Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[hennypenny99]

I will try to get a pic of the kittens

in the nest box. We have a broody Welsumer on some OE eggs in the upper deck and the kittens in the lower deck. There was another egg in the box with the kittens this afternoon, I'm betting it is from the dominate older Blackstar hen, as that is her usual box. I'm going to try moving the broody, but will give her some fake eggs and put hers in the incubator till I'm sure she's settled. The incubator is already running anyway, but I'd prefer to let her raise these since the chicks will go in that pen anyway.
Those are some cute family pics WRW90, I love watching an attentive momma with her chicks. I'd love to have silkies to brood, but since I want the chicks to range with the flocks when possible, silkies aren't a good choice for us.
Hennypenny99, we had a problem with an owl here as well. We did try to discourage her from coming around but she kept coming back and took several hens. We called the Game Warden and were told that although they are protected, we do have a right to protect our livestock/pets. He did recommend we not advertise it if we needed to take care of the matter (S-S-S). Try looking thru the "Predators and Pests" Forum, there are several threads that may have suggestions. We lost 2 Guineas out of 3 last year when they decided to roost in the trees, owls I'm sure. I will try to have a broody raise Guineas this year so they will learn to roost in the hen houses at night (I hope). We gave up on bantams because of the # of hawks, they don't bother the LF.

Zootopia I did call the game warden to ask if we could shoot an owl that was after our chickens. He pretty much told me the same thing you were told. If the owl is in the act of trying to get my chickens/guineas then yes, I can shoot it. He said that we aren't allowed to keep the feathers or talons (like I would want to) and that we need to either burn or bury the body.
It came back this morning around 6 am and I am 99% sure it got one of my baby chicks that was out and about early because when I went to leave work my silkie was still under my car and she is always out and about when I leave at 7:30. While I was waiting on my daughter to go get a jacket she came out with only one baby chick in tow. At 6 am the guineas started screaming like I have never heard them scream before so I looked out the window and didnt see the owl in it's usual stalking spot on top of the camper. My husband got dressed and went outside and the owl was sitting on the limb only 2 feet from a screaming guinea! As soon as it flew off they quieted down. I am not glad an owl is after my guineas but I am glad that my husband now hates them a little less. He thought they just chattered all night for no reason but if there was a monster trying to eat me in my sleep I might scream too! Plus I think he enjoys the manly job of grabbing the gun and chasing the owl. LOL He said now that we can legally shoot it for trying to eat our guineas he may just camp out there until he gets it. You just can't sneak up on an owl.

 

[flitter]

Do you think "broodyness" is catching? All but one of the Silkies have it. Now I have two Spitzhaubens that have joined the Broody connection.

There are 2-3 broody Silkies in each of the three houses. Don't need any more broody hens. I can see two Silkies and two Spitz fighting over ten day old Spitz chicks. So far the Dominiques and the RedCaps are behaving... and laying eggs!

 

[hennypenny99]

I think it's contagious! I had one silkie go broody and when her chicks hatched the game hen went broody and not a week or so after that another silkie is broody! I still have one more silkie a black australorp and a RIR that haven't caught the bug yet. I read that Australorps can be broody but I don't think RIR's are so much.

Oh and I have to wonder ...... HOW are yall candling these eggs? Are you wearing two sweaters and elbow high gloves or something? I can see where I might be able to steal an egg from my sweet silkies but the game hen is terrifying! She has spurs an inch long on the back of her leg and I think she might just tear me up for even thinking about touching her eggs. I wouldnt try and touch her with anything less than a pair of the thickest coveralls, gloves, and a welding mask!!!

She is a very nice chicken when she isn't on eggs or has babies but if she is she means business. I think the game chickens make better moms than my silkies. Simply because they are tough as a boot. My silkies are docile and sweet but the game hen doesn't let anyone push her around.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I think it's contagious! I had one silkie go broody and when her chicks hatched the game hen went broody and not a week or so after that another silkie is broody! I still have one more silkie a black australorp and a RIR that haven't caught the bug yet. I read that Australorps can be broody but I don't think RIR's are so much.

Oh and I have to wonder ...... HOW are yall candling these eggs? Are you wearing two sweaters and elbow high gloves or something? I can see where I might be able to steal an egg from my sweet silkies but the game hen is terrifying! She has spurs an inch long on the back of her leg and I think she might just tear me up for even thinking about touching her eggs. I wouldnt try and touch her with anything less than a pair of the thickest coveralls, gloves, and a welding mask!!!

She is a very nice chicken when she isn't on eggs or has babies but if she is she means business. I think the game chickens make better moms than my silkies. Simply because they are tough as a boot. My silkies are docile and sweet but the game hen doesn't let anyone push her around.

I have a game hen too and I have to agree when she is sitting or has chicks watch out. they are perfect for free ranging because they fly well and don't take no c off anyone. but if you knoiw you have fetrtile eggs why candle? I only candle if it's past time to hatch just to make sure she isn't sitting on a dud. And it is contagious I had 8 broodys last year and boy did it get crazy around here for a while. so far I have only had 2 go broody one has chicks the other is still sitting due the 9th of April.

 

[Morganwood]

We had a couple eggs explode in the broody nest so we cleaned out the whole pen today. I took the opportunity to candle all their eggs and remove anymore duds. I was so happy to see the hens all jump back on their eggs. The one hen in the back has an egg that might be pipping! I really hope it's not another broken egg. I left her nest alone just in case.

How often do you candle with broodies. I've been trying to just leave them alone, except for the mess this morning..wow that stunk!

 

[Niss]

I have to admit, I'm almost 2 days behind

I will catch up, because I love hearing broody stories. But in the mean time, I'm too excited to wait, must update

Laura's 2 eggs hit day 21 midday Saturday, and By Sunday night I figured something didn't work some where along the line. No biggy, cause I was planning to buy her a few chicks this week anyway. Tonight I tapped the eggs, because hope springs eternal, and one tapped back! I took my son out after dinner so he could hear it and it peeped at him!!!

So, I will go ahead and buy some peeps tomorrow (surely one of the 2 stores will have something worth getting).

Wiggens got down to business and I gave her 7 duck eggs on Saturday the 24th. When might I expect ducklings? If I candle, will I see veins like in the chicken eggs? (I'm not a good candler, but would like to take a peek.)

And the aerial view of her amazing pancake:

In the meantime, my Cayuga is sitting better that half the time and that nest is covered with feathers. Mrs. has also gone missing (she's my mallard faithfully attached to Mr., my other mallard, who is quite distraught over her absence. Last fall she disappeared and I later found her on a nest but broke her brood in moving her. I don't know if she's sitting again or digesting in the gut of some foul critter).

 

[Miss Lydia]

I have to admit, I'm almost 2 days behind

I will catch up, because I love hearing broody stories. But in the mean time, I'm too excited to wait, must update

Laura's 2 eggs hit day 21 midday Saturday, and By Sunday night I figured something didn't work some where along the line. No biggy, cause I was planning to buy her a few chicks this week anyway. Tonight I tapped the eggs, because hope springs eternal, and one tapped back! I took my son out after dinner so he could hear it and it peeped at him!!!

So, I will go ahead and buy some peeps tomorrow (surely one of the 2 stores will have something worth getting).

Wiggens got down to business and I gave her 7 duck eggs on Saturday the 24th. When might I expect ducklings? If I candle, will I see veins like in the chicken eggs? (I'm not a good candler, but would like to take a peek.)

And the aerial view of her amazing pancake:

In the meantime, my Cayuga is sitting better that half the time and that nest is covered with feathers. Mrs. has also gone missing (she's my mallard faithfully attached to Mr., my other mallard, who is quite distraught over her absence. Last fall she disappeared and I later found her on a nest but broke her brood in moving her. I don't know if she's sitting again or digesting in the gut of some foul critter).

Now that is a nice pancake. !! What breed of duck is Wiggins sitting on? isn't it 28 days for most water fowl besides Muscovy? and congrats on the pip and peeping, hope you can find so nice chicks.. I remember last year when your Mrs. was missing, I hope she is okay and you can find her before a pred does.

 

[Miss Lydia]

We had a couple eggs explode in the broody nest so we cleaned out the whole pen today. I took the opportunity to candle all their eggs and remove anymore duds. I was so happy to see the hens all jump back on their eggs. The one hen in the back has an egg that might be pipping! I really hope it's not another broken egg. I left her nest alone just in case.

How often do you candle with broodies. I've been trying to just leave them alone, except for the mess this morning..wow that stunk!

I don't usually candle unless it's past hatch day, I just usually let nature take it's course. Sorry about the explosions I hope you get some hatchlings after waiting all this time..

 

[kevlar]

Okay my broody hen has been sitting on her eggs since Sunday now and she seems to get out of the nest to poop and eat etc, at least once a day. Today I let all my chickens out of the run to free range around our property. I have her in her own pen/cage in the coop but today when all the girls were out ranging I could tell she wanted out of her cage she was off her nest for half an hour and I could tell she just really wanted out so I opened the cage. she went for a quick stroll but was back on her nest in a few minutes. While she was off of her eggs I thought I would take a look to see in any were broken etc. they are all in tact but I noticed she must have pooped the nest a bit because two or three of the eggs have quite a bit of poop on them. Is this okay? I here that the eggs a porous and I know you don't want to leave and exploded egg in the nest but should I clean these eggs off or just let them be? this whole experience is very nerve racking and exciting at the same time

I just want it to be three weeks from now already lol.

 

[Tripp16]

Okay my broody hen has been sitting on her eggs since Sunday now and she seems to get out of the nest to poop and eat etc, at least once a day. Today I let all my chickens out of the run to free range around our property. I have her in her own pen/cage in the coop but today when all the girls were out ranging I could tell she wanted out of her cage she was off her nest for half an hour and I could tell she just really wanted out so I opened the cage. she went for a quick stroll but was back on her nest in a few minutes. While she was off of her eggs I thought I would take a look to see in any were broken etc. they are all in tact but I noticed she must have pooped the nest a bit because two or three of the eggs have quite a bit of poop on them. Is this okay? I here that the eggs a porous and I know you don't want to leave and exploded egg in the nest but should I clean these eggs off or just let them be? this whole experience is very nerve racking and exciting at the same time

I just want it to be three weeks from now already lol.

I understand how you are feeling! I was really nervous and about to lose my mind. But Momma knows what she is doing (besides pooping on them) I wouldnt clean the eggs because someone else did that and lost all but one egg. Just wipe them off and see how they do. When I put eggs under my broody they had a bit of poop on them from the other hens but all the dirty ones hatched perfectly fine.
I think personally they will be ok but Im NO expert. Time will tell.

By the way the hardest thing I had to learn was that "Momma knows best!" She would make me so nervous getting off the nest but now she has 3 happy healthy chicks!

Good luck! And I hope to see some little ones in a few short weeks!