Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[chooniecat]

You could. But I wouldnt mess with it. Leave it under mom and let it hatch. There will be plenty of time for you to hold and see those chicks when they hatch.

I always find something to do during hatch day so I dont constantly pester mom and the new ones.

Well now I am stomping my feet. It seems like everyone that seems to know their stuff have listened for peeps but maybe its because they didn't have actual other chickens around(incubator?) making noise so they could actually hear. I do pretty much leave her alone but have gone out 2x today trying to hear peeps. they're not technically due until tomorrow night and I know it can vary but.... but.... Don't have any sound on computer or would listen on youtube. And bless poor suzettes heart if one DOES hatch when I discover it. Will wait until the end of hatch to take pics. IF any hatch. sorry.

 

[Miss Lydia]

aaah It is wonderful candling eggs! I candled one and saw veins all over the yolk!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well now I am stomping my feet. It seems like everyone that seems to know their stuff have listened for peeps but maybe its because they didn't have actual other chickens around(incubator?) making noise so they could actually hear. I do pretty much leave her alone but have gone out 2x today trying to hear peeps. they're not technically due until tomorrow night and I know it can vary but.... but.... Don't have any sound on computer or would listen on youtube. And bless poor suzettes heart if one DOES hatch when I discover it. Will wait until the end of hatch to take pics. IF any hatch. sorry.

I listen for peeps starting on day 20, my last two hens hatched early on day 19 so will see on this next go around. But if you want to take an egg inside and listen you go right ahead. You just have to remember any time you take the egg from under mama the humidity goes down so you could possibly make the membrane harden. Maybe after everyone goes to roost and it's quieting down outside too would be a better time to listen than carrying the egg inside the house. Hope you hear something, it's an awesomme thing to listen and hear peeping or the chicks pecking away at the inside of the egg.

 

[perchie.girl]

Someone needs to invent a broody cam. Rig a Wooden falsie egg with an LED light and a small camera imbeded in it, oh and with a small microphone so you can hear peeping. Then If you want to see the action turn the light on and the camera..... You could even do red light so it wont disturb momma.

deb

 

[chooniecat]

I listen for peeps starting on day 20, my last two hens hatched early on day 19 so will see on this next go around. But if you want to take an egg inside and listen you go right ahead. You just have to remember any time you take the egg from under mama the humidity goes down so you could possibly make the membrane harden. Maybe after everyone goes to roost and it's quieting down outside too would be a better time to listen than carrying the egg inside the house. Hope you hear something, it's an awesomme thing to listen and hear peeping or the chicks pecking away at the inside of the egg.

THANK YOU. That should have occurred to me but am excited. Will try tonight. If the humidity goes down IF you remove egg then what happens when broody leaves nest for 1/2 hr? Now I am afraid I may have harmed/killed a good chick. WELL- maybe won't even listen tonight-live and learn. My son suggested a stethescope but thats not real cost efficient.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I couldn't hear anything coming from Smokey's eggs - but she managed to hatch out 3 chicks. Listen carefully around dusk and you may be able to hear something. I just wouldn't mess with the eggs this close to hatching.

Yeah! Soon you will have chicks!

THANK YOU. That should have occurred to me but am excited. Will try tonight. If the humidity goes down IF you remove egg then what happens when broody leaves nest for 1/2 hr? Now I am afraid I may have harmed/killed a good chick. WELL- maybe won't even listen tonight-live and learn. My son suggested a stethescope but thats not real cost efficient.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I tried to move Smokey to her new digs during the day - she wouldn't have anything to do with it. Last time she went broody I moved her 3 times in the same afternoon and she sat tight. This time she got up and went back to the nest box. So I'll be heading out after dark with my towel and move her then. I had to put her eggs back in the nest box with her so they would stay warm. I guess I'll take an egg carton out with me to move her first and then her eggs.

Here's where I'm moving her to - the broody hideaway. I didn't want to make anything too permanent - so I just stapled landscape fabric between the two ladies so they hopefully won't fight. Smokey will be on the left. Topsy occupies the right side. Hopefully they will both hatch out about the same day.

 

[Tripp16]

I couldn't hear anything coming from Smokey's eggs - but she managed to hatch out 3 chicks. Listen carefully around dusk and you may be able to hear something. I just wouldn't mess with the eggs this close to hatching.

Yeah! Soon you will have chicks!

I agree. I never heard peeping until the chicks were fully hatched. I only thought Gracie (other broody) had one and I lifted her up and 2 more were nestled underneath her. I cant wait to see how Henrietta is with her babies. She is already completely different from Gracie.

 

[Tripp16]

I tried to move Smokey to her new digs during the day - she wouldn't have anything to do with it. Last time she went broody I moved her 3 times in the same afternoon and she sat tight. This time she got up and went back to the nest box. So I'll be heading out after dark with my towel and move her then. I had to put her eggs back in the nest box with her so they would stay warm. I guess I'll take an egg carton out with me to move her first and then her eggs.

Here's where I'm moving her to - the broody hideaway. I didn't want to make anything too permanent - so I just stapled landscape fabric between the two ladies so they hopefully won't fight. Smokey will be on the left. Topsy occupies the right side. Hopefully they will both hatch out about the same day.

Sounds like a plan. I really would like to move my girl but Im afraid she wont have anything to do with it like when I tried moving her during the day. Do they normally stay put, or do you take the risk of breaking them? She only has a week left so I may just leave her alone.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Smokey's first time of going broody she was glued to her nest - I moved her during the day and she never left it once I moved her. I kept taking her off the nest once a day to do her stuff. Topsy was the same way with the nestbox, but once I tried to move her to a new nest during the day she wouldn't stay - she went back to the nest box. Just like Smokey's doing this time. The way I got Topsy to finally stay put was by moving her at night with a towel over her head. So tonight that will be what I'll do with Smokey. Just have to wait until 8:05 pm or so to do it.

Sounds like a plan. I really would like to move my girl but Im afraid she wont have anything to do with it like when I tried moving her during the day. Do they normally stay put, or do you take the risk of breaking them? She only has a week left so I may just leave her alone.