Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

So where would the wyandotte "sit" haha sorry on the broody list?

The thing is the 'broody list' is only a general guideline... as Lenka so accurately said... it depends on the hen. I will go a step further and say much of it depends on the way the birds were bred to begin with. Many hatcheries are more focused on providing birds who produce good egg quantities, and broodiness really messes with an egg count! So hens with broody tendancies have been withheld from breeding stock for many folks over the years, so the frequency of broodiness is decreased and egg production numbers are increased. Your best bets are to go with breeds who were never really known as 'egg machines' to begin with, and then to increase your odds even more you should ask the person you are buying from if their birds tend to go broody. There are still a number of folks who see the trait as a benefit, rather than a problem.... and those lines of birds are the ones who are most likely to hold true to the historic breed 'normal'.
Many folks will refer to their birds as more 'heritage' lines. These aren't a guarantee... but are a better chance. And a breeder and hatchery should be able to truthfully answer your questions regarding the frequency of broodiness in their breeding flocks. Don't be afraid to ask questions, a reputable supplier should be able to answer them.

Nice! Mine are on day 9 (chicken eggs).

I can't wait to see what I get. These eggs were given to me by a friend. The rooster is supposedly an Ameraucana ( I saw him -he is gorgeous) and the hens were cochins and barred rocks. I must have already mentioned all this, but I am so excited.

Good luck with your hatch!

Congrats! And that sounds like an interesting combination... I am hoping to see some really interesting looking chicks in the near future!

She left the nest with the 2 chicks that hatched yesterday. I gave her the two early hatchets from the brooder and put the left eggs in the incubator. I will candle tonight.

Awesome looking little family! Congrats and glad the baby shuffle has worked!

My hen with her brood of 8! I got fertile eggs for her to hatch from a farm, but was surprised to find a chick in the nest on day 14! So I went back and bought some chicks to slip under her and thank goodness she has accepted them. I won't be giving this farm business ever again. I was supposed to be getting freshly laid eggs which obviously wasn't the case if one of their hens had the chance to set on the eggs for a week.

Congrats on a sweet looking family! Sorry you had a poor experience with the farm, though in the farms defense... I have seen broody 'wanna be' hens steal eggs from known broodies, so it is possible that the folks collecting the eggs didn't realize. If you have more of the original set hatch early then you are most likely right, and the farm wasn't paying attention, but a single 'early bird' could be an honest mistake due to a sneaky hen!

 

[poodlechicks]

Thanks, fisherlady!
My original plan was to stay with my 5 BO and then add some lavender orpingtons over time. But I couldn't resist my broody. She was so determined to be a momma that I had to find her some fertile eggs. Since I couldn't find LO eggs, a friend of mine offered me a dozen of his "who knows what's hatching" eggs

So far I have 8 viable eggs. I'll keep you posted on how everything is coming along.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Fisherlady: Very true, but these were/are the same eggs they're selling to people as "fresh" eating eggs... And this isn't the first bad experience with them. But thank you! I am SO happy she didn't kill them...since I didn't wait until dark, among other mistakes. I've been blessed with great mothers in my years of chicken keeping.

 

[Lenka]

My broody's eggs all hatched!!! We got 3 black, 3 gray 1 yellow and 2 brown striped ones. We also hatched 3 so far in the incubator and which she has adopted ( so far) and there are 2 still in the hatcher and 2 eggs I'm so happy with those results..

also.. how many babies can she take care of? - so far thats 12... and im hoping to add at least 2 more if not 4 depending if those eggs hatch...

 

[fisherlady]

Fisherlady: Very true, but these were/are the same eggs they're selling to people as "fresh" eating eggs... And this isn't the first bad experience with them. But thank you! I am SO happy she didn't kill them...since I didn't wait until dark, among other mistakes. I've been blessed with great mothers in my years of chicken keeping.

Oh... definitely not good, then.... they should be thankful the stray egg didn't get broken into someone's omelet pan!

I am glad you have had such good luck with the hen adopting! Good broodies are priceless additions to any coop!

 

[fisherlady]

My broody's eggs all hatched!!! We got 3 black, 3 gray 1 yellow and 2 brown striped ones. We also hatched 3 so far in the incubator and which she has adopted ( so far) and there are 2 still in the hatcher and 2 eggs

I'm so happy with those results..

also.. how many babies can she take care of? - so far thats 12... and im hoping to add at least 2 more if not 4 depending if those eggs hatch...

Congrats on the great hatch! Beautiful picture! They make an adorable family!

 

[K Epp]

Fisherlady: Very true, but these were/are the same eggs they're selling to people as "fresh" eating eggs... And this isn't the first bad experience with them. But thank you! I am SO happy she didn't kill them...since I didn't wait until dark, among other mistakes. I've been blessed with great mothers in my years of chicken keeping.

I have it happen all the time. I try to move my broodies to kennel were they can't take eggs or have other hens lay in their nest. I had two Silkies in a XL dog kennel. The nest were in covered cat litter boxes. I noticed when one of the hens was off the nest she was missing 3 eggs. Out of curiosity I pulled the other hen off her nest. There were the missing eggs. Now keep in mind this little hen had to get out of a box as deep as she is tall with a egg go 3 feet and get it back in her box. She did it 3 times... Other breeds will do it too. I have to put a brick wall in between my Australorps. Litteraly. I always tell people to break the eggs in a bowl to make sure its good. If your collecting numerous eggs its easy to miss some. It can happen. I always pull the early hatcher's and put them in a brooder. After the others hatch slip them back in. I have 10 broodies right now and also keep the incubator ready for any eggs that get abandoned.

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Eek! So happy! Just checked on my broody hen and she now has 4 chicks! ( It's been three days since the first one hatched) Two were still wet, but the others were fluffy and full of adorable-ness! As soon as they all dry, and start moving around,  I'll post pics. She's such a good mama!

Congrats on your chickies. Still waiting on mine

 

[stuckinthecity]

I have it happen all the time. I try to move my broodies to kennel were they can't take eggs or have other hens lay in their nest. I had two Silkies in a XL dog kennel. The nest were in covered cat litter boxes. I noticed when one of the hens was off the nest she was missing 3 eggs. Out of curiosity I pulled the other hen off her nest. There were the missing eggs. Now keep in mind this little hen had to get out of a box as deep as she is tall with a egg go 3 feet and get it back in her box. She did it 3 times... Other breeds will do it too. I have to put a brick wall in between my Australorps. Litteraly. I always tell people to break the eggs in a bowl to make sure its good. If your collecting numerous eggs its easy to miss some. It can happen. I always pull the early hatcher's and put them in a brooder. After the others hatch slip them back in. I have 10 broodies right now and also keep the incubator ready for any eggs that get abandoned.

I wish I had the time and space to set up my incubator and hatch the rest of her clutch...I hated to throw them out. But anyways, if someone is keeping hens to sell eggs, I don't see the sense in keeping a broody in the layer coop... I guess if your technique works for your birds then why not!
ETA: The statement about "your" technique was a reference to the people in which I got the eggs, not you, btw!

 

[Tabatha]

Day 8 for my broody buff orpie, Janet, sitting on phoenix eggs. Day flugdjeijxbdj for my broody silkie mutt, Cheshire sitting on everything (since she has stolen everyone's eggs, I have no idea other than they should start hatching on day next week). I think they, and my phoenix hen that just hatched 4 stolen eggs last week, are playing Russian roulette. One gets up to take a break and poo, my other broody steals her nest. Then the phoenix and her babies move to the newly abandoned nest. Then the broody who was just taking a break and pooing takes the empty nest with the golf ball. I'll be SO glad when someone locks down!