Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[nchls school]

Lol well I forgot to post here but it's official we have two broodies and a couple of other ladies thinking about it. We have a silkie, named Lovey, who was set with eggs on Saturday, after a couple days with eggs getting swapped out. On Monday we admitted that we had a second broody silkie named Mary Anne and gave her eggs after she had been committed for two days. Today I found my black oegb pullet in the garage on 5 eggs she had amassed she laid another today but I discovered one was cracked and pulled it. I don't think she has started setting yet. May hang onto Minnie's eggs a couple of days to give to anyone else that may go broody. Will be candling them tonight regardless. Hadn't known Minnie was laying so these could very well be her first eggs although I'm not sure. If they are I of course know that their fertility is questionable as is their hatchability but I would still like to try. Sadly my incubator is pushing 48 and idk if I can fit any more in since I've already layed six along the side of the turner. Hmm what to do what to do....

Good luck. Sounds like you will have many chicks shortly.

 

[nchls school]

I have more chicks hatching this weekend; I hope. Five eggs and all looking good.

 

[generaldsherman]

They usually do take one long break before they sit for three days. My hen started getting excited right before they hatched like she couldn't wait!

Well, I was right to be worried. She got spooked by something last night and I found one of the eggs cracked open, a perfectly formed chick dead in the pine. She wasn't sitting on any of the other eggs and 3 of the 7 remaining did not move when I float tested them. The other 4 were wiggling around and got hurriedly placed in my incubator. Hope they still hatch. They're on day 18 1/2.

Stupid-head: AKA Loco chicken, is now in the rabbit hutch in my backyard. My consolation is that I got 23 fertile eggs along with Loco last Sunday, so I am not out on the money of picking up a broody hen to hatch my 8 special eggs. If even 1/2 of the 23 hatch, it'll be worth the expense.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

I had eggs cold for 2 hrs, they still hatched

 

[generaldsherman]

I had eggs cold for 2 hrs, they still hatched

Don't know how long Loco was off the eggs, but they were still wiggling this morning so I still have some hope.

 

[nchls school]

Well, I was right to be worried. She got spooked by something last night and I found one of the eggs cracked open, a perfectly formed chick dead in the pine. She wasn't sitting on any of the other eggs and 3 of the 7 remaining did not move when I float tested them. The other 4 were wiggling around and got hurriedly placed in my incubator. Hope they still hatch. They're on day 18 1/2.

Good luck. Fingers crossed.

 

[stryker]

Three more days and my two hens will not be broody any more. They started to be broody in January but I had to wait until 18 days ago to break them of being broody! One hen is on 7 eggs and the other on 6 eggs and out of 14 eggs there was only 1 clear!!! Those roosters are really doing their jobs! Cannot Wait to see what I get!!!

 

[CoopDeDoo]

I have a stubbornly persistent silkie that I will be placing eggs under this Saturday. We do not have a rooster so I will be getting some CCL and some frizzles at a show I am going to this weekend. Just 8 total eggs.... I hatched 16 in Feb in the incubator so it's not like I "need" more but as I explained to DH - the silkie does "need" to hatch something

Anyways - I had a waiting list for my Feb chicks so I don't think I will have any trouble selling extra chicks.

Quick question - as long as the broody is in a safe place and she has access to food/water - it is pretty much a hands off experience for me correct? Other than the normal, lock up coop at night - open in the morning - refill food/water etc. chicken chores?

 

[vpatt]

My little Cochin banty has made a nest and has 11 eggs. But i dont think she is sitting on them. So i guess i will just have to wait and see what happens.

Also, my cute little Silkie girl has turned into a roo! Lol, what an unfortunate series of events.

 

[Coop de Grass]

Well, I was right to be worried. She got spooked by something last night and I found one of the eggs cracked open, a perfectly formed chick dead in the pine. She wasn't sitting on any of the other eggs and 3 of the 7 remaining did not move when I float tested them. The other 4 were wiggling around and got hurriedly placed in my incubator. Hope they still hatch. They're on day 18 1/2.

Stupid-head: AKA Loco chicken, is now in the rabbit hutch in my backyard. My consolation is that I got 23 fertile eggs along with Loco last Sunday, so I am not out on the money of picking up a broody hen to hatch my 8 special eggs. If even 1/2 of the 23 hatch, it'll be worth the expense.

hahaha, My Bielefelder hen, originally called Clueless and then changed to Schnitzel, is once again Clueless!

She has decided to be partly broody - going to have to put her in one of the box thingies... but first I'll try taking her out of the nest box all day.

Did I mention that she hasn't been on any eggs for 3 days?