Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

So would you say it is bad to candle a broody hens eggs? My broody is on day 10 and tonight she will be on a day 11. I havent candled yet because I was afraid it would be bad for the eggs, plus the nights have been cold so I didnt want to give one a chill. Its supposed to be warmer tonight so I thought I might give it a try,

Why dont you candle? I would love to hear so I dont mess something up if I do. Thanks!

With broody's I only candle if I have a chance when they get up to eat, bath and poop for the day. I don't candle broody eggs usually because I am a firm beleiver in leaving the broody alone to do her thing. I just personally feel the less human interaction the better. Afterall chickens hatched eggs for 10,000 years without our help.

But once in a while my curiosity gets the best of me.

 

[Tripp16]

With broody's I only candle if I have a chance when they get up to eat, bath and poop for the day. I don't candle broody eggs usually because I am a firm beleiver in leaving the broody alone to do her thing. I just personally feel the less human interaction the better. Afterall chickens hatched eggs for 10,000 years without our help.

But once in a while my curiosity gets the best of me.

Ugh see its killing me!! But I keep saying to myseld curiosity killed the cat! Ugh Just 10 more days until hatch day. May I can make it!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Ugh see its killing me!! But I keep saying to myseld curiosity killed the cat! Ugh Just 10 more days until hatch day. May I can make it!

The only reason I candled and the only reason was the other day I cracked open a bantam egg and it wasn't fertile which made me wonder if my broody maybe sitting on unfertile eggs but I think she has chicks in there now that I candled them.. I'm hoping so anyway..

 

[Tripp16]

The only reason I candled and the only reason was the other day I cracked open a bantam egg and it wasn't fertile which made me wonder if my broody maybe sitting on unfertile eggs but I think she has chicks in there now that I candled them.. I'm hoping so anyway..

I guess Ill just wait and see if we get some babies!

 

[Tripp16]

Ok curiosity got the best of me!! I couldnt help it! I candled the first two eggs that I grabbed one at a time. I only candled two out of the 4 both were growing! Or at least I think. All I could see were black blobs! Is this good?! Im on day 11 thanks!

 

[stonykill]

Ok curiosity got the best of me!! I couldnt help it! I candled the first two eggs that I grabbed one at a time. I only candled two out of the 4 both were growing! Or at least I think. All I could see were black blobs! Is this good?! Im on day 11 thanks!

 

[Tripp16]

Im guessing thumbs up means it looks good!! YES!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ok curiosity got the best of me!! I couldnt help it! I candled the first two eggs that I grabbed one at a time. I only candled two out of the 4 both were growing! Or at least I think. All I could see were black blobs! Is this good?! Im on day 11 thanks!

I can't do a thumbs up on my iPad but 2xs what he said! Yes it's good. It's okay to candle. Especially to know if the eggs were fertile or not, now you know. Can't wait for chicks!

 

[Tripp16]

I can't do a thumbs up on my iPad but 2xs what he said! Yes it's good.
It's okay to candle. Especially to know if the eggs were fertile or not, now you know. Can't wait for chicks!

I did it because I had that little doubt in my mind that they werent fertile so I wanted to make sure she wasnt wasting her time. Turns out not at all 2 little babies are growing so far! Now the wondering starts of how many will hatch.... Thanks for relieving me and telling me its good!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Smokey brought the babies outside today in the grass, it was so cute to watch. Then I watched Smokey try to lead the babies back into the coop tonight. Well she must have gone in and out about 10 times and they just didn't get it. Then finally the AM followed her up the ramp. They disappeared into the coop and the other two babies went wild. Screeching and rushing around. But Smokey didn't come back out to get them, she just kept clucking from inside the coop. I was sort of surprised by that. So I scooped them up one at a time and put them inside. They found her and settled in under her wings. I made sure everyone was safely tucked in before locking up fr the night.