Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[macdoogle2]

I have a question about why broody hens stop laying eggs. I understand that the hen wants to sit on eggs and hatch them, but if she is not laying any eggs how can she have eggs to hatch?

 

[slurrywidow]

Rachel'sFlock :

Confessions from the Farmyard...

This day feels as long as the 20 days preceding it.
Still one chick, and no outward signs of any action in the other 7, but am really only getting a glimpse when I am a creepy stalker and peel my hen back from the nest.
I am profoundly committed to not doing this anymore, but am having the worst time not doing it.
I want to go do it right now.
Turns out I am well worse than any expectant father I have ever been with...
so impatient...have forgotten all 300 things I read about how long this takes, and best is left well enough alone...
but it is going to be a long day, today...

I know that in the whole of my world, this is the only group of people I would ever spill my most Chicken-crazy guts to, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting up with a FirstTimeHatcher stalker extrordinaire on hatch day.

I think you are the cutest!

My babies hatched just a week ago and I felt the same! I actually went so far as to imagine what Mona would be saying to me if she had the voice to do so. Funny thing, it's what I'd imagine I'd say to someone messing with me while I had my babies....OH WAIT....I DID say those things!

I have been a complete failure with my commitment to do no more messing. Sigh. Everyday I'm still there, in the mix, mucking about where I have no place. Lucky for me I have a nice Mona and she tolerates my meddling with just a few squawks and no beak action. Take comfort, it gets easier to just sit back and watch. That's the most fun for me, watching nature happen. Her clucks and calls and the way the babies response is just wonderful.​

 

[slurrywidow]

Quote:
It's my understanding that a hen going broody will lay up to 10 or so eggs and THEN settle down on them until hatch. Of course that's in nature. With us humans collecting the eggs everyday it's a little hard for them to gather a full clutch so eventually they will just sit on whatever is available. Even a plastic easter egg like mine did.

 

[slurrywidow]

Quote:
Congrats on your second broody! I have a secret if you promise not to tell anyone. whispering...I too have my second broody. I wasn't going to let her have any eggs but after the first hatch I just melted. Plus she was just soooo pathetic with her melted pancake body. She's now happily sitting on 8 eggs.

As for the fridge eggs, I too have heard that people hatch eggs after being in the fridge. I say go for it!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
Thanks for thinking of me, friend!
Trying to be patient...

 

[Jloeffler]

Alrighty, with all the enabling...I mean helpful encouragement

from my friends on the Broody Hen thread, I'm going to pull the couple eggs out of the fridge I know are hers, let them sit and come to room temp then pop them under her. It'd be better if there was more than one chick anyway. For the chicks sake, of course! Any chance that instead of hatching shed adopt the 8 babies I have in the brooder? They are 4 weeks old and bantams like her... Don't really think she would but thought I'd throw the idea out.

Rachel, any new peeps?

Love the idea to take chicken cam to the next level!! Broody tv would be a hit here for sure!

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
More than one chick is always better than only one!

 

[Jloeffler]

Rachel'sFlock :

Quote:
More than one chick is always better than only one!

Very true!! And always just for the chicks!!

never for us! How are you holding up?​

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

Quote:
More than one chick is always better than only one!

Very true!! And always just for the chicks!!

never for us! How are you holding up?

have left them alone for the night, so not sure...will stalk them some more tomorrow, I'm sure.
peep cam idea is brilliant! I don't wanna interfere. I wanna watch!!!

 

[Jloeffler]

Exactly!! It would be so much easier to leave mamma alone if we could only see!!