Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[rebecuna]

Is she a Speckled Sussex?

Yes!

 

[Johnn]

Yes!

Ahh, I love them! I will have to get one at some point.

 

[Pennoppom]

Hi Y'all, just wanted to give an update: I moved my BO, Pancake, last Wednesday (to a smaller coop and run) and my fertilized eggs arrived from Murray McMurray on Friday afternoon. I let them rest until 5:30am on Saturday morning and then put them under her. She has been a setting machine!!! This is her first time, but I think her instincts are right on. I ordered 10 eggs, but they sent me 12. Good thing, because 2 of them broke in my hand when I picked them up from the package. The other 10 are under her and she is covering them all and hissing and pecking at me when I look in (like a good protective broody should). I'm counting down the days 'til I can candle them!!

PS- She was never really friendly enough to have a good name before she went broody. Somebody on this post said that a broody hen looks like a pancake with a head (because they are so round and flat from trying to cover the eggs) and I joked with my husband to come see the pancake. After that it just stuck, and now she's so dear to me.

 

[Debs55]

Just wanted to share that I just candled my silkie eggs and all look great except for one which looked like a day 7 or so quitter

 

[fisherlady]

Hi Y'all, just wanted to give an update: I moved my BO, Pancake, last Wednesday (to a smaller coop and run) and my fertilized eggs arrived from Murray McMurray on Friday afternoon. I let them rest until 5:30am on Saturday morning and then put them under her. She has been a setting machine!!! This is her first time, but I think her instincts are right on. I ordered 10 eggs, but they sent me 12. Good thing, because 2 of them broke in my hand when I picked them up from the package. The other 10 are under her and she is covering them all and hissing and pecking at me when I look in (like a good protective broody should). I'm counting down the days 'til I can candle them!!

PS- She was never really friendly enough to have a good name before she went broody. Somebody on this post said that a broody hen looks like a pancake with a head (because they are so round and flat from trying to cover the eggs) and I joked with my husband to come see the pancake. After that it just stuck, and now she's so dear to me.

Glad she's doing so good! Love the name!

Just wanted to share that I just candled my silkie eggs and all look great except for one which looked like a day 7 or so quitter

Congrats!!! Sounds like we'll be getting to see some pics of fluffy butts soon!

 

[chickenmomma16]

This am when I went out to check on the chickens and my broody I opened her door to refill her food and I forgot to shut the kennel door when I left

So when I went out this pm to do my head count I went to shut it and noticed 2 eggs that had fallen out of the nest. All 13 eggs had movement 2 days ago so something wasn't right (real quick like because hatch day is Friday) I moved broody to count eggs to make sure no extras were in there and sure enough 3 extra eggs were in her nest! Darn hens! My mistake could have cost 2 chicks their life... The eggs were not warm but not cold either so I put them back, candled really quick first and didn't see any definite movement.

I hope their okay.

On a happy note one egg had already piped!!! So exciting

I wasn't expecting to see anything until the chicks we out and about. Now the suspense is killing me!

 

[AQHAchick22]

Ugh so I have a broody EE. Gracie has only been sitting for 3 days on 6 eggs. I'm thinking I would like to move her out of there, or at least section her off so the other hens can't keep adding to her nest. I was thinking of buying a litter box and putting her in there and sectioning part of the coop off for her. How do I get the eggs into the litter box and make sure that she stays sitting on them and doesn't abandon the nest?
I have marked the eggs but I don't really want to disturb her constantly to collect the new ones. Plus she would have to be moved eventually anyway as the nesting boxes are pretty high off the ground.

Thank goodness it's spring and chicks are easy enough to sell. I have 17 coming in the mail, 13 in the incubator and now Gracie sitting...

 

[Johnn]

Ugh so I have a broody EE. Gracie has only been sitting for 3 days on 6 eggs. I'm thinking I would like to move her out of there, or at least section her off so the other hens can't keep adding to her nest. I was thinking of buying a litter box and putting her in there and sectioning part of the coop off for her. How do I get the eggs into the litter box and make sure that she stays sitting on them and doesn't abandon the nest?
I have marked the eggs but I don't really want to disturb her constantly to collect the new ones. Plus she would have to be moved eventually anyway as the nesting boxes are pretty high off the ground.

Thank goodness it's spring and chicks are easy enough to sell. I have 17 coming in the mail, 13 in the incubator and now Gracie sitting...

I have only ever moved hens twice and one was successful and the other give up after I moved her. You are supposed to move them quietly when its dark and put them in a cosy place. I also got a broody hen off a friend and she brought it to me and I put her in the shed and she just walked over and sat on the eggs that were in the nest box and this was in the day time too! But I don't recommend you mover her at daytime that was a big risk I took.

 

[luvmychicken]

My chicks are 6 weeks old. How long will they stay with momma. She is still real protective bit I have noticed her jumping up to the nest box as if she is getting ready to start laying again. Her come and waddles are turning red again. What you think???

 

[Johnn]

My chicks are 6 weeks old. How long will they stay with momma. She is still real protective bit I have noticed her jumping up to the nest box as if she is getting ready to start laying again. Her come and waddles are turning red again. What you think???

Probablies about 8 weeks, that's the normal time. But my hen stayed with hers until 22 weeks!