Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[genesis120]

You have a Broody hen that keeps pooping in the nest on the eggs. Most of the eggs now have some amount of poop on them. Is there any hope for this clutch of eggs with the hen or should I take the few unsoild and put them in an incubator?

 

[jenniferlamar70]

The egg has a pip in the shell this morning and peeped when I checked on it

I would post in the hands on hatching thread. When I'm using an incubator that's where I go. I also prefer the hands on method so they have more experience if you do need to assist. If they start hatching early your temps have been to high. Late and temps we're most likely to slow. Baby has at the very least 24 hours from external pip to hatch. After that I like to keep an eye on them to make sure they can hatch properly. If you plan on opening the incubator through hatch you need to keep your humidity on the higher side. Definitely find amylynn or pyxis. They were so much help to me.

good luck!

 

[TeeMom]

You have a Broody hen that keeps pooping in the nest on the eggs. Most of the eggs now have some amount of poop on them. Is there any hope for this clutch of eggs with the hen or should I take the few unsoild and put them in an incubator?

My broody started out doing the same, so I started pulling her out of the box once a day and then she seemed to catch on and did it on her own. It was her first time, so I'm assuming it was just an inexperience issue. Still, the eggs were quite dirty. I cleaned out the box a couple times and wiped them with a dry paper towel to remove as much solid as possible. All but one that she cracked early on and two infertile eggs hatched, so it didn't affect anything in my experience.

 

[PD-Riverman]

You have a Broody hen that keeps pooping in the nest on the eggs. Most of the eggs now have some amount of poop on them. Is there any hope for this clutch of eggs with the hen or should I take the few unsoild and put them in an incubator?

Why is she pooping in the nest?? I have set hundreds in the years and over 150 the last 3 years---never do I recall having one to poop in the nest on the eggs. I can tell you 99% of the time what causes them to poop in the nest is Feed and water being set close to her nest where she can reach it without getting of the nest. I would never do that----food and water in all mine is probably at least 2ft away. The dried poop should not hurt the eggs. I set mine and Leave them alone---I never look under them(only if I catch her off eating, etc) for sure not the last 3 days when she is in Lock-down--not leaving the nest.

Sure, she is yours---this is just my suggestions from my experience!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

You have a Broody hen that keeps pooping in the nest on the eggs. Most of the eggs now have some amount of poop on them. Is there any hope for this clutch of eggs with the hen or should I take the few unsoild and put them in an incubator?

We have had a few what I like to call die hard broodys, who do this. Like past person said just remove her from the box once a day. I personally think they are in such a trance they refuse to move or another chicken could take their eggs lol. When I move mine she runs with her feathers ruffled and poops, dust bathes and eats in less then 5 mins growling the whole time lmao.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

The chick internally pips many hours (as much as 24 hrs) before external pipping. Once they pip into the aircell you can hear them cheeping and the tapping is the chick starting to make it's external pip and finish any repositioning needed for hatch.
Once the external pip has occurred it may zip and hatch quickly or may rest for many hours before starting to zip. It is crucial to let the egg alone during this time to avoid humidity issues. If you open the incubator or lift the hen you can cause a loss of humidity which can cause shrink wrapping of the chick.
Remember that also during that last day or so the chick is absorbing the yolk and the blood from the vessels lining the egg membrane is being pulled back into the chick and the chick's system is basically cutting the umbilical cord from its dependance on the shell's protection. If you try to 'assist' the hatch you run a high risk of tearing blood vessels in the membrane or exposing the yolk sack before it has a chance to absorb.
So try to stay hands off as long as possible unless there is some sort of complication noted. You can search BYC for Sally Sunshines *Guide to assisted hatching* or the *hatching 101* article and read up on the process while you are waiting.

I know this, this morning there was a pip in the shell, last night it had only pipped internally. Then I had to go to school, hopefully it will be out by the time I get home
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[Violetsfeathers]

I would post in the hands on hatching thread. When I'm using an incubator that's where I go. I also prefer the hands on method so they have more experience if you do need to assist. If they start hatching early your temps have been to high. Late and temps we're most likely to slow. Baby has at the very least 24 hours from external pip to hatch. After that I like to keep an eye on them to make sure they can hatch properly. If you plan on opening the incubator through hatch you need to keep your humidity on the higher side. Definitely find amylynn or pyxis. They were so much help to me.

good luck!

Thanks
Hopefully it will be hatched when I get home from school
e

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Thanks
Hopefully it will be hatched when I get home from school
e

I'm sure it will be.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

I'm sure it will be.

It's hatched! It's hatched!
e

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Here is one of the eggs that I think has two chicks in it


This is a one-chick egg, a black blob surfaces once in a while. It's a bit younger

And this is a video of the original egg I thought had two chicks in it, you can see them kicking each other in person.

Wow, that's crazy! Hope it hatches for you...

I was doing so well, but I just couldn't take it anymore and I had to sneak a peek. And... all five have hatched!!! So exciting! I took the picture very fast, so it is not the greatest, but all 5 are in it.

So cute! If they are dry, a quick peek now and then won't hurt. It will annoy your broody however!

My splash Wyandotte ended up with 4 chicks out of the 15 she was sitting on.3- 4 non fertile 1 rotten. the rest we almost completely developed but died in the eggs with about the size of a nickel egg yolk attached to them. This was my first time, I will candle next time. What about the ones that died what could have caused this?

Is this her first time being broody? I had my most recent broody hatch out only two eggs, and it was her first time as well. Could be a learning curve. If it happens again, maybe some intervention would be helpful.

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Congrats!! They're so ugly they are still wet, but cute too!