Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

I have no experience on this matter, but I have heard that to store eggs in the pantry longer and simulate the film naturally laid, my hubbys friend rubbed a thin coat of mineral oil over the eggs every once in a while, the eggs lasted 9 months this way in a dark cool location (not in the fridge). Not sure if this would work after washing eggs you are trying to hatch, or if you even want to wash them. Just an idea? I think it helps keep the shell from drying out too much. Hopefully someone else has experience with this matter.

My hen wouldn't get off the nest at all for nothing, I had to get her off every other day to poo, maybe this would help your mama? Give her an alternative place to go. The first time she freaked out and got back on the eggs, so I had to completely take her away from the nest for about 5 minutes. After that she willingly would stay off long enough to poo, eat, drink when I would kick her off.

And now.......I have two cute chicks, and 5 eggs to go.

Chick 1



Chick 2


Gotta love moms death stare!

Congrats on the first 2, they are adorable! and good luck with the remaining eggs!

 

[fisherlady]

I think Jessica is beginning to distance herself from her chicks. They are 5 weeks old and I noticed them peeping a lot for her today. She did go in the broody nest with them at bedtime. I hope she will teach them to go in the coop before she gives them up completely. Do the mama's usually do that? Olivia hatched her babies in the main coop so this part is new for me.

My little black phoenix was not here at bedtime. I always talk to her on her roost before I shut the others up for the nite.

Distancing during the day and staying with them in the nest (or on the roost) at night is normal as a broody starts the weaning process. Some are gentler, and more gradual than others.... some hens can seem very brutal and abrupt about it.
I hope she does take them into the coop for you, but can't speak from experience since my hens are in the flock from (very) early on, or from the very start, depending on the hen.

Hope your little phoenix shows up soon!

 

[ochochicas]

My broody started taking her chicks to the coop to roost at night about a week before she "left" them for good. A couple of nights they were confused and tried to go to their brooder area. I cleaned the brooder out and took all the food and their roost and all their stuff out. That seemed to encourage them to go to the coop. Not all broodies are good at transitioning the chicks into the flock. My broody slept on the roost for about a week with a chick under each wing to keep them warm. Now they are 10 weeks old and completely independent and don't try to hang out with mom at all. They are still quite small, but are doing just fine.

 

[vpatt]

Thanks you all.....the chicks seem to be doing fine in the flock.....I guess I will see how they do with going into the coop. Never a dull moment.

The local chicken swap starts up again in four weeks....lol...that was just a random thought.

 

[rebrascora]

Quote:
@ShinShien My first broody sat on 14 eggs last summer and badly soiled the nest and eggs in the later stages. I was horrified but decided not to interfere. All 14 eggs hatched into healthy chicks without any ill effects. I did even wonder if she had deliberately soiled the nest to increase humidity. I know we think of poop as gross and smelly but there are plenty of baby animals that eat their mothers poop to gain beneficial bacteria, so I'm not entirely sure the nest being soiled the problem we humans see it as.

 

[rebrascora]

Lady of McCamley I am so very sorry for your loss. As others have said, he certainly was a gorgeous boy and obviously had a wonderful life with you. The best that any of us can hope for in life is to be loved and he clearly was. The pain of his loss will lessen with time but the good memories remain forever.

 

[KrystalRose]

Two more hatched last night and two more are pipping. I swear the chicks are getting lighter in color as they go. One of them is completely a light grey color. One is a medium grey, two are a darker grey with lighter on the head. It will be interesting to see what they will grow into since according to many people they are all supposed to look mostly like black/white barred dad. My guess is that the lighter ones will be a lighter barred maybe grey/white barring? Time will tell. I am glad enough have hatched to give each other buddies.

Mom was teaching them how to eat a couple minutes ago, and the first one to hatch has figured out drinking, not sure on the others yet.

Quick question: Mom was pecking a little at one of the pipping eggs, like she was trying to help it come out. She wasn't pecking hard enough to do anything, just lightly like she was concerned, is that normal? I can hear peeping coming from the egg and the membrane is open so it has air and I can see the tip of the beak.

 

[fisherlady]

Two more hatched last night and two more are pipping. I swear the chicks are getting lighter in color as they go. One of them is completely a light grey color. One is a medium grey, two are a darker grey with lighter on the head. It will be interesting to see what they will grow into since according to many people they are all supposed to look mostly like black/white barred dad. My guess is that the lighter ones will be a lighter barred maybe grey/white barring? Time will tell. I am glad enough have hatched to give each other buddies.

Mom was teaching them how to eat a couple minutes ago, and the first one to hatch has figured out drinking, not sure on the others yet.

Quick question: Mom was pecking a little at one of the pipping eggs, like she was trying to help it come out. She wasn't pecking hard enough to do anything, just lightly like she was concerned, is that normal? I can hear peeping coming from the egg and the membrane is open so it has air and I can see the tip of the beak.

Congrats on all that have hatched so far!!

I will look forward to the pics from the colors you described!

I have had hens talk to the eggs, sometimes tap them and even one I know which actively pecked away parts of a shell as the chick was hatching.... so any activity from the hen is possible. I wish all of the broodies would behave the same, it would make life for us silly humans so much easier!

 

[Kaylish]

Not exactly chicken related, but I cannot think of my chicken chores without thinking of my little Sheltie, Scottie.

I sadly lost my devoted little farm companion of 11 years today. He had been a little off for some time, which I had blamed on his hypothroidism, which he was treated for, but had become sick this week and after xray's was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer.

My little friend had faithfully followed me through all my chicken chores, loved riding in the truck to the feed store (always got a treat there), and even herded up a chicken or two a few times for me.

He will be greatly missed. He is buried in my backyard, under his favorite tree, by the chicken coop. Rest in peace my little friend.

Lady of McCamley (and Scottie)

I am so sorry for your loss.

Our 4 legged family never stays with us long enough...

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I am sure my question has been addressed somewhere on this thread, but there are a lot of pages

to go through so I will ask it anyway: I have a young hen who is broody, I want to use her but if I let her start now, she will hatch while we are gone, or just before we will be gone on vacation so I want to make her wait.

I would set eggs with her two weeks from now which would put her brooding for 5 weeks plus. I don't want to wear her out. Should I try to break her broodiness and hope she tries again later, or will she be okay being broody for 5 + weeks? Currently I am removing her from the nest about twice a day which se tolerates for a few minutes before she runs back.

I have had a broody raise chicks for me before and I have successfully broken broodiness in others, I am just not sure what would be best in this case.

Thanks for any advice and Lady of McCamley, so sorry for your loss.