Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[JakRat]

Oh also, I want to make sure that she isnt just sitting there for fun. If there are no babies under her I need to get her and egg that is fertile from a farmer friend of mine, or knock her off the nest, which really breaks my heart to do.

I need a good comparison picture of what a fertilized egg yolk looks like. I looked it up online, but I cant really tell the difference. To me, all the eggs I have cracked open look fertile... made me feel bad too lol.

I did get one egg from under her that she was sitting on that had hair line cracks. When I cracked it open there was nothing in it but a runny yolk. That was under her for a bout 5-6 days.

 

[stonykill]

She doesnt mind me taking them, she sees me put them back under her and I guess is ok with that... kinda weird but whatever. She is rarely off the nest. I am unsure if they are fertile because my rooster is, well, a bit on the sissy side. I have never even seen him try to "date" his ladies. I saw him do the sideways dance a few weeks ago and I also had two hens with feathers missing on their necks... problem with those two is that one is only a baby (3 ish months old but slowly developing) and the other is sick and hasnt laid an egg ever (7 months old)! Sigh, men... never know who to date and who not to date...

well it is easy to miss. My head roo has the other morning had his way with 4 girls in a row. The entire 4 took about 28 seconds.

 

[Tripp16]

I will only candle when the hen is off the nest. And with my eggs it isn't to see if they are fertile. I know they are. I haven't eaten an infertile egg since I got roosters! I only candle to check development, and to remove quitters, if they are obvious.

At which day do you candle? I always have candled on day 7 or 10 with bator eggs. My girl is on day 7 so I was thinking of candling to see who may possibly be growing? Could it hurt? It is night here but it is 41 degrees with wind. Could this be bad for the eggs being out the short time for candling?

If it will I will wait until day 10 and see if its warmer.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Just curious, why wont you candle? I have NO CLUE whether or not my girls eggs are fertile. I have been candling a bit, but havent really seen anything. I am also worried that I am disrupting her by taking her eggs out. She doesnt fight me anymore since I have had to take 4 eggs out from underneath her the past two days (my other two layers dont like their new nest box, they like theirs which is where she is. Should I just move her altogether?

I don't candle very well is my only reason. Last time I candled I had to bring the egg in the house and go into a closet where it was dark.

 

[stonykill]

At which day do you candle? I always have candled on day 7 or 10 with bator eggs. My girl is on day 7 so I was thinking of candling to see who may possibly be growing? Could it hurt? It is night here but it is 41 degrees with wind. Could this be bad for the eggs being out the short time for candling?

If it will I will wait until day 10 and see if its warmer.

anytime after day 8, that I happen to see them off the nest. I don't like to bother a broody. other than to look in on her and tell her she is a good mama. Besides, mine peck HARD for a hen 4 lbs or less. Without gloves, they draw blood.

 

[JakRat]

well it is easy to miss. My head roo has the other morning had his way with 4 girls in a row. The entire 4 took about 28 seconds.

I feel like I could make a lot of inappropriate jokes here, but since this is a family site I will keep them to myself lol.

He is a little guy, and very protective of his ladies. The other night I did catch him sitting infront of the nest box watching her. It was very cute. She also has a broody buddy. Her littler serama friend hangs out with her in the box. I did see something odd today. As I was adding the new nest box in I saw the serama hop up onto her silkie friend as if to keep her warm from the cold wind I was letting in to the coop.... is that normal???

 

[stonykill]

I feel like I could make a lot of inappropriate jokes here, but since this is a family site I will keep them to myself lol.

He is a little guy, and very protective of his ladies. The other night I did catch him sitting infront of the nest box watching her. It was very cute. She also has a broody buddy. Her littler serama friend hangs out with her in the box. I did see something odd today. As I was adding the new nest box in I saw the serama hop up onto her silkie friend as if to keep her warm from the cold wind I was letting in to the coop.... is that normal???

 

[JakRat]

I don't candle very well is my only reason. Last time I candled I had to bring the egg in the house and go into a closet where it was dark.

I usually bring mine in because it is so cold outside, then I wrap my hand around it, put it in my coat pocket, then place it right under her.

 

[JakRat]

I just went out and candled in this cold wind here, but it was dark out. I saw no veins or anything. I did see some airsacs, but dont all eggs have those?I really need to just bring them all in and candle them and mark them quickly. I dont think that there is anything in there though

 

[Tripp16]

I just went out and candled in this cold wind here, but it was dark out. I saw no veins or anything. I did see some airsacs, but dont all eggs have those?I really need to just bring them all in and candle them and mark them quickly. I dont think that there is anything in there though

Im not a expert. But all my eggs have had air sacs fertile or not. What day are you on? Sorry if I missed it.