Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

If the eggs weren't cold to the touch she could not have been off that long. That is a good sign.

I don't know what type of bator you have. But yes, the turner should not be on at this point since you are on lockdown. All you can do is watch, monitor the temp and the humidity. If your bator is a still air shoot for 101.5, if it has a fan 99.5 is your temp. Shoot for around 60% humidity.

Ummmm...so how did we all do when the hen abandoned the eggs?

I think Hermione was off the eggs for about 2 hours before I cottoned on!!!

When I first noticed, the eggs were not cold to the touch...just sort of my boy temperature.

By the time I had put the incubator together and got it all set up they were cool to the touch and she still wasn't on them and not showing any signs of wantin to either

So I have a new and untested incubator with 12 eggs: 6 Silver Dorking and 6 blue copper marans. The remaining 4 eggs I put under my little heinz pullet who happens to be broody. Anything to save them, I guess.

Hatch day is this Thursday. Does anyone think they will make it?

And am I already on lockdown for the 'bator? Do I just go away and leave it? Do I have to turn off the egg turner? I thought it would be best to get them warmed up all over, as it were!

ARGH!!!! HELP!!!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

If you're in lockdown - that's day 18 for hatching - then you need to make sure the temperature is between 99.5F and 100F, that the humidity level has been increased to between 65% and 70%. Then just pray they make it. That's the best you can do. Turn off the turner and no more turning them after Day 18. Wait until Day 25 to open the lid if they haven't hatched by then. If they are going to hatch - they will hatch. Being cold for a little time won't be a deal breaker - it just may mean a delay in hatch date.

Ummmm...so how did we all do when the hen abandoned the eggs?

I think Hermione was off the eggs for about 2 hours before I cottoned on!!!

When I first noticed, the eggs were not cold to the touch...just sort of my boy temperature.

By the time I had put the incubator together and got it all set up they were cool to the touch and she still wasn't on them and not showing any signs of wantin to either

So I have a new and untested incubator with 12 eggs: 6 Silver Dorking and 6 blue copper marans. The remaining 4 eggs I put under my little heinz pullet who happens to be broody. Anything to save them, I guess.

Hatch day is this Thursday. Does anyone think they will make it?

And am I already on lockdown for the 'bator? Do I just go away and leave it? Do I have to turn off the egg turner? I thought it would be best to get them warmed up all over, as it were!

ARGH!!!! HELP!!!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

So many new people on this thread - I hope we haven't missed anyone's question - if so - please repost or let us know! Miss Lydia does an excellent job of keeping up with all the broody people

I've got the bator warmed up and the broody warmed up - just waiting for my shipped Silkie eggs to arrive (today hopefully). I'll let them sit overnight and pop them where they need to be tomorrow. My little Topsy is sitting pretty on those ping pong balls for now.

 

[bobbieschicks]

This is good advice!

If the eggs weren't cold to the touch she could not have been off that long. That is a good sign.

I don't know what type of bator you have. But yes, the turner should not be on at this point since you are on lockdown. All you can do is watch, monitor the temp and the humidity. If your bator is a still air shoot for 101.5, if it has a fan 99.5 is your temp. Shoot for around 60% humidity.

 

[Miss Lydia]

So many new people on this thread - I hope we haven't missed anyone's question - if so - please repost or let us know! Miss Lydia does an excellent job of keeping up with all the broody people

I've got the bator warmed up and the broody warmed up - just waiting for my shipped Silkie eggs to arrive (today hopefully). I'll let them sit overnight and pop them where they need to be tomorrow. My little Topsy is sitting pretty on those ping pong balls for now.

Hey you do a great job!!

 

[hokankai]

I have a question for you guys. My hen is on Day 4 of incubation and I'm having some more eggs sent to me that will be incubated in an incubator. They will be a couple days to a week behind of the other chicks. Will mama accept them anyway? I'd really like everyone to be raised together. She's hatching silkies and I'll have some frizzled cochin chicks to add to her clutch.

Still need an answer

 

[bobbieschicks]

Others have added week olds to a broody - I think it just depends on the broody. She may take to them - but more important is if they take to her. If they won't listen to her or they all get freaked out - it could be an issue. You can try it and see what happens. The two groups of bantams should get along fine. My Silkies are very tolerant of other chicks. I would try it at least and see what happens. Mix them in at night in the nest and check on them first thing in the morning. Be prepared to pull them if the broody attacks them or it looks like they aren't playing nice together. Hope this helps!

Still need an answer

 

[hokankai]

Others have added week olds to a broody - I think it just depends on the broody. She may take to them - but more important is if they take to her. If they won't listen to her or they all get freaked out - it could be an issue. You can try it and see what happens. The two groups of bantams should get along fine. My Silkies are very tolerant of other chicks. I would try it at least and see what happens. Mix them in at night in the nest and check on them first thing in the morning. Be prepared to pull them if the broody attacks them or it looks like they aren't playing nice together. Hope this helps!

Ok great, that sounds perfect. This is this hen's first time with chicks, but she's a REALLY sweet hen in general so I'm hoping everything goes smoothly.

Thanks for the answer!

 

[stonykill]

Others have added week olds to a broody - I think it just depends on the broody. She may take to them - but more important is if they take to her. If they won't listen to her or they all get freaked out - it could be an issue. You can try it and see what happens. The two groups of bantams should get along fine. My Silkies are very tolerant of other chicks. I would try it at least and see what happens. Mix them in at night in the nest and check on them first thing in the morning. Be prepared to pull them if the broody attacks them or it looks like they aren't playing nice together. Hope this helps!

I personally have not had luck if the chicks were more than 2 days old. At a week old my hens simply attack the lil ones if they are a week old. Your luck may vary

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah! The eggs arrived - and lots of extras. I'll put 4 under Topsy tomorrow - unless you think I should do more or less then that? She hasn't moved off those 2 ping pong balls since I moved her to the new nest inside the coop. I picked her up and put her at the water & food today for her to get a bite to eat. I also haven't seen her poop - which is making me very nervous. But I guess if she's not eating so much then she won't need to poop so much either.

My silkie eggs - broody and bator bound tomorrow!