Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[TeaChick]

@TeaChick I mentioned to the store owner that I wanted to get them before they went in the fridge. She held these ones out for me. Thanks for all the help!

You're welcome. I've received a lot of help on this site and I'm happy to share that!!! =D
If the woman who brought them refrigerated them before she brought them to the store, ..... (just something to possibly be aware of).

Please understand, I am saying this b/c I don't want you to get a lower hatch rate than expected and think that you did something wrong, make adjustments, etc. and be wasting time.
And b/c I, personally, want as much information as I can get so I can have as accurate an expectation as possible, so that I know where adjustments need to be made for the next time I do something. =)

 

[TeaChick]

I'm getting a pullet that should theoretically go broody this spring. =D
That's one definite (my Cochin Bantam Frizzle) and one probable (a Wayndotte x Orpington). =)

 

[kmollyhughes]

I'm getting a pullet that should theoretically go broody this spring. =D
That's one definite (my Cochin Bantam Frizzle) and one probable (a Wayndotte x Orpington). =)

"Don't count your chickens before they sit"...that's what people should say. Lol. I have silkies and Marans going broody like crazy...but my Orpington who is months older, nothing. Lol. Good luck to you!!

 

[theadvocate19]

Now you see her....

Now you don't...

This was our first glimpse of her in exactly a week! Had no idea where she had been, let alone sitting on a clutch of eggs. And I thought polish weren't known to go broody. ..

 

[MEMama3]

Candles eggs today. She's down to 7 from her original 10 because I'm a dummy and didn't leave well enough alone. The fertility bullseye was really faint when I set them so I kept fearing that I was imagining it. I candles the first two eggs and saw nothing. Did a tentative cracking of one because i was sure they were duds. The first one had nothing. I cracked the second to be sure and that one had extremely faint veining and I felt terrible for cracking it. Not nearly as terrible as I did however when I went to replace the remaining eggs under her and accidentally sacked one into the side of the broody box. It was well developed. I'm going back to leaving mama to things.

 

[CarolinaHen]

Now you see her....



Now you don't...

This was our first glimpse of her in exactly a week! Had no idea where she had been, let alone sitting on a clutch of eggs. And I thought polish weren't known to go broody. ..

I thought the same thing until my Polish girl went broody. She was a FANTASTIC mom!

 

[fisherlady]

Candles eggs today. She's down to 7 from her original 10 because I'm a dummy and didn't leave well enough alone. The fertility bullseye was really faint when I set them so I kept fearing that I was imagining it. I candles the first two eggs and saw nothing. Did a tentative cracking of one because i was sure they were duds. The first one had nothing. I cracked the second to be sure and that one had extremely faint veining and I felt terrible for cracking it. Not nearly as terrible as I did however when I went to replace the remaining eggs under her and accidentally sacked one into the side of the broody box. It was well developed. I'm going back to leaving mama to things.

Don't beat yourself up too much over it. Accidents happen and almost all of us were 'hover humans' on our first broody hatches because after all of the details thrown back and forth on the incubator hatch threads it just seemed we should be doing something... and besides, all but the largest of hens will have their wings full trying to cover more than 6 or 7 chicks who are 3 or 4 weeks old and in Maine it is still going to be pretty chilly in another month or even two. She will be fine with just 5 or 6, especially if a first time mama.

 

[fisherlady]

I am not a good Candler..... I did like you did on the first hatch and tried to see veins early on and was frustrated (thank goodness for patient broodies!) Now I only candle around day 10 and look for definitive sign of growth (dark on one end, air cell on the other), by that time clear eggs can be pulled and any who are questionable I mark and recheck about day 14 and pull if no change. Only reason I do this much is to avoid rotten eggs breaking in the nest and contaminating others. If a broody pushes out an egg I would treat it with extreme suspicion, candle it if you want, but chances are she shoved it out because she felt there was a problem.

 

[TeaChick]

Candles eggs today. She's down to 7 from her original 10 because I'm a dummy and didn't leave well enough alone. The fertility bullseye was really faint when I set them so I kept fearing that I was imagining it. I candles the first two eggs and saw nothing. Did a tentative cracking of one because i was sure they were duds. The first one had nothing. I cracked the second to be sure and that one had extremely faint veining and I felt terrible for cracking it. Not nearly as terrible as I did however when I went to replace the remaining eggs under her and accidentally sacked one into the side of the broody box. It was well developed. I'm going back to leaving mama to things.

Note to self: Make sure to leave well enough alone when a broody hen decides to sit.
Thank you, MEMama3; sorry to learn a lesson at your expense.

Now you see her....



Now you don't...

This was our first glimpse of her in exactly a week! Had no idea where she had been, let alone sitting on a clutch of eggs. And I thought polish weren't known to go broody. ..

Oh, congrats on the broody!!!
Sorry she scared you!!!

Glad she was just sitting!!! =)

"Don't count your chickens before they sit"...that's what people should say. Lol. I have silkies and Marans going broody like crazy...but my Orpington who is months older, nothing. Lol. Good luck to you!!

Yeah, I know. I'm not counting my four comets (half Orpington each) lol
But Silkies should go broody; IDK anything about Marans, except they lay dark brown eggs.
Orpingtons aren't as sure a thing for broodiness as Silkies and Cochins, right?
Thanks; you too!!!

 

[chickydee64]

Candles eggs today. She's down to 7 from her original 10 because I'm a dummy and didn't leave well enough alone. The fertility bullseye was really faint when I set them so I kept fearing that I was imagining it. I candles the first two eggs and saw nothing. Did a tentative cracking of one because i was sure they were duds. The first one had nothing. I cracked the second to be sure and that one had extremely faint veining and I felt terrible for cracking it. Not nearly as terrible as I did however when I went to replace the remaining eggs under her and accidentally sacked one into the side of the broody box. It was well developed. I'm going back to leaving mama to things.

Sorry about your mishap..................It has happened to many of us.............
I bought two eggs for $10.00 a piece one time........................and dropped them..................