Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Rachel'sFlock]

Ok, have candled the eggs (boy was AliceAnn upset with that choice!):
At this point, 3 were non-viable (completely clear, just eggs). Of these 3, 2 were cracked.
7 were obviously occupied
1 was a maybe???
I left the maybe and the For-Sures and removed the 3 duds.
Should I wait a few days (or more?) and then candle again to remove the maybe if it turns out to be a No?
Such a first-time GranMum!

Thanks as always!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rachel'sFlock :

Ok, have candled the eggs (boy was AliceAnn upset with that choice!):
At this point, 3 were non-viable (completely clear, just eggs). Of these 3, 2 were cracked.
7 were obviously occupied
1 was a maybe???
I left the maybe and the For-Sures and removed the 3 duds.
Should I wait a few days (or more?) and then candle again to remove the maybe if it turns out to be a No?
Such a first-time GranMum!

Thanks as always!

you did great and yes wait a while then candle again.​

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Thank you, Miss Lydia!
I was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
I was really thankful for the obvious ones!
Somewhat surprising, the clear eggs didn't even smell gross when I cracked them (I just had to know if I had chosen wisely, or if I was as bad at this as I imagined). I thought they would be horrid, but they really weren't at all.
Certainly not as bad as they might have 10ish days from now!!!!
Thanks for helping me be brave!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Rachel'sFlock :

Thank you, Miss Lydia!
I was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs!
I was really thankful for the obvious ones!
Somewhat surprising, the clear eggs didn't even smell gross when I cracked them (I just had to know if I had chosen wisely, or if I was as bad at this as I imagined). I thought they would be horrid, but they really weren't at all.
Certainly not as bad as they might have 10ish days from now!!!!
Thanks for helping me be brave!

One of my hens sat for the whole time in the dead of summer and when i cracked the eggs open they didn't even smell, just plain ole non fertlized eggs. i thought for sure they would smell. 10 days how eggciting!!​

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
One of my hens sat for the whole time in the dead of summer and when i cracked the eggs open they didn't even smell, just plain ole non fertlized eggs. i thought for sure they would smell. 10 days how eggciting!!

That's exactly how my two discards were after some 24 days of summer and hen heat. Just eggs.

(I wasn't a confident candle-er and the eggs were dark shelled so I left them until the bitter bitter end just in case ...

)

 

[the1honeycomb]

Quote:
X2 again

CAndle away!! and share the news!!

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
you did great and yes wait a while then candle again.

x2

Well done

Do you get the broody off the nest for a daily constitutional? Mine is a bit happier if I shut her out of the nursery box for a few mins and whisk her eggs away for candling.

I also find it's helpful to handle momma gently coz it teaches her to let the babies be handled a bit (Does that make sense?)

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
you did great and yes wait a while then candle again.

x2

Well done

Do you get the broody off the nest for a daily constitutional? Mine is a bit happier if I shut her out of the nursery box for a few mins and whisk her eggs away for candling.

I also find it's helpful to handle momma gently coz it teaches her to let the babies be handled a bit (Does that make sense?)

yep!!

 

[Miz Mary]

My first sad expirience .......
Only 1 chick hatched, the others were not fertalized ... 3 days old this chick was ..... when it found an escape spot and went into the next pen where it got pecked badly ....hubby found him right after and tried to give it water , but I had the feeling it wouldnt make it ...... put it in with the momma then had to go to work .....it didnt make it . Lost my first chick in 5 years since Ive had chickens .....

 

[Fuffy]

Quote:
Awwww! Soooo sad!!!