Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[MzPlacedHippie]

First chick!

 

[LisaLouHoo]

I have to say, RoadBiker, those are some beautiful eggs in that nest!! I hope more hatch for you. If you can get an incubator, you probably have a better chance of getting chicks since you'll probably have a staggered hatch and broody won't be able to stay on nest when her babies are running around learning to eat and drink. Good luck!!

 

[browncattleco]

Okay everyone we got our first babies ever! My hen has been sitting on maran eggs and saturday I woke up to 2 live chicks, a black and a blue, and 1 black that didn't make it. He looked perfect so I dk what happened. I had one more to hatch yesterday, but it hasn't yet. Any suggestions on what to do about the one that hasn't hatched? I have candled them so I know its a full baby in there.

 

[MzPlacedHippie]

Maran chicks are so adorable!

(Autocorrect-blah)

 

[browncattleco]

Also, would it be like the meanest thing ever if I took the 2 away to keep them safe or should I just leave them with her in a separate pen? She has worked so hard to get them I just hate to see anything happen to the only 2babies I got!

 

[dretd]

Okay everyone we got our first babies ever! My hen has been sitting on maran eggs and saturday I woke up to 2 live chicks, a black and a blue, and 1 black that didn't make it. He looked perfect so I dk what happened. I had one more to hatch yesterday, but it hasn't yet. Any suggestions on what to do about the one that hasn't hatched? I have candled them so I know its a full baby in there.

Congrats on your babies!. What to do? Wait patiently

Last year my broody kept sitting on the nest for 3 days. It turns out she still had one live egg and must have sensed that she needed to wait until it hatched. I removed it at the 3 days (I didn't candle, just called it done) and it hatched in the compost heap but didn't make it because of exposure. I felt terrible.

If she is willing to sit on the eggs, I would let her remain there. I placed food and water near the nest where the trio that hatched could find it. I also had put up a mesh to keep the other members of the flock away--they could still see everything but couldn't mess with the chicks.

 

[browncattleco]

She has left the eggs. I took. The one remaining egg with a baby in it and wrapped it in a heating pad on low. I don't kniw what else to do. Moved the mom n babes to their own house so they are safe. Really hoping fir this egg tho. FINGERS CROSSED!

 

[browncattleco]

Its only full day late from when i set it under her. Butttt the others were a good 12 hours earlier then the time I expected them.

 

[chickydee64]

She has left the eggs. I took. The one remaining egg with a baby in it and wrapped it in a heating pad on low. I don't kniw what else to do. Moved the mom n babes to their own house so they are safe. Really hoping fir this egg tho. FINGERS CROSSED!

HI, It need moisture to hatch....perhaps a wet paper towel....

 

[MLWoods]

I put fertile eggs under two broodies the night of August 28. Sooooo do I count my 21 days from that night or the next morning. This is one type of chicken math I have never had the pleasure of doing before! Should I hope for Wednesday night, Thursday morning? Tuesday? Right now? Ahhhhh!!!!! :-D