Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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What a nice Birthday present.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Moochie that pic is adorable, heres hoping the rest hatch

and tell mom no more washing hatching eggs.

 

[Moochie]

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What a nice Birthday present.

x2

 

[Moochie]

Out of the 4 only 1 egg left. I candled, 1 bad egg and 1 with an air sac. Crossing my fingers.. If only mom didn't wash the eggs. She scrubbed them with wash cloths! DX That's what she told me anyways. She said that the eggs were from our washed eggs bucket, the eggs that would go in the fridge.

She just picked 4 out randomly. UGH! This is why I should be in charge of hatching! I always prefer the nicer hens (who trust people) to brood, but mom wants them all to brood, something about "giving them a chance". Uh, no! Nicer hens = Me being able to play/record/take pictures of the chickies. Mean hens = My hand and arm losing skin.
My mutts are excellent broodies. They let me pet them, play with the chicks, candle with ease, just perfect, very protective too against other hens. But the cochins... They are just poop. I want to get rid of the blue ones.

Terrible tempers they have.

 

[silkie4]

Ok, I have a question:

We have silkie chickens, 7 of them. One has decided to go broody (I think). She has been sitting on 1 egg since last Tuesday Dec 19th. Normally once she lays her egg, she eventually gets off and goes outside and that is when my daughter grabs it and brings it in. Now she is not getting off the egg so I assume she is broody. Is this normal? Do they usually sit on 1 egg? Also, since we really weren't planning on having a baby chick just yet and don't really have anything set up as for a separate place for her away from the rest of the flock, is there anything saying I can't put her in a large dog cage in the basement? Would being completely separated from the rest bother her?

Sorry for all the questions. We are new to the chicken thing, as though you couldn't tell!

 

[perchie.girl]

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you could leave her where she is too.... Its late I am sure someone will chime in.

Oh and

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Silkies have broody for their middle name.

and if ya'll have been collecting them everyday then thats why she only has 1 egg to sit on.

Hopefully you have a roo? She would probably be fine right where she is unless your worried about the other hens messing with her? you could also move her to a large dog crate to the basement, and just let her out once or twice a day to do her broody poop and eat and drink. your call since you know your chickens best. Congrats to you and please keep us updated on it all, so exciting!!! And

 

[lswatson111304]

I just peeked into the eggs under my broody, not all just a couple..the aircells don't look good. They are detached. I sure hope that these eggs can survive under a broody.

 

[silkie4]

Thanks for the replies.. We just took a flashlight out and "candled" the egg. Large dark spot and some reddish lines which I assume are the veins that everyone talks about so I assume we'll have a baby in the near future. I've heard that if I move her to a new location that she may not like it and no longer sit on the egg but if I don't move her and the chick hatches out in the coop, well we live in Nebraska and while it hasn't gotten too cold yet, you just never know what is around the corner for temps here. Can the momma keep a newborn chick warm enough out in the coop or once it hatches do we need to then take momma and chick into the garage in another cage?

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Mama will keep that chick toasty warm, congrats keep us posted.