Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[JakRat]

A sad weekend.

I found my little Opal on Saturday morning dead. She has been sick ever since we got her though, so I guess it was inevitable.

Today when we got back from my in laws we let the 2 babies that Elvira hatched out in the yard with her. It was really interesting to see how she protects her babies from not only the other hens, but our jack Russel. Only one hen was giving her problems and they fought it out until I had to step in because it was just getting ridiculous.

While they were out I decided to see what was wrong with the other 2 that didn't hatch. The first one I cracked open was the first one that she stopped sitting on. To my horror the little one was still alive... I mean how is that possible!! After a while it died and I was devastated and my husband was horrified I checked to see what the deal was. It looked mostly formed but there was a sack attached to its "belly button". Something just didn't seem right, I mean it looked like it was about 5 days behind when it really is 5 days late. Why is this? Was there anything to be done?

At the moment I have the other egg that she stopped sitting on is in between my boobs keeping warm. Will this little one hatch or does it possibly have the same problem that the other one did? Should I put it back with mom even though she stopped sitting on it??

I am just so devastated... I am a chick murderer.

 

[Miss Lydia]

A sad weekend.

I found my little Opal on Saturday morning dead. She has been sick ever since we got her though, so I guess it was inevitable.

Today when we got back from my in laws we let the 2 babies that Elvira hatched out in the yard with her. It was really interesting to see how she protects her babies from not only the other hens, but our jack Russel. Only one hen was giving her problems and they fought it out until I had to step in because it was just getting ridiculous.

While they were out I decided to see what was wrong with the other 2 that didn't hatch. The first one I cracked open was the first one that she stopped sitting on. To my horror the little one was still alive... I mean how is that possible!! After a while it died and I was devastated and my husband was horrified I checked to see what the deal was. It looked mostly formed but there was a sack attached to its "belly button". Something just didn't seem right, I mean it looked like it was about 5 days behind when it really is 5 days late. Why is this? Was there anything to be done?

At the moment I have the other egg that she stopped sitting on is in between my boobs keeping warm. Will this little one hatch or does it possibly have the same problem that the other one did? Should I put it back with mom even though she stopped sitting on it??

I am just so devastated... I am a chick murderer.

Can you find a dark closet or some place where it's dark enough to candle? take the egg and a really good flash light and see if you can tell if the chick is moving. Could one of the other hens laid their egg in the nest box later and you didn't know?or did you get these eggs from someone I can't remember, the only thing i can think of is they were laid after she started brooding and they were behind.these are the Serama?
So sorry about Opal.

 

[JakRat]

Can you find a dark closet or some place where it's dark enough to candle? take the egg and a really good flash light and see if you can tell if the chick is moving. Could one of the other hens laid their egg in the nest box later and you didn't know?or did you get these eggs from someone I can't remember, the only thing i can think of is they were laid after she started brooding and they were behind.these are the Serama?
So sorry about Opal.

These were given to me by a farmer friend. I just went and candled the egg I have and I could see blood veins, but I didnt see movement (the other one looked like this too). The flashlight is a police tactical one so I think its a bright as I can get. My farmer friend said that these eggs hatched on day 19. Today is day 24 and no pip no nothing... the sac thingy is what really threw me off and I feel terrible that I killed the poor thing. My husband said that since she wasnt sitting on them that it probably would have died anyway. I think he was just trying to make me feel better... but I mean I guess its one of those things that you just dont know your first hatch...I am just so sad... Luckily though the other babies are doing great. Super cute. Im not a chicken murderer am I?

 

[JakRat]

Can you find a dark closet or some place where it's dark enough to candle? take the egg and a really good flash light and see if you can tell if the chick is moving. Could one of the other hens laid their egg in the nest box later and you didn't know?or did you get these eggs from someone I can't remember, the only thing i can think of is they were laid after she started brooding and they were behind.these are the Serama?
So sorry about Opal.

These were given to me by a farmer friend. I just went and candled the egg I have and I could see blood veins, but I didnt see movement (the other one looked like this too). The flashlight is a police tactical one so I think its a bright as I can get. My farmer friend said that these eggs hatched on day 19. Today is day 24 and no pip no nothing... the sac thingy is what really threw me off and I feel terrible that I killed the poor thing. My husband said that since she wasnt sitting on them that it probably would have died anyway. I think he was just trying to make me feel better... but I mean I guess its one of those things that you just dont know your first hatch...I am just so sad... Luckily though the other babies are doing great. Super cute. Im not a chicken murderer am I?

 

[Scooter&Suzie]

I would like an opinion on this...

I have been keeping my broody silkie in a rabbit hutch w/ some golf balls under her. I'll be picking up the fertile eggs in two days, and then will swap the golf balls for the eggs. When her chicks hatch (all silkies) I will move them over to a coop, so they have more room. My question is... Should I move my broody over to the coop now, before I give her the eggs and allow her to hatch them in there? Or should I move her and her babies after they hatch? The hutch she is in now is rather small to begin with, but after I added in a cardboard box for a nesting box (

) and a feeder and a water it got quite squishy. There really isn't any room in it, except that the run has 'bout 4 square feet in it. Of course, the run is shut off during the night. I've heard that broody hens LIKE small places to hatch their chicks in. I'm trying to figure out what would be best to do... Put her in the big coop ('bout 6 sq. ft.) with a more inclosed nesting box, or let her hatch her chicks in the hutch then move them. I just don't want her to stop being broody, or stop taking care of the chicks. Which would be best?

Anyone?

 

[Miss Lydia]

Anyone?

If you can move her and keep her locked up with what she is on now then go ahead and move her because she will be ready to start the broodiness when you give her the new eggs, I just moved my hen to a better place to finish out her hatch she has 8 days left. she is closed in with food and water and will stay closed up for a couple days then i will let her out if she wants to go. If you don't give them a couple 3 days to get acclimated they will go back to the old nest site. plus you want her to have more room than you have for her now. You can do it now or wait till hatch day and after all have hatched then switch them. Best to ya.

 

[Miss Lydia]

These were given to me by a farmer friend. I just went and candled the egg I have and I could see blood veins, but I didnt see movement (the other one looked like this too). The flashlight is a police tactical one so I think its a bright as I can get. My farmer friend said that these eggs hatched on day 19. Today is day 24 and no pip no nothing... the sac thingy is what really threw me off and I feel terrible that I killed the poor thing. My husband said that since she wasnt sitting on them that it probably would have died anyway. I think he was just trying to make me feel better... but I mean I guess its one of those things that you just dont know your first hatch...I am just so sad... Luckily though the other babies are doing great. Super cute. Im not a chicken murderer am I?

You are not a murderer, if she kicked the egg out and wasn't sitting on it any more then she wasn't getting any response from that egg. They can hear the chick inside the egg the same as we can but they hear better, Something must have been wrong with both of them. It happens and there isn't anything we can do. Mama knows what she is doing. If she has given up on the one you have left then I say you should too. I think I told you about the 2 from one of my broodys last year, she was able to take care of the first that hatched[kill] then i stepped in and felt like I had to rescue the second one, well i should have just left it alone and let her take care of it too. It never did look like full term chick, and died 5 days after it hatched. I'm sorry for this but it is just part of the journey we have chosen to go on by being animal lovers. I think we need to remember these chickens have been at this alot longer than we have, she is focused on the 2 healthy ones. go and enjoy them.

 

[Tripp16]

If you can move her and keep her locked up with what she is on now then go ahead and move her because she will be ready to start the broodiness when you give her the new eggs, I just moved my hen to a better place to finish out her hatch she has 8 days left. she is closed in with food and water and will stay closed up for a couple days then i will let her out if she wants to go. If you don't give them a couple 3 days to get acclimated they will go back to the old nest site. plus you want her to have more room than you have for her now. You can do it now or wait till hatch day and after all have hatched then switch them. Best to ya.

x2 I decided to leave my broody momma in her nest where she began laying which was not chick safe but I didnt know how soon she would want to leave the nest. She left the nest the same day she hatched them and tried taking the chicks off the ledge. I think you hutch sounds safe but if you want to move her, move her now because when the chicks come she will freak out when you move them because she will feel nestless (?) Lol Mine freaked out and began throwing straw over her back trying to make a new one. It was just stressful for Her the chicks and me! Just my opinion

 

[QualityPolish]

Ugh I can't decide what is going on with our little Polish hens lately. They'll sit on their nests for about 3-4 hours each day not laying an egg then they will get up and continue like everything is normal. Is this just working up to go broody or just sitting because they can lol?

 

[Tripp16]

Ugh I can't decide what is going on with our little Polish hens lately. They'll sit on their nests for about 3-4 hours each day not laying an egg then they will get up and continue like everything is normal. Is this just working up to go broody or just sitting because they can lol?

Oh my gosh!! I have the same problem with my Barred Rock and my EE they both sit on the nest with tons of eggs they have swapped and saved. They squawk and sreech at me but then Ill come back out a few hours later and they are off the nest being normal. Hopefully someone can answer your question so Ill know why!