Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ShinShien]

Tabitha my welsummer with I think 5 chicks peeking out from under her. Why'd they hatch on day 19?

 

[vpatt]

BO broody on 10 mutt eggs was moved to larger area today and she stayed off the eggs for at least 4 hours. I have read some stories where the eggs CAN hatch after similar neglect so will cross my fingers, I finally put a sheet up over her area because I figured the incoming sun was agitating her and she almost immediately got on nest again. Will see in appx 6 days if any make it. 

Good luck with the eggs ...i hope they hatch for you. I dont know enough to advise you.

I am trying to figure out how i am getting 7 eggs from 6 girls. Unless Jessica is laying....her chicks are only 1.5 weeks old. None of the other three girls is the culprit because none of the eggs is green or banty sized. ???

 

[Wishapup]

1 week left for my hen's 5 eggs! I'm hoping she gets at least 2 chicks!

 

[vpatt]

Good luck!

1 week left for my hen's 5 eggs! I'm hoping she gets at least 2 chicks!

 

[mylittlehippie]

I am hatching eggs with my broody for the second time now. I moved her today after she had been sitting on dummy eggs for a few days into my dog crate brooder with the same amount of real eggs. Last time she settled in easily to being moved but she was in another area of my coop which is totally segregated from the main coop and at the time had a small run attached. This time that scenario had changed and she had to be moved to the crate. She seems to not be settling as easily and she is almost scattering the eggs as she walks around which is very unusual for her. Will she settle in or would it be best to put her back in her main area? My concern with her hatching in the main coop is that there are larger hens that also use her nest box and I do not want them hurting the chicks accidentally or on purpose. Also this time we have a rooster in play which wasn't there last time. Would he hurt them? Is it better to try to let her hatch them in the main box then move them after they hatch? How long should I wait to see if she settles back onto the eggs? What are my best options? Thanks guys!!

 

[chickchoon1]

Good luck with the eggs ...i hope they hatch for you. I dont know enough to advise you.

I am trying to figure out how i am getting 7 eggs from 6 girls. Unless Jessica is laying....her chicks are only 1.5 weeks old. None of the other three girls is the culprit because none of the eggs is green or banty sized. ???

I assume Jessica is the former broody? I don't remember when my broods started laying again but would think their hormones go back to normal fairly quickly when their done keeping eggs warm constantly.Sounds like Jessicas working hard.

 

[chicksurreal]

Another of my Dark Cornish pullets has gone broody. She's been sitting in the main nesting box for days now and I've been removing eggs daily. I finally decided to let her sit on some eggs, so I put 4 Silver Spangled Hamburg eggs and 2 Blue Andalusian eggs under her today. The SSH eggs are pure, but the Blue Andalusian eggs are a mix with a Cuckoo Marans roo. So exciting! I've been wanting to have some chicks from my SSH's, but they NEVER go broody for me. So fun to have a breed that really does go broody regularly!

 

[Shahann]

Flock Update: This is Snow White. She has been sitting on 15 eggs for over six days now. Tonight we waited until dark and candled the eggs. We think that 14/15 eggs are viable. Eggciting times!!! Crossing our fingers and hoping to have chicks hatch around 5/20!

 

[mylittlehippie]

I am hatching eggs with my broody for the second time now. I moved her today after she had been sitting on dummy eggs for a few days into my dog crate brooder with the same amount of real eggs. Last time she settled in easily to being moved but she was in another area of my coop which is totally segregated from the main coop and at the time had a small run attached. This time that scenario had changed and she had to be moved to the crate. She seems to not be settling as easily and she is almost scattering the eggs as she walks around which is very unusual for her. Will she settle in or would it be best to put her back in her main area? My concern with her hatching in the main coop is that there are larger hens that also use her nest box and I do not want them hurting the chicks accidentally or on purpose. Also this time we have a rooster in play which wasn't there last time. Would he hurt them? Is it better to try to let her hatch them in the main box then move them after they hatch? How long should I wait to see if she settles back onto the eggs? What are my best options? Thanks guys!!

Last night she settled onto the eggs but today she won't go near them again. I am worried that the crate broke her broodiness entirely. Should I try putting them all back in the main coop? Is there a hope of saving these eggs? Last time she did not have this much trouble.

 

[itstartedwith2]

What is the best way to mark eggs? I hear pencil can rub off but sharpies can soak in thru the pores? So sharpies can harm the growing chick right?