Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Violetsfeathers]

Oh my goodness! So exciting and so cute!!
My thoughts exactly. I am hoping for the best possible outcome for you!

Thank you!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I don't think this one was a double yolker because it wasn't big at all, I think the egg split after it was fertilized to make identical twins

Chicken ovums don't normally split into identical twins the way mammals do. That has been seen very, very rarely in small wild birds, but any study or article I've read states that there are no known cases of identical twins in chickens. They are fraternal from double yolks...a very rare occurrence in itself.

I have had small eggs with two small yolks. It can happen.

Sadly, it is very unlikely the twins will survive to hatch. Usually the cramped quarters of the egg ends in the death of both embryos.

LofMc

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2001/11/23/409538.htm

http://extension.psu.edu/4-h/projects/poultry/embryology/teacher-resources/faqs

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

So it's day 21 for my broody hen.
I just checked on her eggs whilst she took a break to eat and poop.
None of the eggs had pipped but i could hear peeping from one of them. So i candled it and there was a chick which had internally pipped. Then i candled another and that had also pipped internally. Whislt most others had no pips but could see the chick moving.
I have 21 eggs under her.
Hoping for some chick tomorow!

Sounds promising! Please keep us updated!

Eeeek! Day 21 and went out to open up the coop and lifted up Mamacita to find this! My kids already named them Tickle and Tinker. Don't know if the other 3 will hatch, but I'm gonna have a really hard time staying away! So excited...

That's wonderful news! I think I should invest upon a stethoscope so I can hear better of what's going on with out disturbing Mama hen.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Chicken ovums don't normally split into identical twins the way mammals do. That has been seen very, very rarely in small wild birds, but any study or article I've read states that there are no known cases of identical twins in chickens. They are fraternal from double yolks...a very rare occurrence in itself.

I have had small eggs with two small yolks. It can happen.

Sadly, it is very unlikely the twins will survive to hatch. Usually the cramped quarters of the egg ends in the death of both embryos. 

LofMc

http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2001/11/23/409538.htm

http://extension.psu.edu/4-h/projects/poultry/embryology/teacher-resources/faqs

Oh, I know it's not likely they will live and if they do they might be deformed but I can still try, I'm not going to kill them.

 

[chikenscratch]

Hello everyone.I've ordered 2 dozen eggs (welsummer & sussex) and can't wait to see the results of my hatch. Last year I only did a dozen and only one hatched and it was a roo.
I've got 2 broodies and will set Saturday and Monday.Mid-April I should have some chicks. Hopefully I get a better hatch rate this year!

 

[MrsMoon]

Wow Good luck!
So i just woke up, its 8:12am here. I checked on the broody and she has 3 chicks underneath her still slightly wet!!! They are sooo adorable. Obviously still 18 eggs left so more should be hatching in the evening. I will get the pictures in a few hours.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Okay, I might be going crazy but I just candled quite a few of the eggs and I swear there are two more eggs with two chicks on them. Am I setting double yolkers without knowing it? In all the years I've had bantams I have never gotten a double yolker from them. Just the standard ones.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Wow Good luck!
So i just woke up, its 8:12am here. I checked on the broody and she has 3 chicks underneath her still slightly wet!!! They are sooo adorable. Obviously still 18 eggs left so more should be hatching in the evening. I will get the pictures in a few hours.

Congrats! Hatching is so exciting

 

[NysiaAnera]

Okay, I might be going crazy but I just candled quite a few of the eggs and I swear there are two more eggs with two chicks on them. Am I setting double yolkers without knowing it? In all the years I've had bantams I have never gotten a double yolker from them. Just the standard ones.

Can you get some pictures for us? I do recall now that I have gotten two double yolkers before that were regular sized eggs with two small yolks. Each time, the yolks were stuck together. Not like they had split, just like they had simply stuck to each other. I separated them pretty easily. I had forgotten about them. Usually our double yolkers are at least double sized eggs.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

Can you get some pictures for us? I do recall now that I have gotten two double yolkers before that were regular sized eggs with two small yolks. Each time, the yolks were stuck together. Not like they had split, just like they had simply stuck to each other. I separated them pretty easily. I had forgotten about them. Usually our double yolkers are at least double sized eggs.

I will try to get some pictures tonight. I did post a video on YouTube of the first twin egg I noticed. I candled the rest of the eggs this morning and I think there are 2ish more twins. Starting to wonder if I'm seeing things...