Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

beautiful!!! congrats! what kind its it?

Thanks! It is a Jersey Giant crossed with a Anocna Bantam

 

[mebberry4]

I had lots of concerns about exploding eggs, but none of my eggs exploded.  I didn't trust my candling skills, so I didn't remove any of them.  I left them for a total of 28 days, per broody experts advice, before I removed them.  I opened them inside a closed ziplock bag, expecting the worst.  They were totally undeveloped, but did not stink at all.  They did not pop or explode when first cracked.

I am told that an egg will stink before it explodes, so there would probably be some warning.  I've also been told that hens will sometimes remove an infected egg from the nest, but don't know how reliable that is.  Ideally only clean but unwashed eggs with excellent shells should be selected for incubation, so that minimizes the potential for the eggs to become infected.  Also, eggs should not be handled any more than absolutely necessary, and your hands should be washed and thoroughly dried before an egg is touched.

So bottom line, if you're not 100% sure that the egg is bad and has no potential to develop, don't remove it.  You can always candle it later.  If the egg is good quality and good egg hygiene has been followed, the risk of explosion is extremely low.

That's really good to know. Of course the horror stories of exploding eggs will always stick out in everyone's minds, but glad to know it is possible to have them make it until hatch day without rotting and making a big mess everywhere. I always wear gloves when handling hatching eggs just because it is easier and quicker, but these were the eggs that had some poop spots on some of them. I tried to gently scrape it off before setting them, but no luck.
I put them all back just in case so we will see what happenes come hatch day!

 

[Tabatha]

2 left to go! Momma keeps leaving them though to teach the other 5 how to look for food and water, even though I have it RIGHT THERE BY THE BOX! (Sorry. Been at this hatching stuff for days now over one clucth :/ ) so I brought the one that's hatching inside to be warm while it hatches.

Here is momma with her 5 little blurs

 

[mebberry4]

2 left to go! Momma keeps leaving them though to teach the other 5 how to look for food and water, even though I have it RIGHT THERE BY THE BOX! (Sorry. Been at this hatching stuff for days now over one clucth :/ ) so I brought the one that's hatching inside to be warm while it hatches.

Here is momma with her 5 little blurs

Awwww so cute!

 

[fisherlady]

2 left to go! Momma keeps leaving them though to teach the other 5 how to look for food and water, even though I have it RIGHT THERE BY THE BOX! (Sorry. Been at this hatching stuff for days now over one clucth :/ ) so I brought the one that's hatching inside to be warm while it hatches.

Here is momma with her 5 little blurs

The little ones are adorable! Hoping she will take back the late hatchers for you! If I remember right you sort of inherited her clutch as an established thing when you got the hen. Unfortunately what you are experiencing is the problem of 'staggered hatching' and nothing you could do to avoid it. Hoping it has a happy conclusion for you!

 

[chick lovers]

Five out of ten on day nineteen have hatched. All under one, will post pictures later. So excited!!!!

This is the first ever successful broody that I have had.

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Five out of ten on day nineteen have hatched. All under one, will post pictures later.  So excited!!!!

This is the first ever successful broody that I have had.

Ooh, early and five so far. You'll probably have more!!! I'm excited for you. e

 

[Tabatha]

The little ones are adorable! Hoping she will take back the late hatchers for you! If I remember right you sort of inherited her clutch as an established thing when you got the hen. Unfortunately what you are experiencing is the problem of 'staggered hatching' and nothing you could do to avoid it. Hoping it has a happy conclusion for you!

She took it! One egg left. I had to help little guy hatch in the house. Once he was half way out, I took all the shell and the chick back to mom and she sat right on him. He dried and then chased her around the yard looking for food. This is getting exhausting, but still so exciting. One egg left. One egg left...and two more broodies to go...lol

 

[audfish7]

I just wanted to offer a suggestion for those trying to isolate broody hens/chicks. We currently have 17 chickens so they have an actual coop. We ALSO have a chicken tractor that my original 6 chickens were in before we got more. Since we free-range that tractor has come in SOOOO handy. We isolate roosters in there before they are culled, I've put teen birds in there before they join the flock, and now I can use that to use for a broody hen. Since it is entirely enclosed it's very safe for the chicks, but they also still have access to fresh grass everyday as I move the tractor around the yard. I just wanted to offer a chicken tractor as an investment to those who have free-range birds.

 

[winteree]

oh I would have to stay awake. I'd be afraid the shell would poke me or feel the wet chick and freak out in my sleep...lmbo

for real