Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Sooooo adorable!

Agree!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Our broody hen hatched 6 chicks two weeks ago! It's been so much fun to watch her take care of them. I've learned quite a bit from watching them, to be honest.

Now my only problem is figuring out how these six chicks fit into my plan..........because they really don't!

Chicken Math, your learn to live with it and build more coops.

 

[featherz]

lesson learned: Never build up a house that is two inches off the ground without a ramp, a chick came out of the coop and I guess it couldn't come back up so it got cold and died

Answeing your question above, the hen will leave the nest with unhatched eggs when she is ready. If she is still sittin g on them I would not remove them. I had a hen that hatched a chick on day 22. On day 23 and 24, four more hatched out. Hope this helps.

I know the feeling - that almost happened to me yesterday and I DO have a ramp. I even added little steps so the chicks could get in or out. or so I thought. I came out to chicks wandering around without momma unable to get back in. Had to open up the 'people door' which has less of a rise so they could get back and now I am keeping it bungeed open. =(

 

[chooniecat]

If you are candling brown eggs, they can be very difficult to see though! Try taking a fresh egg of the same color, and compare to that. The developing eggs should be darker, harder to see though. If that is what you see, let momma do her thing. I could not see any veining with my brown eggs.

I have heard brown eggs are harder but I COULD see a huge difference from top(well-it was the top the way I was holding it-duh!!) of egg to the 3/4 of rest of egg. the top 1/4 was clear(air sac?) and rest was dark, no movement noted. I don't learn easy apparently. And the vids I managed to watch seemed very clear on what you should see. Anyhow- I am praying ya'll are correct and it IS my lack of knowledge at this point. I WILL try again even if this turns out disasterous because you guys seem to handle the traumas well.

 

[chooniecat]

I saw a lot of development early on, by day 10 all I could make out was the air pocket. I now have 5 baby chicks - Don't give up hope.

Thanks! And it is SO nice to have a place to vent where others understand. I saw a vid of an egg(don't know breed or?) at 12 days and it was veinous and wiggly but if I think about it it WAS a white egg. Kind of scarey to think I DON'T know which eggs are duds and they COULD blow up. SEE. I have already learned you HAVE to candle earlier.Was afraid to candle at suggested 5-6 days for fear wouldn't see ANYTHING. RAMBLE. thanks!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks! And it is SO nice to have a place to vent where others understand. I saw a vid of an egg(don't know breed or?) at 12 days and it was veinous and wiggly but if I think about it it WAS a white egg.  Kind of scarey to think I DON'T know which eggs are duds and they COULD blow up. SEE. I have already learned you HAVE to candle earlier.Was afraid to candle at suggested 5-6 days for fear  wouldn't see ANYTHING. RAMBLE. thanks!!

The more you candle, the easier it will be to know what you're seeing. Of course the darker the egg, the harder the challenge. Our first candling experience was with White Legorn eggs so very easy to see through.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Our broody hen hatched 6 chicks two weeks ago!  It's been so much fun to watch her take care of them.  I've learned quite a bit from watching them, to be honest.    Now my only problem is figuring out how these six chicks fit into my plan..........because they really don't! 

I won't believe it until I see the proof...where's the picture! JK! Congrats. The new babies

I've had to edit this post twice due to iPad smart changes of words! Ugh!

 

[chooniecat]

The more you candle, the easier it will be to know what you're seeing. Of course the darker the egg, the harder the challenge. Our first candling experience was with White Legorn eggs so very easy to see through.

Well thanks-NOW I have to get white egg laying girls. Always a reason to get more chickens. Don't want to buy fertile white eggs and heard leghorns(and i think its actually legorn???) are excellent layers. Need more sheds.

 

[CALI CHICK]

Well thanks-NOW I have to get white egg laying girls. Always a reason to get more chickens. Don't want to buy fertile white eggs and heard leghorns(and i think its actually legorn???) are excellent layers. Need more sheds.

You could invest under $3 in a dozen Trader Joe "fertile eggs"........they are white leghorns! They make great experimental eggs to candle and incubate because of the small investment.

I have 5 TJ eggs under my broody right now. Yesterday was hatchday (but she isn't budging off her nest.) She has pushed 2 empty eggshells out from under her

!
And, she keeps pushing the babies back underneath her, so we can't see them.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well thanks-NOW I have to get white egg laying girls. Always a reason to get more chickens. Don't want to buy fertile white eggs and heard leghorns(and i think its actually legorn???) are excellent layers. Need more sheds.

Haha. It's White Leghorns but my iPad autocorrects wrong sometimes

My only WL pullet has been a faithful layer since last Thanksgiving. She's only missed a handful of days. Her eggs are large and delicious. I wouldn't trade her for anything!