Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[vpatt]

I candled the four eggs Jessica is sitting on. I've never done this before. It looked to me like two matched the pictures on the Chicken Chick site. I couldn't really see anything in the other two. One of those two had a darker shell so maybe I just couldn't see anything for that reason. I guess in 16/18 days I will know for sure.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I candled the four eggs Jessica is sitting on. I've never done this before. It looked to me like two matched the pictures on the Chicken Chick site. I couldn't really see anything in the other two. One of those two had a darker shell so maybe I just couldn't see anything for that reason. I guess in 16/18 days I will know for sure.

Dark shells are tricky...on my Marans...all I could see is blob and some veins or no blob/veins at day 5...after that, as the chick grew I couldn't really tell unless there happened to be a strong vein so simply had to wait it out.

Good luck!
Lady of McCamley

 

[vpatt]

Dark shells are tricky...on my Marans...all I could see is blob and some veins or no blob/veins at day 5...after that, as the chick grew I couldn't really tell unless there happened to be a strong vein so simply had to wait it out.

Good luck!
Lady of McCamley

I was hesitant to mess with them. But Jessica is more tolerant than Olivia and I really wanted the experience of candling. If I try it once more before the hatch date which day should I try?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

oh my... I hope she doesn't kick any out. I haven't been out there for almost 2 hours. I didn't want to disturb her. I will go take a peek on her. I will be out in the other end of the barn for an hour or so cleaning the donkeys area so I can keep a close eye on her. I hope she will be able to keep them little ones warm. It's a bit chilly in Indiana today. Thank you for your advice.

Chances are, being a bantam hen, she will know what to do. Like Bumpercarr said, keep an eye out for trouble, but assume all is well unless you see otherwise.

As to the cold, check out the photos on my BCM brood below in my signature line. That happened in 25 degree highs, low teens low, 6 inches of snow, 1 inch freezing rain on top of snow, blowing winds of about 35 mph (forgot what wind chill was...but it was COLD!)...they hatched in the covered coop with no heat but out of direct weather....those that hatched were fine with mom as a warming hutch and their little down coats. It is totally counter-intuitive going from the idea of heat lamp brooding to hen brooding the first time, as we want to keep those chicks WARM, but they run around in the cold weather just fine as long as they can get to mom for warm ups. The first couple of days you won't see much of them as mom huddles over them, but as they grow you'll see them out in the "play yard" more and more.

You've got a small bantam, so chances are she won't crush them. Sometimes that happens with large fowl, especially the really big ones, but most momma's are very careful. I've only had a chick kicked to death once when it got caught in my Silkie's feet feathers as she was scratching...I now trim the feet feathers for brooding. As to smothering, the hen huddles down on her haunches which leaves a nice little alcove beneath her for babies to snuggle and breathe. In time you'll see their little heads poking out of her feathers as they climb and settle using her down and feathers as a comforter. (It really is just about the cutest thing on earth.)

Good luck on your hatch. Post photos if you can
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I was hesitant to mess with them. But Jessica is more tolerant than Olivia and I really wanted the experience of candling. If I try it once more before the hatch date which day should I try?

You can always candle anytime you want to or feel the need, but the standard times are day 5 (to see if there is developement...the swirly speck with veins surrounding it like the eye of a hurricane), then day 10 to see if there is progression (usually half dark shell, big air space, large veins going along side), and then sometimes at day 18 to make sure there is still development, and then at day 22 or 23 to see if there is still hope.

I typically only check around day 5, sometimes day 10, almost always at day 23 if nothing has happened....unless dark colored eggs like I stated earlier...those I can only see if they got some sort of start and then at day 23 if they haven't hatched to see some sort of sign of life.

Lady of McCamley

 

[vpatt]

You can always candle anytime you want to or feel the need, but the standard times are day 5 (to see if there is developement...the swirly speck with veins surrounding it like the eye of a hurricane), then day 10 to see if there is progression (usually half dark shell, big air space, large veins going along side), and then sometimes at day 18 to make sure there is still development, and then at day 22 or 23 to see if there is still hope.

I typically only check around day 5, sometimes day 10, almost always at day 23 if nothing has happened....unless dark colored eggs like I stated earlier...those I can only see if they got some sort of start and then at day 23 if they haven't hatched to see some sort of sign of life.

Lady of McCamley

I may check them once more later in the game. If they do not develope at all or were not fertile wont they smell bad before the hatch date?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I may check them once more later in the game. If they do not develope at all or were not fertile wont they smell bad before the hatch date?

Not necessarily, especially in colder weather. I have had total duds that looked just like an egg on the outside with no smell, and upon opening looked like the mixture you make for scrambled eggs before cooking...however in hot weather, they do tend to become much more dangerous...handle those with care! Those will smell off and often get weepy as the gases expand and the egg begins to crack. :EWWWW!:

Lady of McCamley

 

[vpatt]

Not necessarily, especially in colder weather. I have had total duds that looked just like an egg on the outside with no smell, and upon opening looked like the mixture you make for scrambled eggs before cooking...however in hot weather, they do tend to become much more dangerous...handle those with care! Those will smell off and often get weepy as the gases expand and the egg begins to crack. :EWWWW!:

Lady of McCamley

I wasn't thinking about the weather making a difference. Ugh!

Thank you!

 

[deerlady11]

It should be soon! Just leave her alone with the eggs and she should know what to do with them. If you take her off while the eggs are hatching you increase the risk of the chicks shrink wrapping.

What does "shrink wrapping" mean?

 

[deerlady11]

Just to update... I don't know what's going on underneath her and it's driving me crazy. The suspense! I hear all kinds of cheeping and eggs clanking together. They or it must be moving because Sparrow will readjust herself. I have a feeling it's going to hatch while I'm in bed. And then it's so cold it might be a couple of days before I get to see anything. The only problem is I can't remember how many eggs I put under her originally (I know this is horrible, I should of wrote it down). I thought I only put 1 of her eggs and 1 large egg, but there are 2 of her eggs. So if she added one to the clutch later on...I will have to pull it and put it in the incubator if she leaves the nest, right?