Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Achickenwrangler#1]

not really an expert but what I do know is it takes 21 days, give or take, of brooding for an egg to hatch. After about three days since the first chick hatched the broody will abandon the eggs remaining and take care of the chicks. That would be a good time to move her where you want her, if at all. She will still be quiet and keeping her chicks warm and not wanting to go anywhere and you know all who are going to hatch did.

 

[Tripp16]

and just a note, Scarlett is broody again..

Im excited! Getting worried about the bator eggs, when I took the turner out the temp dropped a bit and I just now realized it so its been 25 hours at 98 degrees...

Delayed hatch? I hope thats all!

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
i am having the same issue with one of mine- have you ever read about denagard? i am going to get some on payday. A friend of mine swears by it- for now my girl is on tylan

Quote: i just redid my broodies- what i have discovered is if you do it in a dim room or coop, they seem to settle down easier- as far as cleaning the eggs, the only thing i would trust at this point would be oxine- which i don't have at the moment- payday is next week....

 

[RollinWithTheStones]

Well after the magot incident I cleaned extra good, candled what I could and now I'm do Iwn to 7 eggs from 24 :'(
I no longer have any of the eggs left from the 5/17 hatch and only 4 due on 5/21 and 3 duck eggs due on 5/28.
Also I distracted the broodies with a treat then put de in their fav after treat dust bathing spot and both rolled around for a good cleaning. I did have one that pipped but died once the bewitching got out. I didn't do an eggtopsy due to the magots.

Also I put some vanilla car freshners in the coop and in 20 min the place was virtually fly free.

 

[hokankai]

Ugh, the second chick hatched under my broody this morning, but I got back this afternoon and it was flopped out on the floor and chilled. I stuck it back under her, but I can't tell if something was wrong with it or if it fell out on accident. The first chick looks great and is learning how to eat

 

[Zootopia]

Hello!! I'm sorry if I'm repeating any questions here, but this is a massive thread to try and go through! I've never had a broody hen before, and just under three weeks ago, my OEGB went broody. My mother-in-law gave me some large-sized eggs to put underneath her, in addition to the six eggs she was sitting on. I didn't expect any hatching until Sunday, and had planned to move her into a private pen area this afternoon. Much to my surprise, I found four chicks under her this morning! What's the best way to handle this? We've got the two other chickens we have locked out of the pen for now (which isn't a big deal - they'll range all day anyhow.) Should I try and move the brooding hen, the chicks, and the remaining eggs today, or is it better to let her go until I can see if the rest hatch?

Thanks for any help or advice!

I would leave her in place if you can. Some are less picky than others about moving, if you have a quiet dimly lit place for her you can try it now. Just get everything set up and keep the move as calm and fuss free as possible.

 

[aaggjg]

I just got home and of course went down to check on popcorn and decided that I really wanted her to have miracle hatch chick to raise.... I know I'm pushing it because she has 6 under her right now.... But thought well it's hot here and she is being so good with them .... And as they get bigger I can take out the boys
Well in went chick #7 lucky? Maybe?? Need good name.... Anyways... She ran right under.... There were5 chicks out playing and I lifted up the food to fill it and noticed half an eggshell out there.... Well this morning when I feed her the lavender silkie egg was barely under her... Barely ... I picked it up it wasn't really warm and thought about taking it away.... She looked at the egg and nudged it under her... Ok I thought what could it hurt... Mind you I took away the other silkie egg when I gave her the last 3 chicks .... (yes I put it in the bator ) ..... I figure silkies are so fragile there is no way they could survive 12+ hours with no hen on them at night.... Yes I am in southern California but it is still in the 50s at night ...... LONG STORY SHORT.... CROW PIE #2 is a beautiful lavender silkie!!!
I can't believe it!! Interestingly enough... I had to really push her to get a look but the bedding under her was wet..... I was thinking she must have gone to the bathroom.... But I think she knows exactly what she was doing raising the humidity for wee silkie to hatch!! Of course I didn't bring my phone to takea picture...

 

[Miss Lydia]

I just got home and of course went down to check on popcorn and decided that I really wanted her to have miracle hatch chick to raise.... I know I'm pushing it because she has 6 under her right now.... But thought well it's hot here and she is being so good with them .... And as they get bigger I can take out the boys

Well in went chick #7 lucky? Maybe?? Need good name.... Anyways... She ran right under.... There were5 chicks out playing and I lifted up the food to fill it and noticed half an eggshell out there.... Well this morning when I feed her the lavender silkie egg was barely under her... Barely ... I picked it up it wasn't really warm and thought about taking it away.... She looked at the egg and nudged it under her... Ok I thought what could it hurt... Mind you I took away the other silkie egg when I gave her the last 3 chicks .... (yes I put it in the bator

) ..... I figure silkies are so fragile there is no way they could survive 12+ hours with no hen on them at night.... Yes I am in southern California but it is still in the 50s at night ...... LONG STORY SHORT.... CROW PIE #2 is a beautiful lavender silkie!!!

I can't believe it!! Interestingly enough... I had to really push her to get a look but the bedding under her was wet..... I was thinking she must have gone to the bathroom.... But I think she knows exactly what she was doing raising the humidity for wee silkie to hatch!! Of course I didn't bring my phone to takea picture...

Well get back out there

and your getting so good at crow pie your going to have to share the recipe soon.

Congrats!!

 

[hokankai]

Scratch that! After just 30 minutes under mama Chick #2 is looking good and getting stronger. It's amazing what a little heat can do!

I gave in and did an eggtospy on the 3rd egg because it was WAY too heavy to be right, and it turned out to be a Day 17 quitter.

 

[Tripp16]

Drum roll please!!

Henrietta has a CHICK!!!!

I just knew they looked farther ahead then my bator eggs! I got home from work look under her saw the shell but no chick. I looked around on the floor....nothing went back to look under her and it must have hatched out no longer then a hour ago the little one was still wet. Waaay back under all mommas feathers!

She was no happy with me looking so I glanced at it and let it be!

The hatching begins!!