Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Pstock44]

Ok, our hen has been sitting solid for several days. I didn't see her come out today but I'm sure I just missed her. So we decided its time to set some eggs. My wife and I went out just a bit ago and I lifted her up, squawking and pecking, She got the fake eggs out and put 12 eggs in the nest. I put her back on the nest and she almost immediately tucked her head down and I watched her do what looked like "shuffling" with her feet. I assume she was adjusting the eggs. All the eggs were collected from the 3rd till today so they're all fresh.

So the due date is April 27...now the patient waiting starts, right?

 

[PD-Riverman]

Ok, our hen has been sitting solid for several days. I didn't see her come out today but I'm sure I just missed her. So we decided its time to set some eggs. My wife and I went out just a bit ago and I lifted her up, squawking and pecking, She got the fake eggs out and put 12 eggs in the nest. I put her back on the nest and she almost immediately tucked her head down and I watched her do what looked like "shuffling" with her feet. I assume she was adjusting the eggs. All the eggs were collected from the 3rd till today so they're all fresh.

So the due date is April 27...now the patient waiting starts, right?

Is she in a place by herself?? If not did you mark the eggs so you can remove fresh layed daily? Good Luck!

 

[Pstock44]

Is she in a place by herself?? If not did you mark the eggs so you can remove fresh layed daily? Good Luck!

Thank you and yes, we marked them. Our brooder pen isn't ready so we're going to see how she does in the community nest box area. No new eggs were found under her today and all the other hens used the other boxes, so I hope that's a good sign.

If we decide to attempt it how long is to long to wait to move her if we get the pen ready? I don't want to hurt the eggs or break her from being broody since its her first time. If we don't move her before hatching I'll probably move her and the chicks after so they will be able to safely grow and acclimate to the rest of the flock. The pen will be an enlarged and divided section of the current pen.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thank you and yes, we marked them. Our brooder pen isn't ready so we're going to see how she does in the community nest box area. No new eggs were found under her today and all the other hens used the other boxes, so I hope that's a good sign.

If we decide to attempt it how long is to long to wait to move her if we get the pen ready? I don't want to hurt the eggs or break her from being broody since its her first time. If we don't move her before hatching I'll probably move her and the chicks after so they will be able to safely grow and acclimate to the rest of the flock. The pen will be an enlarged and divided section of the current pen.

Good, A lot of people allow them to stay with the flock and some of those do not have a problem. I think the biggest problem is her getting on a different nest after taking a break. Just have to watch her----check on her often and for sure close dark. Good Luck!!

 

[NysiaAnera]

Ok, our hen has been sitting solid for several days. I didn't see her come out today but I'm sure I just missed her. So we decided its time to set some eggs. My wife and I went out just a bit ago and I lifted her up, squawking and pecking, She got the fake eggs out and put 12 eggs in the nest. I put her back on the nest and she almost immediately tucked her head down and I watched her do what looked like "shuffling" with her feet. I assume she was adjusting the eggs. All the eggs were collected from the 3rd till today so they're all fresh.

So the due date is April 27...now the patient waiting starts, right?      

How exciting!

 

[Pstock44]

Good, A lot of people allow them to stay with the flock and some of those do not have a problem. I think the biggest problem is her getting on a different nest after taking a break. Just have to watch her----check on her often and for sure close dark. Good Luck!!

TY, Fortunately I'm off work till after they hatch so I'll get the benefit of watching the complete process. I check on them several times a day and she's only moved the one time 2 days before setting. If she and the chicks are not hassled by the others I may just leave them all together. I have to say I have a very peaceful and happy flock.

 

[Hillaire]

I currently have a silkie hen sitting on 8 eggs. She went broody end of last month the eggs should hatch on the 19th of this month by my calculations. She is doing a wonderful job and is very diligent with sitting on her eggs. She always goes to the right nest box after going out for feed water and broody poops. She is in such a rush every time she leaves the nest it's always a comical sight to see. My one worry is that we have been getting a lot of rain so most of the eggs have a little bit of mud on them. Are they still going to be able to hatch ok?

 

[elaineinspain]

This is my first time with chickens and first time with a broody hen.
My black australorp is broody. She has been for over a week. She is sitting on plastic eggs in a large dog crate with food. water and nesting box inside (she isn't sitting in the nesting box) I can see that she eats a little each day, and she must move around some because she is often in a different position than when she was last time I saw her.

I plan to set her on fertile eggs on Monday. Is there anything else I need to be doing? Should I open the dog crate door and leave it open in case she wants to go outside with the other chickens? It was open today for 20 minutes but she didn't seem to notice. She hasn't shown any interest in leaving her plastic eggs at all.
3 days ago I moved her from a regular nesting box over to the dog crate and she immediately settled carefully on the plastic eggs as if she gets moved around every day! The litter in the dog crate is wood shavings and dried leaves sprinkled with some wood ash and I put some sprigs of lavender, mint, rosemary and thyme in there with her. I can't see any horrendous broody poop in there, but she must've pooped in there!

Is there anything else I should be or shouldn't be doing?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I currently have a silkie hen sitting on 8 eggs. She went broody end of last month the eggs should hatch on the 19th of this month by my calculations. She is doing a wonderful job and is very diligent with sitting on her eggs. She always goes to the right nest box after going out for feed water and broody poops. She is in such a rush every time she leaves the nest it's always a comical sight to see. My one worry is that we have been getting a lot of rain so most of the eggs have a little bit of mud on them. Are they still going to be able to hatch ok?

They'll be fine. Eggs are amazingly protective with the bloom. I've had rotten eggs explode over a batch. I simply daubed off the gook with soft hay. Most of the eggs still hatched.

Just make sure the eggs stay dry, as in rain isn't directly hitting them or seeping into the bedding.

Good girl to your Silkie. Let us know how the hatch goes.

LofMc

 

[karenerwin]

I currently have a silkie hen sitting on 8 eggs. She went broody end of last month the eggs should hatch on the 19th of this month by my calculations. She is doing a wonderful job and is very diligent with sitting on her eggs. She always goes to the right nest box after going out for feed water and broody poops. She is in such a rush every time she leaves the nest it's always a comical sight to see. My one worry is that we have been getting a lot of rain so most of the eggs have a little bit of mud on them. Are they still going to be able to hatch ok?

The mud should not make a difference in the hatching process. The only concern would be bacteria getting into the chick, but personally, I would just leave it be, unless it is poopy. Then you could try to gently scrape it off if it is dry. But sometimes I think we do more harm than good when we try to "help" out. Afterall, nature has been doing this a long time without our help!

This is my first time with chickens and first time with a broody hen.
My black australorp is broody. She has been for over a week. She is sitting on plastic eggs in a large dog crate with food. water and nesting box inside (she isn't sitting in the nesting box) I can see that she eats a little each day, and she must move around some because she is often in a different position than when she was last time I saw her.

I plan to set her on fertile eggs on Monday. Is there anything else I need to be doing? Should I open the dog crate door and leave it open in case she wants to go outside with the other chickens? It was open today for 20 minutes but she didn't seem to notice. She hasn't shown any interest in leaving her plastic eggs at all.
3 days ago I moved her from a regular nesting box over to the dog crate and she immediately settled carefully on the plastic eggs as if she gets moved around every day! The litter in the dog crate is wood shavings and dried leaves sprinkled with some wood ash and I put some sprigs of lavender, mint, rosemary and thyme in there with her. I can't see any horrendous broody poop in there, but she must've pooped in there!

Is there anything else I should be or shouldn't be doing?

About the only thing I think I would do differently is leave the dog crate door open for a period of time each day (unless the other hens are trying to go in there to lay eggs). That way she can get up off the nest and poop outside of her nest area. That will help keep the eggs cleaner & healthier. Good luck!!