Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Flowerbh]

Now I have a question. How long after a broody hatches eggs will she return to laying them?

 

[fisherlady]

I have some dark shelled eggs that haven't hatched and I was thinking of opening them (it's been 24 days). They don't smell bad from the outside. What might I find inside of them? Should I do this outdoors rather than in my kitchen?

absolutely do it outside!!! And preferably somewhere away from your house/coop. Last one we did we took onto our side road near a drain culvert, laid it in the ditch and lightly tossed a small rock on it to break open one side. Luckily it was just an infertile egg, and didn't explode or otherwise reek too bad.
I have heard of other folks who have said they had them explode when they tried to crack them open, and the smell can be absolutely horrific.... Other folks have said they place them in a large zippy bag, then break them open while they are sealed in the bag. I guess that would work also, but I'm not very trusting of zippy bags! LOL

Basically depends on how close your neighbors are and if you want to risk it....

and BTW... you could find anything from a runny yolk to a bloody/brownish looking fluid to a chick at varying stage of development.... so use caution if you are easily grossed out or get queasy.

 

[mg15]

Dottie just got off her eggs Sunday. So I won't know when she will lay again. But will find out.

 

[farmer boy]

i haven't been on here in a while but i now have a broody hen she has 4 eggs under her

 

[mg15]

I have some dark shelled eggs that haven't hatched and I was thinking of opening them (it's been 24 days). They don't smell bad from the outside. What might I find inside of them? Should I do this outdoors rather than in my kitchen?

Another poster said she does not open them up. But if you did, do it outside.
Buried 2 eggs Sunday because they did not hatch out. Didn't have the heart to
open them up. Just wanted everything to be at peace. One chick did not make it, so buried her with the 2 unhatched eggs.
Had six eggs altogether, 1 chick died, 2 eggs did not hatch and have 3 chicks for Dotte to take care of. I can watch everything
because Dottie is an indoor chicken.

 

[fisherlady]

Now I have a question. How long after a broody hatches eggs will she return to laying them?

Each broody is a bit different.... some stay with the chicks 4 wks and then head back to the roost with the others and start laying within a couple of weeks of returning to the roost. Others may stay with the chicks for 8+ wks and then return to the roost and laying a few weeks later....
Usually it is more a matter of how long they are with the chicks, then add a week or two after that for them to get back to laying.

If you take the chicks away or break the broody then they should return to 'laying' mode within a few weeks I would expect. Another factor which may extend that time frame is the hens condition. They put their own eating behind the babies... so they can take a while to get back to really good health and laying condition.

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

Now I have a question. How long after a broody hatches eggs will she return to laying them?

I had a broody (Cochin Bantam) that hatched eggs on March 27th - last Wednesday (May 15th) I noticed her trying to "avoid" the chicks and pecking at them if they came too close to her (she had not done this before) - so I took her out of the broody coop and put her back with the main flock - Thursday morning when I went to check on her - she had laid an egg - and I've gotten one from her every day since (I know it is her because I only have two bantams - both Cochin - and my other one is in a broody coop sitting on 6 eggs as of last week). That was exactly 7 weeks from hatch day. I would say to just watch the actions of the hen and let her tell you. If they are confined together in a broody coop - as mine were - just make sure you get her away from the chicks when she shows signs of not wanting them. If they are still with your main flock she will take care of all the work by herself.

 

[fisherlady]

I had a broody (Cochin Bantam) that hatched eggs on March 27th - last Wednesday (May 15th) I noticed her trying to "avoid" the chicks and pecking at them if they came too close to her (she had not done this before) - so I took her out of the broody coop and put her back with the main flock - Thursday morning when I went to check on her - she had laid an egg - and I've gotten one from her every day since (I know it is her because I only have two bantams - both Cochin - and my other one is in a broody coop sitting on 6 eggs as of last week). That was exactly 7 weeks from hatch day. I would say to just watch the actions of the hen and let her tell you. If they are confined together in a broody coop - as mine were - just make sure you get her away from the chicks when she shows signs of not wanting them. If they are still with your main flock she will take care of all the work by herself.

BearSpringsFarm... love the avatar! Is that an English Shepherd in the pic? Looks a lot like my Mindy

 

[BearSpringsFarm]

BearSpringsFarm... love the avatar! Is that an English Shepherd in the pic? Looks a lot like my Mindy

Thanks - she is a Red Tri Australian Shepherd - her name is Trixie. And she just LOVES my birds (and she's rather protective of them).

She cuddles with the chicks.........
(some are completely burried in her fur - you can see one leg
and part of a little fluffy butt in the lower right corner - LOL)



She cuddles with the ducklings.........



And she would cuddle with the grown chickens as well........
if they gave her a chance. Instead when she lays down near
them, they just stand on her - then run when I grab the camera!!!


Maybe she thinks she's a bird!! Who knows - this was a suprise to me as I got her as an older dog and was afraid of what she would do to my chickens. She was abandoned and nearly starved with a litter of pups - I couldn't bear to let her starve so I started feeding her while trying to find her owner. She grew to love our family ALL of us. I didn't have to train her - it just seemed to come naturally - she will even carry an egg in her mouth without breaking it. After a year of searching for her owner (because I was sure someone would be missing such a wonderful dog) we gave up and deemed her part of the family. She is now an invalueable part of our farm (has been for almost three years) as she (and two of her pups) protects all of our animals from the wild critters - they even keep the coyotes and bears ran away! She is also very protective of my children - and will not let them out of her sight when they are outside. I could not imagine farm life without her.

 

[fisherlady]

Thanks - she is a Red Tri Australian Shepherd - her name is Trixie. And she just LOVES my birds (and she's rather protective of them).

She cuddles with the chicks.........
(some are completely burried in her fur - you can see one leg
and part of a little fluffy butt in the lower right corner - LOL)



She cuddles with the ducklings.........



And she would cuddle with the grown chickens as well........
if they gave her a chance. Instead when she lays down near
them, they just stand on her - then run when I grab the camera!!!


Maybe she thinks she's a bird!! Who knows - this was a suprise to me as I got her as an older dog and was afraid of what she would do to my chickens. She was abandoned and nearly starved with a litter of pups - I couldn't bear to let her starve so I started feeding her while trying to find her owner. She grew to love our family ALL of us. I didn't have to train her - it just seemed to come naturally - she will even carry an egg in her mouth without breaking it. After a year of searching for her owner (because I was sure someone would be missing such a wonderful dog) we gave up and deemed her part of the family. She is now an invalueable part of our farm (has been for almost three years) as she (and two of her pups) protects all of our animals from the wild critters - they even keep the coyotes and bears ran away! She is also very protective of my children - and will not let them out of her sight when they are outside. I could not imagine farm life without her.

Sounds like an awesome addition to anyone's farm! I'm not sure who was more blessed, her for finding a wonderful forever home, or you, for finding such a beautiful animal to share your life!