will not be difficult to tell them apart. I may candke halfway through because it is my first time and I'm so excited!

Anne,
 I would use a sharpie or other similar permanent marker to draw a circle the whole way around the center of the egg.  This will allow you to tell at a glance if there any intruder eggs in there. 
Candling is basically just a preference thing, as already said it can allow you to pull clears or sloshy eggs, but I usually only do it on around day 10 or so when the clears or quitters are more obvious and I try to do it when the hen is off of the nest for a break.

I have had hens do well with nests in the main coop and other hens who have had trouble with nest confusion (getting back onto the wrong nest) or trouble with other hens pushing them out to lay in the nest (which can cause broken eggs).  If your hen is higher on the pecking order then she will probably have fewer problems than a low ranked hen but watch for problems and have an alternative plan figured out ahead of time.

Good luck... looking forward to the pics!

Should I still do this if I can easily tell the eggs apart? I don't think I'm going to bother, just because I can tell easily by size. This broody always goes back to the same besting box, (I only have two) so that shouldn't be a problem. The only time she over moved was if the golf ball fell out in front of her nest, haha. This girl is pretty dedicated, and I don't think she gets off the nest everyday, at least that I can tell. I'm afraid to kick her off for fear that she might not go back, or that I might disrupt the development with it being cold out.

I guess I'm going to have to reach under her if I don't find the other girls' eggs and pick them up by feel. I do have an alternative plan all ready to go! Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[fisherlady]

The fertile eggs are marked with a pencil, and it they are from Cubalayas, which apparently lay a much smaller egg, so it will not be difficult to tell them apart. I may candke halfway through because it is my first time and I'm so excited!
Should I still do this if I can easily tell the eggs apart? I don't think I'm going to bother, just because I can tell easily by size. This broody always goes back to the same besting box, (I only have two) so that shouldn't be a problem. The only time she over moved was if the golf ball fell out in front of her nest, haha. This girl is pretty dedicated, and I don't think she gets off the nest everyday, at least that I can tell. I'm afraid to kick her off for fear that she might not go back, or that I might disrupt the development with it being cold out.

I guess I'm going to have to reach under her if I don't find the other girls' eggs and pick them up by feel. I do have an alternative plan all ready to go! Thanks for the advice everyone!

If you can easily tell by size or color then marking them isn't a big deal.... although when you candle you should somehow mark or number any you have a question about so it can easily be identified for a recheck later. Glad nest confusion doesn't seem like a problem... it will help things go smoother.

 

[ChickyChickens]

My broody is on day 16 today!!!! Cant wait till they hatch!!!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

If you can easily tell by size or color then marking them isn't a big deal.... although when you candle you should somehow mark or number any you have a question about so it can easily be identified for a recheck later.  Glad nest confusion doesn't seem like a problem... it will help things go smoother.

Thanks, that's a great idea!

My broody is on day 16 today!!!! Cant wait till they hatch!!!

Hope all goes well! Keep us updated!