Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

bump...I am needing some advice here.  background info...I have never hatched any chicks before and this is her first time being broody and my first time having a broody hen.  she is a SG dorking.  I don't have any purebred eggs right now to give her to sit on because my dorking roo died.  I have a BV roo but my BV girls aren't laying yet.  but I COULD buy some eggs.  We are in Virginia, so winters do get below freezing, but not usually fo too long.  usually about 40 degrees during the day and below at night.

what do y'all think?


If it was me, I would make sure she is nesting in a nice, easily warmed area in her coop. Add more pine shavings around and under here when you either change out the eggs for what you want or when you catch/force her off her nest for a few. Maybe shift the nest into a cat carrier or such to help reduce any drafts from open doors. I did that in the summer but mostly to keep my hens sister from messing with her. Caught that crazy quasi-broody scattering Summers eggs everywhere with poor Summer puffed up and chirping in distress a foot away.

Garages aren't the best idea with animals, often as not they are just as cold as outside but the switch can add additional stress to the bird. You would still need to apply the stuff above though the only advantage I could think of would be adding a heat lamp somewhere but then if the power goes out you are back in a trouble area.

Option two is to keep her on the infertile eggs she has now and find someone hatching chicks locally for a swap out in a week or so. Or if you have an incubator use that and swap.

Personally, I would go for the first option. A lot less fuss. :)
 
Hey guys, will really hot weather affect the hatching rates! The broody has rolled some eggs out from under her for a little bit (she's put them back under now), is that just to let them cool down a little?
Maybe I should have been a bit more patient to hatch these eggs D:
 
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hey guys, will really hot weather affect the hatching rates! The broody has rolled some eggs out from under her for a little bit (she's put them back under now), is that just to let them cool down a little?
Maybe I should have been a bit more patient to hatch these eggs D:


I hatched during a heat wave here and had a very good hatch. The high was 99 F and average temp was in the high seventies to low eighties. I had 6/8 hatch. One was infertile and the other died while hatching. Little one pipped and then had problems zipping.

What are your temps down there right now? Pushing them out like that just sounds like she is trying to cool them down a bit.
 
My first time with a broodie hen, I bought eggs to put under her - she was really tight to that nest - I didn't know that I was supposed to make sure she got off the nest etc - I think she was sitting on an empty nest for over 6 weeks before I got the eggs. Then she wouldn't hop off for anything, other than water. Anyway - she kept and protected those chicks for 6 months before she finally told them, they were on their own. It was really sad watching them being pecked by mommy. Now the chicks, hang out together but not with the rest of the flock. They will dive in for food scrapes or such things, and sleep in the coop - (in a nest box-sigh) but once everyone is up - they just kind of stay together. There were 4 chicks and then a few weeks ago, two went missing. Either our barn cat or dog, we think got think got them.

Anyway - is it normal for hens to keep babies around for so long? Is she likely to go broody again - or now she knows what it is like - will she just lay eggs :)
 
I hatched during a heat wave here and had a very good hatch. The high was 99 F and average temp was in the high seventies to low eighties. I had 6/8 hatch. One was infertile and the other died while hatching. Little one pipped and then had problems zipping.
What are your temps down there right now? Pushing them out like that just sounds like she is trying to cool them down a bit.

We're having temperatures of anywhere from 22C up to 39C (today), though I have no idea on averages. Hopefully today was just exceptionally hot and it cools down a bit, though I'm feeling a little more positive about the hatch now!
 
Bella and Asparagus are starting to get really cocky, this morning Bella was running round after the other hens holding her head above them wanting to fight so when the hens turned around to fight her, she ran away and they would chase her then she hid next to her mother and then the mother orp attacked them!, shes still protecting them, because a hen attacked asparagus so she attacked that hen!
 
I'm hoping stony is around here somewhere - or those of you that have experience with winter hatches.

I'm looking at the extended forecast and it looks like, if they have it right, that the week immediately after hatch the high temps are predicted in the mid-upper 20's and lows in the lower 20's and possibly a teen or 2.

If I get a hatch, do you recommend I put out a heat lamp for them that first week or 2? Or other thoughts?
 
I'm hoping stony is around here somewhere - or those of you that have experience with winter hatches.

I'm looking at the extended forecast and it looks like, if they have it right, that the week immediately after hatch the high temps are predicted in the mid-upper 20's and lows in the lower 20's and possibly a teen or 2.

If I get a hatch, do you recommend I put out a heat lamp for them that first week or 2? Or other thoughts?
you might put up a heat lamp in one corner making it available for them, then if they don't need it they won't use it. Mama will keep them warm, as long as they have total access to her at all times. But a heat lamp just in case.
 

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