Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Jennrz]

First time with a broody hen sitting on eggs. She's sitting on 9 eggs and it's day 20. I did get a candling in @ day 10 and pulled 3 clears. I left a couple that were 'maybe'. I didn't get a final candling @ day 18 which is what I would have considered just before lockdown if they had been in an incubator.

So I'm nervous and feel like I should be doing something but not sure what that is.... I peeked under her today and didn't see any pips or any other signs that hatching would be soon. I do have an incubator warmed and on standby if needed. I know I should probably just sit on my hands and wait, but I don't know when I should step in and when to leave it be... Also, how long do I give her? If nothing hatches by the end of day 21, do I candle? I have some chicks that hatched in my incubator a week ago. I can possibly slip the eggs out from under her and slip the chicks in....

I know there aren't concrete answers to all of this. Just looking for advice and or what to be on the lookout for.

**I apologize for probably a repeated questions, but almost 3000 pages is a lot to read through. If someone can tell me how to run a search on a specific thread vs the whole forum that would be lovely!**

 

[Molpet]

First time with a broody hen sitting on eggs. She's sitting on 9 eggs and it's day 20. I did get a candling in @ day 10 and pulled 3 clears. I left a couple that were 'maybe'. I didn't get a final candling @ day 18 which is what I would have considered just before lockdown if they had been in an incubator.

So I'm nervous and feel like I should be doing something but not sure what that is.... I peeked under her today and didn't see any pips or any other signs that hatching would be soon. I do have an incubator warmed and on standby if needed. I know I should probably just sit on my hands and wait, but I don't know when I should step in and when to leave it be... Also, how long do I give her? If nothing hatches by the end of day 21, do I candle? I have some chicks that hatched in my incubator a week ago. I can possibly slip the eggs out from under her and slip the chicks in....

I know there aren't concrete answers to all of this. Just looking for advice and or what to be on the lookout for.

**I apologize for probably a repeated questions, but almost 3000 pages is a lot to read through. If someone can tell me how to run a search on a specific thread vs the whole forum that would be lovely!**

sit on your hands until 24 days or she gets off the nest.
I give the hen the eggs and when she gets off I look at the eggs left and if one look viable it goes in the bator
if it's been 24 days and no chicks I will give her two or more from another hatch

 

[Jennrz]

sit on your hands until 24 days or she gets off the nest.
I give the hen the eggs and when she gets off I look at the eggs left and if one look viable it goes in the bator
if it's been 24 days and no chicks I will give her two or more from another hatch

Thank you. ~this is me sitting on my hands....sighs~

 

[Molpet]

BYW the hen is in lockdown and if you lift her up. it's like opening the incubator during lockdown.

Thank you. ~this is me sitting on my hands....sighs~

 

[Jennrz]

BYW the hen is in lockdown and if you lift her up. it's like opening the incubator during lockdown.

Eeek. I didn’t lift her completely off just an inch or so to peek under. Hopefully I didn’t do too much damage.

So I just checked on her and she pooped on the nest. Kinda runny and gross. I’d like to clean it but don’t want to disturb her any further. Thoughts?

 

[Faraday40]

Eeek. I didn’t lift her completely off just an inch or so to peek under. Hopefully I didn’t do too much damage.

So I just checked on her and she pooped on the nest. Kinda runny and gross. I’d like to clean it but don’t want to disturb her any further. Thoughts?

When using an incubator, we fuss over all the details. Hens just do it naturally. I once had a hen get off for a bio break (around day 18) and returned to the wrong nest. it was winter & about 25'F outside, so the eggs were pretty cold when I discovered them. I put the hen back on her eggs & all the eggs still hatched. (They were a few days late from the incident.) I was amazed.

I know it's hard to wait, but don't worry too much. If you can remove the poop without causing too much stress to the hen, go for it. (Just a quick grab with a paper towel - not a complete nest cleaning.) If your hen freaks out when you're around her nest, then leave her be. Each broody is different. You may hear faint peeping or your hen talking to her eggs. Those are good signs. I doubt you did any harm peeking, but it's best to listen for chicks.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Happy update here.

Nannies have taken babes out into yard foraging. All is well. I have definitely 3 male OE's (which I'll have to re-home or cull, depending upon any interest response). Then I've got 5 project OE's...several barred showing the Cream Legbar-Barnevelder rooster (who is barred ) definitely covered. I'll have to wait to see the turn out on those. I hope the barred are hens as I want to differentiate between them and my solid black OE girls who are older and my master broodies. They did a FINE job of joint brooding and hatching in the main coop this year. It was truly a thing of beauty to watch. These black babes are all from them...so they will be 75% chance OE's with a 25% chance of solid blue.

The 4 Cream Legbar-Barnevelder OE girls are with the Barney Banty mix. I let her into the broody run. Surprisingly Rosie (my old bantam Cochin who neither lays nor brooded this year...she's about 6), attacked the mom (her daughter) and one of the chicks. I stood and watched and kept rechecking that day until things settled. Rosie doesn't move very fast, so the chicks can easily get away. Fortunately for Rosie things seem to be well, and after 2 days, have settled. The outcome would not have been favorable for Rosie...she neither lays, nor broods, and cannot be let out in free range with the other birds as all my bantam Cochins merely become hawk bait within a matter of days if not hours. She's an adorable looking fluff ball, but I guess great grandma is a might cranky in her old age. Barney, my faithful roo, is in that coop, and seemed to settle the fuss a bit, though he ignored it more than I thought he would...maybe he knew there wasn't sincere attempt at harm?

So now I'm having to figure out who will go and who will stay come fall...as I can't keep all of them. I'm going a blue egg direction to keep that alive, I'm tempted to put my two cleanest looking project Barnevelder hens (who lay middle terra cotta) in with Barney to improve that and hopefully keep my dark eggs....trying to remember if I can breed back one more time to dad...pretty sure I can.

Decisions. Decisions. But time will tell. Chicks ain't laying hens yet. As you all know, a lot can happen in between.

I'll try to get some photos today to post.

LofMc

 

[fisherlady]

Happy update here.

Nannies have taken babes out into yard foraging. All is well. I have definitely 3 male OE's (which I'll have to re-home or cull, depending upon any interest response). Then I've got 5 project OE's...several barred showing the Cream Legbar-Barnevelder rooster (who is barred ) definitely covered. I'll have to wait to see the turn out on those. I hope the barred are hens as I want to differentiate between them and my solid black OE girls who are older and my master broodies. They did a FINE job of joint brooding and hatching in the main coop this year. It was truly a thing of beauty to watch. These black babes are all from them...so they will be 75% chance OE's with a 25% chance of solid blue.

The 4 Cream Legbar-Barnevelder OE girls are with the Barney Banty mix. I let her into the broody run. Surprisingly Rosie (my old bantam Cochin who neither lays nor brooded this year...she's about 6), attacked the mom (her daughter) and one of the chicks. I stood and watched and kept rechecking that day until things settled. Rosie doesn't move very fast, so the chicks can easily get away. Fortunately for Rosie things seem to be well, and after 2 days, have settled. The outcome would not have been favorable for Rosie...she neither lays, nor broods, and cannot be let out in free range with the other birds as all my bantam Cochins merely become hawk bait within a matter of days if not hours. She's an adorable looking fluff ball, but I guess great grandma is a might cranky in her old age. Barney, my faithful roo, is in that coop, and seemed to settle the fuss a bit, though he ignored it more than I thought he would...maybe he knew there wasn't sincere attempt at harm?

So now I'm having to figure out who will go and who will stay come fall...as I can't keep all of them. I'm going a blue egg direction to keep that alive, I'm tempted to put my two cleanest looking project Barnevelder hens (who lay middle terra cotta) in with Barney to improve that and hopefully keep my dark eggs....trying to remember if I can breed back one more time to dad...pretty sure I can.

Decisions. Decisions. But time will tell. Chicks ain't laying hens yet. As you all know, a lot can happen in between.

I'll try to get some photos today to post.

LofMc

I hear you on the Rosie dilemma... always hard to see them fading in retirement and have to weigh flock benefits vs retirement benefits. You did well (in my opinion) to give them time to work it out. I know it seems more 'normal' to most people to intervene but when keeping a multi-generational flock the spats should be worked out, as much as safely possible, by the flock itself. I hope your Rosie settles into a 'grandma' mode so she can extend her happy retirement!
I admire your dedication and understanding of the genetics in your flock. It is something I haven't delved into very far since my aim has been more toward meat and a self sustaining flock. Avoiding repeat, close family breeding to avoid in breeding has been the extent of my keeping track of genetic issues. A meaty bird who lays green eggs may be a future project.... but for now I am happy to keep a few colored egg layers for variety but still concentrate on the Plymouth rocks... Maybe when I can reduce work hours from 60+ hrs a week I will have more brain power left. I am in awe of you folks who can understand and keep track of all of the generation changes and genetic crosses to get your preferred birds!

 

[Jennrz]

Thank you all for talking me down from my new broody hen hatching nerves yesterday. We have three new babies today and she is doing just fine as a Mama Hen. Still keeping a close eye on and she is still sitting on 6 eggs.

 

[fisherlady]

Thank you all for talking me down from my new broody hen hatching nerves yesterday. We have three new babies today and she is doing just fine as a Mama Hen. Still keeping a close eye on and she is still sitting on 6 eggs.

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Congrats on the new additions.... that is a cutie!