Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[MistyMountain]

Good luck! I hope she does well for you, I have never brooded guineas before, I think they take a bit longer though? There is a thread on here for incubating them, so I'm sure you could reference it if needed...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/759166/questions-about-incubating-guinea-fowl-eggs

If it is longer than chicken eggs then just make sure to watch your broody's body condition and supplement her with goodies which are sources of higher proteins to keep her strength up.

Thanks!! Yup, it takes 28 days. I've been sure to offer her snacks and drinks once a day, but otherwise try to keep my distance (this, of course, is in addition to a full feeder and water available to her 24/7). I plan to do a quick candle at about 14 days and remove any clears, but other than that, I am a hands off kinda girl

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks!! Yup, it takes 28 days. I've been sure to offer her snacks and drinks once a day, but otherwise try to keep my distance (this, of course, is in addition to a full feeder and water available to her 24/7). I plan to do a quick candle at about 14 days and remove any clears, but other than that, I am a hands off kinda girl

Sounds good, I tend to do the same.... I check halfway or so to pull clears but otherwise don't bother them any more than I have to... it will be cool to see the pics after they hatch.

 

[fisherlady]

Because my nest boxes all look the same and they all often have eggs in them, they often go in the first one they see. I have a partition to keep her in the right box so her breaks are supervised--that way I always know she's on the right eggs.

That is how I handle broody hens who confuse nests or get pushed around by others in the flock.... it seems to work quite well and the hens don't seem to mind after the first trip or two out. They do seem to adjust quite well if I keep the encounters pleasant and beneficial (I know their favorite snacks! LOL)

 

[vpatt]

I think my bantam frizzle Cochin may be going broody! Fingers crossed. How many eggs should I give her if she gets serious? I think I will only give her some of her own eggs so they will be smaller eggs...but just in case how many larger eggs would work also?

 

[mylittlehippie]

I think my bantam frizzle Cochin may be going broody! Fingers crossed. How many eggs should I give her if she gets serious? I think I will only give her some of her own eggs so they will be smaller eggs...but just in case how many larger eggs would work also?

My bantam cochin can handle 9 bantam eggs. She can cover about 4-5 LF eggs depending on how big they are. I would just start with a small amount her first time and then add more next time and see how she does. I wouldn't over do it though. See how she is as a mother and then judge how many chicks she can reasonably handle. Sometimes they can sit on more eggs than they can actually raise. Cochins are usually great mothers though so i suspect she will do just fine. Good luck!

 

[vpatt]

My bantam cochin can handle 9 bantam eggs. She can cover about 4-5 LF eggs depending on how big they are. I would just start with a small amount her first time and then add more next time and see how she does. I wouldn't over do it though. See how she is as a mother and then judge how many chicks she can reasonably handle. Sometimes they can sit on more eggs than they can actually raise. Cochins are usually great mothers though so i suspect she will do just fine. Good luck!

Thank you!

 

[Johnn]

I've got a chicken sitting on some duck eggs, was just wondering if I had to do anything to help them hatch with ducks needing higher humidity?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I've got a chicken sitting on some duck eggs, was just wondering if I had to do anything to help them hatch with ducks needing higher humidity?

To my knowledge, as I have friends who have done this, chicken foster mommas can hatch duck eggs fine, as long as you know that it will take 28 days and have a hen that will go the full 4 weeks.

You will of course need to provide appropriate duckling feed and a water pan. Momma Hen won't understand why her babies are diving in the water, but most adjust fine to the commotion.

Good luck.
LofMc

 

[Johnn]

To my knowledge, as I have friends who have done this, chicken foster mommas can hatch duck eggs fine, as long as you know that it will take 28 days and have a hen that will go the full 4 weeks.

You will of course need to provide appropriate duckling feed and a water pan. Momma Hen won't understand why her babies are diving in the water, but most adjust fine to the commotion.

Good luck.
LofMc

Thanks. She's on Call duck eggs so will take 26 days and another hen has already been on them for a week now, so she's got even less than usual! Don't want that other hen hatching her. She is quite young and has no experience so want to stick with chickens for her. Orp on the other hand had had lots of chicks, took in chicks, tried to steal chicks and is the mother of half my flock including the broody with no experience who's looking after her eggs! I have a stream in the field, so hopefully they will use that but will try to get the mother use to them going into water before they go down there haha! I'm planning to rehome the ducklings to my friend . Have heard people say you are supposed to spray the duck eggs regularly, but I'm not sure...

 

[randerson846]

I'm just wondering, how long can u store fertile eggs, before incubation?