Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

I could use some advice about what to do for my broody silkie. I'm thinking of going with "mama knows best", but feel better asking.

She's a first time broody (my first time hatching too!). She's done pretty good except for pooping in the nest. I put 4 eggs under her, candling never really worked for me (not powerful enough light I guess? probably a little inexperience too lol), so I don't know how each one was progressing. On 2/10 (day 20) the first one hatched, 2/11 the second one hatched. The remaining two may be duds, they felt lighter than the other two, no pips, no peeping by day 22.

So this is day 3 for chick #1 and mama has not left the nest (she even pooped two massive poops right in there with the chicks & eggs - scooped those out the best I could). Should I intervene to make sure everyone starts drinking & eating? Safe to assume the two remaining eggs are duds and dispose of them?

I should also mention its only 18° out right now (they are sectioned off in a corner of the coop). I'm not sure how long I can have them out of nest while I clean it up & show them food/water.

I wouldn't remove anyone just yet - leave everyone in place. I'd just clean up the poop, egg shells I could reach and let her stay there with the babies for another day or two. Scatter some food near them on a plate or on the floor - the hen will eat and so will the babies. I also put a little water in a small dish with rocks or marbles so the babies don't drown in it. I do dunk their beaks if I don't see the mom get up and it's Day 3. But most likely the momma will show them the waterer too.

 

[luvmychicken]

Day 12. I haven't candled lately. Maybe tonight. Only 9 more days.

 

[Johnn]

Day 12. I haven't candled lately. Maybe tonight. Only 9 more days.

I have never candled my eggs...

 

[luvmychicken]

Quote:
I guess it because this is my first time for hatching. I think is kinda cool being able to see movement inside the shell. It's like be pregnant for the first time. can't wait to see the movement.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I guess it because this is my first time for hatching.  I think is kinda cool being able to see movement inside the shell. It's like be pregnant for the first time.  can't wait to see the movement.

It is really cool to see the growth. If you have a really bright light and white eggs you can see so much of the chick it's amazing. I wouldn't candle after day 17 because its lockdown time after that.

 

[farmhand]

How does one plan on hatching eggs that you have ordered by mail if your hens are hit and miss in broodyness. 1. If a hen is say 10 days into hatching eggs, and you replace them with your purchased eggs, will she still sit for the whole 21 days? 2. Or can you start eggs in a bator while waiting for a hen to go broody and have her finish them?
farmhand aka Clifford aka Grampa

 

[Johnn]

How does one plan on hatching eggs that you have ordered by mail if your hens are hit and miss in broodyness. 1. If a hen is say 10 days into hatching eggs, and you replace them with your purchased eggs, will she still sit for the whole 21 days? 2. Or can you start eggs in a bator while waiting for a hen to go broody and have her finish them?
farmhand aka Clifford aka Grampa

I always make my hens sit for 7 days before giving them eggs and they sit the full 21 days and more if they fail. And you could do that but i think a hen needs to be broody for adleast 2 weeks before hatching out

 

[bobbieschicks]

How does one plan on hatching eggs that you have ordered by mail if your hens are hit and miss in broodyness.  1. If a hen is say 10 days into hatching eggs, and you replace them with your purchased eggs, will she still sit for the whole 21 days?  2. Or can you start eggs in a bator while waiting for a hen to go broody and have her finish them?
farmhand aka Clifford aka Grampa

Sorry. I'm having issues with mobile app tonight.

As to her sitting and swapping the eggs 10 days in, that worked for me just fine several times. I've had both my broodies sit on shipped eggs, sometimes they were almost 14 days before I got the eggs under them. They sat the entire 21plus days until the eggs hatched. I've also put eggs from the incubator that were about to hatch (day 17) under my girl who had gone broody just about a week earlier. Smokey hatched those eggs out just fine. So either way will work. The hard part is whether or not you will have a broody when you want one.

 

[Pozees]

Hi, it's me again!

Ok, today is is 64 in western PA and sunny. I opened the pop door to let the birds out. First time in weeks. May, the younger pullet got off the nest. She is not sitting eggs.Ok, what do I do now? Her older 1/2 sis, March must be sitting eggs because she hasn't stirred off the nest, even with the inviting open door to a sunny run. What do I do now? I need May to start laying. Should I put her alone in the empty bachelor's quarters and hope she starts laying eggs for me again? Apparently all she has been doing so far is keeping her 1/2 sis company.
Advice really welcomed.
Karen
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Nice weather

Are you certain she's not laying eggs that are now under May? If she's not broody, then she's
probably already laying somewhere or will start soon now that the days are longer.
---------------------------------------

Hi,
They were both laying before March went broody. She's not laying anywhere else.
I checked closely. Never occurred to me Mays' eggs might be under March. Hum, I need May to start laying more eggs in spite of what March may be sitting upon. Do you think March will leave her eggs if I take May out of the coop? I can worry about pecking order later.
Best,
Karen

Karen, have you considered putting May and Junior into the smaller coop together so you know if she lays, and if so hopefully the eggs are fertilized?

 

[luvmychicken]

I guess it because this is my first time for hatching.  I think is kinda cool being able to see movement inside the shell. It's like be pregnant for the first time.  can't wait to see the movement.

It is really cool to see the growth. If you have a really bright light and white eggs you can see so much of the chick it's amazing. I wouldn't candle after day 17 because its lockdown time after that.

I have a hen on mine. But I wasn't gonna candle them anymore. I had one to give up. So I am down to 4 eggs