Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miz Mary]

Found 1st chick almost dead ....6 " away from Mama ..... warmed it up , made it drink water .....it lived !!!! Mama decided to get off the 4 remaining eggs ..... to be with the 3 hatchlings .... moved them all out to the pen .....
second broody was let out of the carrier with her egg , basically just opened the door .... she shot out , and joined the flock again !! she seemed to not want to finish sitting on the egg ......

first mama was letting babies walk around .... I never saw them drink/eat ..... I was afraid they would get lost from mama like the first chick did .... so I brought them in the house ....under a light of course .... they drank / ate like crazy !!! mama is not looking for them or crying .....

I gave her the 3 eggs that should hatch tomorrow , put her in the crate ..... if she can hatch out these eggs, all is good !!!

I WILL SO DO THIS DIFFERENT NEXT TIME ............

 

[OrpingtonManor]

I read about 8 pages of this thread, but wanted to ask a question. It might have been answered. If so, feel free to send me back to read the rest.

I have a broody Barnevelder. It's her first time round. I don't have a rooster, so got her a few hatching eggs from AmCanyonStables. I am leaving her with the flock. My alpha hen has been keeping her company in the nest box, even though my alpha no longer lays. The Barnie accepted four eggs last night without incident. Today after work, I see that she has moved about a foot from her original location. When I checked her eggs to remove any new ones laid by the flock, I noticed that one egg has a cracked and dented area, but the membrane is still intact. I took the egg away from her and put it in the incubator. Does it have any chance at developing? Has anyone ever had a chick hatch from an egg like this? I know some people have put wax on cracks and the chick has developed.

I'm planning to put in a test batch of eggs today. I figure it's worth a try, unless you have a compelling reason for me to give up on it.

What do you think?

 

[BluBug]

I got shipped eggs & one w/ a very thin shell cracked big time,another had a star like crack in the small end, I put 2 pieces, one on top of another, of scotch tape, hatched this AM into a darling chick.

hope this helps?

 

[OrpingtonManor]

Thanks.

I'm hoping the best for this potential little one. If it survives, I'll call it Miracle.

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
Mine had been sitting since January 21st and I didn't give her chicks until Monday, so your hen will be fine. Mine kept sitting and then changing her mind (several times), and then when she did settle down she ended up with dud eggs (again, several times). The poor thing had a rough go of it, but she was a trooper and is now a happy mommy

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
Sounds perfect!!! Well done

Here they are all together on their first excursion out into their run today. I had to remove the 2 newly hatched chicks a couple times today and let them warm up under the brooder light. The meaties have a higher body temp and didn't require mama to sit still very long, so the new ones were getting a bit chilled. I call these 2 my "twins!"

We have a cold snap coming for the next few days and nights, so today was their last outdoor excursion until the warm weather returns. I have them all together in my 4' x 4' brooder coop with a heat lamp to help mama keep them warm

 

[phasianidae]

Quote:
I assume it would greatly decrease the likelyness of it hatching. I have always removed cracked eggs and discarded them so I dont know how often they hatch.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

This evening I saw that Lucy, one of my mutt standard hens was fluffed up and clucking like a broody..I think she may have a nest out in the pasture, or in the coop. I think I may give her my OE eggs that are in my awful homemade 'bator.

I think she is big enough to hold a dozen, hopefully!!

 

[Fuffy]

Day 22 now!!!!
Eggs are still solid as rocks!!!!!
Can hear cheeping though, so I know something is still alive!
Can't stand the suspense!!!!

Be strong little chickies

 

[StormyMoon]

March 18th we put 12 eggs under our Black Australorp hen who suddenly was acting very broody.

She only came off the nest in the beginning to come out for water and food and cause one other hen would kick her off the nest she came out looking like a wild hen ready to kill someone.

We have en-caged her now so none of the other hens can bother her and put her food and water down in front of her.

We candled the eggs tonight it appears all are doing well we won't touch them again until after she is done hatching them all.

For now we will only check in to make sure she has water and food but will leave her to do her thing.

They should be due around the 8th if all goes well