Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

What is the best way to mark eggs? I hear pencil can rub off but sharpies can soak in thru the pores? So sharpies can harm the growing chick right?

I use a sharpie and draw a line the whole way around the center of the eggs...i have yet to have a chick hatch with a tattoo! LOL

 

[chickchoon1]

What is the best way to mark eggs? I hear pencil can rub off but sharpies can soak in thru the pores? So sharpies can harm the growing chick right?

I agree with the others that have used Sharpies. It does work but I don't know the reality of if its good/bad for chicks.I have used it on 3 hatches and although everyone seemed OK after hatch who knows????

 

[ChickenCanoe]

for broodies, I use a sharpie and a small X on two sides

for identifying eggs in an incubator I use an ultra-fine sharpie

I doubt any significant poison can penetrate the shell and 2 membranes.

 

[Darnbunnies]

for broodies, I use a sharpie and a small X on two sides

for identifying eggs in an incubator I use an ultra-fine sharpie

I doubt any significant poison can penetrate the shell and 2 membranes.

I use a Sharpie as well. -DB

 

[itstartedwith2]

Ok sharpie it is! Thank you

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've used a pencil but with extremely dark eggs, it is almost invisible.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Okay I need some advise asap please. My broody cochin bantam has been sitting on non fertile eggs so today I was able to get her some eggs about to hatch well one is pipped [not sure if it was cracked when I got it and didn't notice] 2 pieces of shell have come off and I can hear the chick peeping but doesn't look like there is a pip in the membrane. I even used a flash light to look closely at the membrane, should I do anything or just leave it alone and hope it pips the membrane. It's only 2 eggs and I really don't want to lose these chicks.
Thank you .

 

[fisherlady]

Okay I need some advise asap please. My broody cochin bantam has been sitting on non fertile eggs so today I was able to get her some eggs about to hatch well one is pipped [not sure if it was cracked when I got it and didn't notice] 2 pieces of shell have come off and I can hear the chick peeping but doesn't look like there is a pip in the membrane. I even used a flash light to look closely at the membrane, should I do anything or just leave it alone and hope it pips the membrane. It's only 2 eggs and I really don't want to lose these chicks.
Thank you .

I'm not very experienced with assisted hatches and would caution that if you do decide to pop a hole in the membrane you need to make sure there are no blood vessels in the immediate area. A damp qtip touched to the membrane will help make it opaque so the veins show up much better. If the membrane got dried out you may get some shrink wrapping but if there isn't much shell missing it isn't as likely.
My suggestion would be to pose the question on one of the hatch along threads directed towards incubator hatching as you will find folks with much more assisted hatching experience to draw from.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'm not very experienced with assisted hatches and would caution that if you do decide to pop a hole in the membrane you need to make sure there are no blood vessels in the immediate area. A damp qtip touched to the membrane will help make it opaque so the veins show up much better. If the membrane got dried out you may get some shrink wrapping but if there isn't much shell missing it isn't as likely.
My suggestion would be to pose the question on one of the hatch along threads directed towards incubator hatching as you will find folks with much more assisted hatching experience to draw from.

Thank you for your response, I went back out and the chick has made a pip into the membrane now so thankfully I don't think I need to do a thing. Membrane doesn't look dried out either whew.

 

[Wishapup]

Day 16 now. If my little hen is successful, I'm going to start another broody! Three more hens are currently trying to sit! The third that I plan to use is a 1 year old EE who is really sweet-tempered (never pecks me in her broody trance). She can probably fit 8-10 eggs or so!