Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Moni]

My mottled jap hen went broody yesterday and hijacked a nest full of various bantam eggs laid by the rest of my flock. Its funny how they dont care who's eggs they sit on. I hope she has a good turn out half of my hens are young and have been laying 2-3 weeks. I have a few little blue eggs in the mix. I. Really hope those hatch. They will be Japanese/EE bantam cross.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Won't the hen kick out any bad eggs?

Maybe. Maybe not. There's one thing I've learnt with broodies - every time is different. There may be similarities, but I can't say "always" with a broody.

My experience so far was that my EE did push aside her broken, nonfertile, or damaged eggs she was trying to hatch. But my Silky continued to sit on a broken egg until it stunk up the joint and I had to remove it.

Bunny (Splash Copper Maran pullet) is sitting right now and she's managed to have a pecked egg (green/not hers) and two broken eggs (the WL and 1 of hers) under her that I have since removed. My guess is that someone else is forcing her out of the nest during the day and perhaps she's breaking them with getting in/out - she is rather rotund. The shells were stuck to her underside and a lot of yolk everywhere on her breast - but no stink - so I don't think they were rotten. Perhaps the shells were weak or damaged and her weight helped to crush them open.

Her other three eggs are managing just fine for now. I'm okay with just three chicks or less.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thank You bobbieschicks for the info. I have heard the hen will kick out bad eggs. My brooder box has a small board across the front to keep the straw inside. So I am not sure that she could get rid of any bad eggs. All of the eggs look normal and I have not smelled anything nasty...so I am going to assume that they are doing well. I am afraid to handle the eggs and damage them. They are due to hatch on Monday if my timing is correct! I cant wait!!!!!

I wouldn't count on her "kicking" them out - but you will know if they are bad. Either they will stink and in that case any smell at all = get it out quickly and don't let it burst open or you will wish you had died - that's how bad it will stink. If it doesn't stink and it's after 25 days she will eventually abandon the eggs, especially if she's hatched any chicks at all. If she hasn't hatched any chicks by Day 25 and you're pretty sure you calculated the dates right - take one into a dark room and candle it. You shouldn't be able to see anything and it should look dark inside the egg. If the egg is clear or isn't consumed with a big dark spot - then you had a quitter.

I'm sure you will get some chicks shortly and look forward to seeing the pictures!

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Maybe.  Maybe not.  There's one thing I've learnt with broodies - every time is different.  There may be similarities, but I can't say "always" with a broody.

My experience so far was that my EE did push aside her broken, nonfertile, or damaged eggs she was trying to hatch.  But my Silky continued to sit on a broken egg until it stunk up the joint and I had to remove it. 

Bunny (Splash Copper Maran pullet) is sitting right now and she's managed to have a pecked egg (green/not hers) and two broken eggs (the WL and 1 of hers) under her that I have since removed.  My guess is that someone else is forcing her out of the nest during the day and perhaps she's breaking them with getting in/out - she is rather rotund.  The shells were stuck to her underside and a lot of yolk everywhere on her breast - but no stink - so I don't think they were rotten.  Perhaps the shells were weak or damaged and her weight helped to crush them open. 

Her other three eggs are managing just fine for now.  I'm okay with just three chicks or less.

Thanks Bobbie. I am only a week into mybroody

 

[OHfarmerswife]

Thanks Bobbie. I am only a week into mybroody

Sorry. How far into this should I check for bad eggs?

My broody is in a separate area I will to crawl into & check. Just wonder when I need to check.
Thanks for your help!

Barb

 

[bobbieschicks]

Sorry. How far into this should I check for bad eggs?

My broody is in a separate area I will to crawl into & check. Just wonder when I need to check.
Thanks for your help!

Barb

I would wait for the stink if you have to crawl in to get at her. Stinky eggs aren't all that common.

 

[OffGridMAMA]

One of my older girls is maybe broody!!!! She hatched 17 chicks last fall, and I adopted her with 14 of her babies. She is a great momma so I hope she's serious!!!! Normally I collect eggs a few times a day but was gone all day. So shè is sitting on possibly 10 eggs or so.... mixed babies. Hmm....

Temp broody partition

M
My first time

 

[6littlechicks]

-glad I found the Broody thread! my cochin is sitting on 13 due to hatch in 2 days so excited! she hatched 2 the week of thanksgiving and I kept her right in with all of the flock and there was not a problem so I just let her go au natural again. She's on a variety of eggs, BO, RIR, BR to name a few fertilized by black bearded silkie roo. Should be an interesting bunch, lol.

 

[Miss Lydia]

-glad I found the Broody thread! my cochin is sitting on 13 due to hatch in 2 days so excited! she hatched 2 the week of thanksgiving and I kept her right in with all of the flock and there was not a problem so I just let her go au natural again. She's on a variety of eggs, BO, RIR, BR to name a few fertilized by black bearded silkie roo. Should be an interesting bunch, lol.

Good luck and pics when they hatch!!

 

[puffin311]

Do you guys think one of the chicks hatched early on day 20? This morning I saw half and empty shell next to the broody. I don't see a baby chick and I'm too afraid to move the broody. She makes all sorts of disgruntled noises when I get near.