Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[FL Crowing Hen]

My experience has been that clears will usually stink or weep before they explode.  I am always a little apprehensive about removing that early unless I am 100% sure I have a nonfertile egg.  I don't know what your candling skills are, but I have been tricked by lightly-colored veins more than once, and there are no words to describe how one feels when you crack open a "nonfertile"culled egg and an embryo falls out.

I suppose there could be some residual heat sink effect from leaving the surrounding eggs, but I doubt it would be any measurable effect (depending on your 'bator setup, perhaps).    

Should the one egg hatch, will it be a "lonely only"?

Thanks! That's one of the things I worry about. This is my first time, and I don't trust myself. I'm kind of worried that maybe there are chicks in those other two eggs, and I think I'd rather just wait and see.

If it's just the one, it will be a lone chick. I'm thinking I may get some day old chicks, so it can have siblings, and mama has a few more babies to care for. Any thoughts of the pros and cons of just one chick? My flock currently consists of 10 hens, including my broody, and one rooster.

 

[FL Crowing Hen]

Brown eggs are harder to candle than white - especially if you're new to it.  It probably won't hurt to mark them & re-candle in a few more days.  Once the embryo grows larger - like day 14 - it's obvious to see the difference.  If you're sure they're not developing, then toss.  I used to always keep all the eggs.  No more.  Once I had a rotten one open day 19.  Very stinky & I had to do an emergency clean as some were pipping.  Many losses could have been prevented if I had simply tossed the bad egg.  Thankfully 6 still hatched, but I might have had 11 out of 12 if I had removed the bad egg.

One lonely chick will be a handful.  If it looks like that's going to happen, you may want to consider picking up a buddy from a feed store.

Thanks! I just don't have enough experience to be confident about those two eggs. Just keeping an eye on them for now. If I end up with one chick, I'll see about picking up some from either a store or some fellow BYC'ers that may have some available.

 

[vpatt]

I just thought of this question or comment about my first hatch......the eggs were 'regular' size but the three chicks are bantams. So obviously egg size doesn't guaranty chicken size. Well they were mixed breed. I just was surprised they are small chickens. They will make a small pot of soup. The two roos anyway.

 

[losttexan]

Thanks! That's one of the things I worry about. This is my first time, and I don't trust myself. I'm kind of worried that maybe there are chicks in those other two eggs, and I think I'd rather just wait and see.

If it's just the one, it will be a lone chick. I'm thinking I may get some day old chicks, so it can have siblings, and mama has a few more babies to care for. Any thoughts of the pros and cons of just one chick? My flock currently consists of 10 hens, including my broody, and one rooster.

Pros of one chick: none. Cons: chickens are social creatures, and babies do not do well alone. In looking at prior posts, I think I was under the assumption your eggs were in an incubator. They're under your broody, correct? Although a single chick does better with a momma broody than being hand-raised, there can be separation problems come fledging time (depending on the broody). I would definitely suggest some companions. The closer in age, the better. Do you have any feed/country supply stores nearby that will have day-olds available around your anticipated hatch date? If you're worried about more males, get a sex-linked breed.

 

[FL Crowing Hen]

Pros of one chick: none. Cons: chickens are social creatures, and babies do not do well alone. In looking at prior posts, I think I was under the assumption your eggs were in an incubator. They're under your broody, correct? Although a single chick does better with a momma broody than being hand-raised, there can be separation problems come fledging time (depending on the broody). I would definitely suggest some companions. The closer in age, the better. Do you have any feed/country supply stores nearby that will have day-olds available around your anticipated hatch date? If you're worried about more males, get a sex-linked breed.

Thanks! I reached out to some local chicken enthusiasts and found someone with incubated eggs that are scheduled to hatch around the same time as mine. I will plan on picking up at least 2-3 chicks to put under my hen so she can have more than just one.

 

[Hayduke27]

Hi everyone!

I live in the Rocky Mountains, and currently have 2 broody hens (bantam cochin and cuckoo marans) that I am considering hatching under. I have some questions about when, where, and how to do this. As a quick background I hatched my first 6 eggs in an incubator last spring, and have chickens for about 2 years. The eggs I would be hatching are barnyard mix. I have 16 hens and one rooster, the rooster being a welsummer over an easter egger. He's about 10 months old, and is actively breeding the hens. I check the eggs, and the majority are fertile.

It's been a warm winter for us, but we just hit another cold streak, and the temps get down to 0 at night and up to around 35 during the day. It may be another month or so of this kind of weather. I have a covered run with straw bedding that the chickens hang out in during the day, as well as access to the frozen yard in which they can free range. They do go out to the compost pile to scratch, and usually no chickens hang out in the coop during the day except for the broodies, the hens who are laying, and one little bantam D'Uccle who is just afraid of the world.

I have 6 nesting boxes, and work from home so I can watch them closely. The 2 broody nests are typically only used by the mean little mommies, and they are sitting on the nests all day minus a quick pee break mid-morning. I have 6 ceramic eggs out there due to some egg eater problems last year. These ceramic eggs have been claimed by the broodies. They have both been on the nests for about 2 weeks now. The cochin is only about 10 months old, and this is her first time going broody. The marans has been broody multiple times, including a bout of about 2-3 months of broodiness last summer. I think I can trust her to not leave the eggs.

So my questions are: 1.) Is it too cold still to hatch eggs? 2.) Am I okay just letting the broodies hatch on their current nests? They don't get messed with much during the day, as there is plenty of nesting space, and they are very mean right now. 3.) Is it okay to let the moms raise their babies with the flock? I have a lot of space, no overcrowding problems, and there are places where the hen could take the chicks that are dry and away from the flock during the day.


Thanks for any and all advice. It certainly seems like broody hens are the way to hatch eggs, and I am excited to let some of these chickens fill their urge to be mothers.

 

[ChickenLady2014]

Hi everyone!

I live in the Rocky Mountains, and currently have 2 broody hens (bantam cochin and cuckoo marans) that I am considering hatching under.  I have some questions about when, where, and how to do this.  As a quick background I hatched my first 6 eggs in an incubator last spring, and have chickens for about 2 years.  The eggs I would be hatching are barnyard mix.  I have 16 hens and one rooster, the rooster being a welsummer over an easter egger.  He's about 10 months old, and is actively breeding the hens.  I check the eggs, and the majority are fertile.

It's been a warm winter for us, but we just hit another cold streak, and the temps get down to 0 at night and up to around 35 during the day.  It may be another month or so of this kind of weather.  I have a covered run with straw bedding that the chickens hang out in during the day, as well as access to the frozen yard in which they can free range.  They do go out to the compost pile to scratch, and usually no chickens hang out in the coop during the day except for the broodies, the hens who are laying, and one little bantam D'Uccle who is just afraid of the world.

I have 6 nesting boxes, and work from home so I can watch them closely.  The 2 broody nests are typically only used by the mean little mommies, and they are sitting on the nests all day minus a quick pee break mid-morning.  I have 6 ceramic eggs out there due to some egg eater problems last year.  These ceramic eggs have been claimed by the broodies.  They have both been on the nests for about 2 weeks now.  The cochin is only about 10 months old, and this is her first time going broody.  The marans has been broody multiple times, including a bout of about 2-3 months of broodiness last summer.  I think I can trust her to not leave the eggs.

So my questions are: 1.) Is it too cold still to hatch eggs?  2.) Am I okay just letting the broodies hatch on their current nests?  They don't get messed with much during the day, as there is plenty of nesting space, and they are very mean right now.  3.) Is it okay to let the moms raise their babies with the flock?  I have a lot of space, no overcrowding problems, and there are places where the hen could take the chicks that are dry and away from the flock during the day.


Thanks for any and all advice.  It certainly seems like broody hens are the way to hatch eggs, and I am excited to let some of these chickens fill their urge to be mothers.  :cd

If it was me I would say yes. If they have stayed on a nest of fake eggs for 2 weeks sounds like they are ready to go, but I'm not an expert on this. I don't have a broody, hoping my BO will kick in this spring. I have hatched eggs all winter and the chicks have a heated brooder coop. Our day time temps have been single digit and less and our nighttime temps have been in the negatives. I would think that as long as they had momma to keep them warm they should do fine. Can't wait to have a broody to raise a batch

 

[bumpercarr]

Hi everyone!

I live in the Rocky Mountains, and currently have 2 broody hens (bantam cochin and cuckoo marans) that I am considering hatching under. I have some questions about when, where, and how to do this. As a quick background I hatched my first 6 eggs in an incubator last spring, and have chickens for about 2 years. The eggs I would be hatching are barnyard mix. I have 16 hens and one rooster, the rooster being a welsummer over an easter egger. He's about 10 months old, and is actively breeding the hens. I check the eggs, and the majority are fertile.

It's been a warm winter for us, but we just hit another cold streak, and the temps get down to 0 at night and up to around 35 during the day. It may be another month or so of this kind of weather. I have a covered run with straw bedding that the chickens hang out in during the day, as well as access to the frozen yard in which they can free range. They do go out to the compost pile to scratch, and usually no chickens hang out in the coop during the day except for the broodies, the hens who are laying, and one little bantam D'Uccle who is just afraid of the world.

I have 6 nesting boxes, and work from home so I can watch them closely. The 2 broody nests are typically only used by the mean little mommies, and they are sitting on the nests all day minus a quick pee break mid-morning. I have 6 ceramic eggs out there due to some egg eater problems last year. These ceramic eggs have been claimed by the broodies. They have both been on the nests for about 2 weeks now. The cochin is only about 10 months old, and this is her first time going broody. The marans has been broody multiple times, including a bout of about 2-3 months of broodiness last summer. I think I can trust her to not leave the eggs.

So my questions are: 1.) Is it too cold still to hatch eggs? 2.) Am I okay just letting the broodies hatch on their current nests? They don't get messed with much during the day, as there is plenty of nesting space, and they are very mean right now. 3.) Is it okay to let the moms raise their babies with the flock? I have a lot of space, no overcrowding problems, and there are places where the hen could take the chicks that are dry and away from the flock during the day.


Thanks for any and all advice. It certainly seems like broody hens are the way to hatch eggs, and I am excited to let some of these chickens fill their urge to be mothers.

I also live at altitude, one of the challenges is hatching eggs in a less oxygen rich environment. However, since your using your own eggs that where laid at altitude, it should be less of a problem but just expect a lower hatch rate than those a sea level will get. I find that the embryos die at about day 15 when the oxygen requirement increases, but outside equals more oxygen which equals less of a problem.

That said. 1) No, it is not to cold to hatch eggs. 2) I leave my broodies with the rest of the flock, some people prefer to separate them from the flock. It is completely up to you and your flock dynamics whether you want to move them or not. 3) See number 2.

Hope that helps. Sounds like your girls are ready, if you wait too long there is a chance that they will leave the nest because they give up on getting any chicks out of the work they are doing. Also, the longer you wait the harder it is on the hen, she's using a lot of energy and not taking in very much nutrition while she's sitting on the nest. Mark your setting eggs so that you can remove any extras that are laid in the nest after you've given them the eggs you want them to hatch.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hi everyone!

I live in the Rocky Mountains, and currently have 2 broody hens (bantam cochin and cuckoo marans) that I am considering hatching under. I have some questions about when, where, and how to do this. As a quick background I hatched my first 6 eggs in an incubator last spring, and have chickens for about 2 years. The eggs I would be hatching are barnyard mix. I have 16 hens and one rooster, the rooster being a welsummer over an easter egger. He's about 10 months old, and is actively breeding the hens. I check the eggs, and the majority are fertile.

It's been a warm winter for us, but we just hit another cold streak, and the temps get down to 0 at night and up to around 35 during the day. It may be another month or so of this kind of weather. I have a covered run with straw bedding that the chickens hang out in during the day, as well as access to the frozen yard in which they can free range. They do go out to the compost pile to scratch, and usually no chickens hang out in the coop during the day except for the broodies, the hens who are laying, and one little bantam D'Uccle who is just afraid of the world.

I have 6 nesting boxes, and work from home so I can watch them closely. The 2 broody nests are typically only used by the mean little mommies, and they are sitting on the nests all day minus a quick pee break mid-morning. I have 6 ceramic eggs out there due to some egg eater problems last year. These ceramic eggs have been claimed by the broodies. They have both been on the nests for about 2 weeks now. The cochin is only about 10 months old, and this is her first time going broody. The marans has been broody multiple times, including a bout of about 2-3 months of broodiness last summer. I think I can trust her to not leave the eggs.

So my questions are: 1.) Is it too cold still to hatch eggs? 2.) Am I okay just letting the broodies hatch on their current nests? They don't get messed with much during the day, as there is plenty of nesting space, and they are very mean right now. 3.) Is it okay to let the moms raise their babies with the flock? I have a lot of space, no overcrowding problems, and there are places where the hen could take the chicks that are dry and away from the flock during the day.


Thanks for any and all advice. It certainly seems like broody hens are the way to hatch eggs, and I am excited to let some of these chickens fill their urge to be mothers.

I say go for it...you have inexpensive eggs (not expensive shipped eggs), it sounds like a do-able communal situation....assertive hens (not bottom of pecking order).

Don't worry about the cold as long as mom and babies are out of direct elements and have a cozy nest that is draft free. Don't overload the clutch. Give just enough eggs so that they are covered well, and consider taking 1 away for cold weather hatching as the eggs on the fringes can get cooler.

I keep my mommas and babies separate because I have lowly banties that get no respect and lots of hawks who love tasty chick nuggets...but many on this list, have great success with communal hatches as long as mommas are assertive and have a place to take the chicks away from the flock if they so desire.

You are also there to keep an eye on them and have a plan B in case things don't go well.

Be aware that 2 weeks is already 2/3 through the normal time frame. Some hens are determined until they get chicks. Others quit at week 3 if they haven't gotten anything. However it sounds like your Marans is a long term setter, so if the Cochin bails (although she should be a good setter), you've got the Marans.

Good luck, and keep us posted.
Lady of McCamley

 

[Hayduke27]

Well, I went ahead and did it. I tucked 6 eggs under the marans, and gave the little cochin 3. I'm going to keep an eye on them, I wasn't sure if 6 eggs is too many under a hen, especially in cold weather... I'm going to be ready with the brooder on stand-by, but with any luck I can see if one or both mommas are up to the job on their own. I can't wait to see how it goes!! Thanks for the advice!