Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

I need some help. This is the first time we've had a hen "Go Broody" and, of course, we are having a cold, snowy spring. We have also been raising chickens for about 3 years now so we are very inexperienced. We've only purchased chicks at the farm store or mail order.

We had one chick hatch 4 days ago but it died. It looked like there was a bit of blood from the egg membrane on it's leg (There weren't any pecking marks or anything). I'm guessing that it had trouble hatching and didn't separate from the membrane properly. Our hen REALLY didn't want me to take that chick away!

She is still setting on 3 other eggs. I have candled them and there appears to be development so I'm not sure what to do. This is what I'm thinking...
These eggs are not likely to hatch healthy chicks so I may want to take them from her.
Since she's still in the mood to brood, I thought I'd start her with a fresh clutch of eggs and fresh nest material.
I may also add another heat lamp to the coop. (right now the 5'x7' uninsulated coop has 1-250 watt heat lamp right over the nest box, about 3 feet up.)

The hen that's broody is a Speckled Sussex who just turned one year old. I didn't know if it's the cold spring, inexperienced mother, inadequate nesting material (she keeps picking the hay out), or something else. She's been very good to sit on the eggs for long periods. I'd really love to have a successful brood so if there are any suggestions, I'd love to hear from you.

Why do you think these other eggs aren't going to hatch healthy? just because one doesn't doesn't mean the rest won't, I'd leave the eggs with her especially if you see they are developing. you can always add fresh nesting material, I usually just put it around in front of mine and they add as needed. I don't know where you are but I have 2 bantam broodys sitting on eggs, with snow deep and below freezing temps, and no heat. Honestly unless your temps are extreme heat can do more harm than good. It's toasty under broodys and hens don't need the extra heat. Sorry you lost the one, hoping the rest hatch strong and healthy.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I agree with Miss Lydia, these remaining eggs may still hatch. Do you know how long they've been incubating? Chicken eggs usually hatch by day 21, you can give them an extra 3-4 days just to be sure.

There are a lot of variables to consider when hatching eggs, that one could have died for many reasons. Even if the weather had been fine and the hen extremely experienced.

Be very careful with adding heat lamps to coops, that's how lots of fires have begun. Perhaps you could just work on adding insulation around your broody hen's nest area, she should provide adequate warmth. Stack hay bales, sacks of straw, patio furniture cushions, stuff like that.

 

[CamiLynn]

Hi I wanted to ask a couple of questions if I may? I have a silkie that went broody about 3 weeks ago (not sure when exactly bcuz I didn't mark it...and I'm kicking myself for that) but, this past weekend she got off her eggs and changed nest boxes, and we didn't find this out until the eggs were already cold to touch. I put her back on the eggs because there were already almost ready to hatch chicks in them! I candled and saw movement in two of the three fir sure after she warmed them back up. That was over the weekend. Well last night I candled again and two had definite movement, and one all the sudden had a quite large aircell at the end and looked to have something moving in and out of the cell...but the cell was not that big just a couple days ago and the other ones aren't big like that either. Could it be the chick internally pipped? I listened to the eggs and didn't hear anything so I just put it back and wait and see. Well, this morning my bf called and said one of the eggs was out from under her and cold (we got down to 32 last night). Is there even a chance now of that one making it? I mean literally these chicks were to hatch any day now and of course are the last of my fertilize bantam eggs.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi I wanted to ask a couple of questions if I may? I have a silkie that went broody about 3 weeks ago (not sure when exactly bcuz I didn't mark it...and I'm kicking myself for that) but, this past weekend she got off her eggs and changed nest boxes, and we didn't find this out until the eggs were already cold to touch. I put her back on the eggs because there were already almost ready to hatch chicks in them! I candled and saw movement in two of the three fir sure after she warmed them back up. That was over the weekend. Well last night I candled again and two had definite movement, and one all the sudden had a quite large aircell at the end and looked to have something moving in and out of the cell...but the cell was not that big just a couple days ago and the other ones aren't big like that either. Could it be the chick internally pipped? I listened to the eggs and didn't hear anything so I just put it back and wait and see. Well, this morning my bf called and said one of the eggs was out from under her and cold (we got down to 32 last night). Is there even a chance now of that one making it? I mean literally these chicks were to hatch any day now and of course are the last of my fertilize bantam eggs.

I'd leave it, it may not but at this point what do you have to lose by leaving it? Let us know when you have a hatch started.

 

[Johnn]

There was 2 broody chickens sitting on eggs on a farm which I walk through whilst walking my dog, they were sitting for a while and I thought maybe's nothing would hatch because of all the snow but this past week I noticed they were gone and today when I walked past I hear chicks peeping from a shed and they were sitting tucked up in the shed! I think they have done really well considering they were sitting outside and we were getting snow at the time. I hope the owners let them out the shed soon so I can have a proper look!

 

[bobbieschicks]

There was 2 broody chickens sitting on eggs on a farm which I walk through whilst walking my dog, they were sitting for a while and I thought maybe's nothing would hatch because of all the snow but this past week I noticed they were gone and today when I walked past I hear chicks peeping from a shed and they were sitting tucked up in the shed! I think they have done really well considering they were sitting outside and we were getting snow at the time. I hope the owners let them out the shed soon so I can have a proper look!

Awh. See broodies do such a great job. They hardly even need us at all.

I would take Topsy and Fluffy back if she wants to give them back and I already told her that. But what's done is done. I just have to be happy for her new family who love her just as much as I did. At least now she's with a brood of silkies only and not getting beat up all the time by Smokey. Perhaps I should have traded her instead. :/

 

[Johnn]

Awh. See broodies do such a great job. They hardly even need us at all.

I would take Topsy and Fluffy back if she wants to give them back and I already told her that. But what's done is done. I just have to be happy for her new family who love her just as much as I did. At least now she's with a brood of silkies only and not getting beat up all the time by Smokey. Perhaps I should have traded her instead.

Hopefully she will be the boss of the girls there! I guess there is no going back now, I enjoyed the Topsy posts! Even though the chicks at the farm aren't mine I am going to take pics of them!

 

[6littlechicks]

day 23 and not a peep, maybe tomorrow! 2 more eggs popped and were yucky, so we are down to 10. I'll be happy if just one hatches .

 

[gg706]

day 23 and not a peep, maybe tomorrow! 2 more eggs popped and were yucky, so we are down to 10. I'll be happy if just one hatches .

I feel the same about mine. If just 1 would hatch at least she would have something for all her effort. I had nothing today. I tried not to think about it today and did much better. It only entered my mind here and there. I am going to attempt to continue ignoring it until Friday comes and goes with no babies...then I am going to have to figure about what to do.

 

[lawatt]

i'm tentatively excited, as i think Eleanor my basque hen might just be broody! she spent a lot more time than usual this weekend in one particular nesting box, while everyone else was out free-ranging -- and this morning she was in the same box, and when i got home from campus this afternoon she was the last one out of the coop, and the eggs in that particular nest were nice and warm. she stayed out for about 20 minutes, eating and drinking very fast -- since the others all ran off to free-range, and she kept hanging close to the coop, i was able to sneak her some extra treats, a good handful of black oil sunflower seeds (are there any foods in particular one should try to feed a broody?) -- and when one of the cats ambled by near the coop, she chased it with an intense vitriol i haven't seen before. she then snacked a bit more on some oyster shell and went right back in to her nest.

so excited! will have to check if she stays in the nest tonight...