Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[kilby]

I just thought I'd share my excitement with everyone, I have two royal Palm turkeys that are sitting on four chicken eggs together and today is day 18!!! This is their first spring/summer laying their own eggs and they both built nests out in the woody area of my yard but sadly they were not fertile so I took them. They both sat on their empty nests for a week so I moved them and gave them five chickens eggs to share - I felt guilty. At day 7 they rolled one out to the far corner of their cage and crushed and then ate the egg so I assume it was no good. They both sit right next to eachother and take turns. I think they have fit their schedule to when I let the chickens and ducks out and when everyone gets put away because one stands up and the other rolls them to her spot in the morning and in the evening, like clockwork. I candled at day 14 and all seemed to be developing normally. I only candled once because they are quite fussy and protective, and a turkey beak packs quite a punch. I'm a little worried about them stepping on them or something since it is their first time and there's twice as many feet that can smash them. But I'm so excited! They've been working so hard and I hope atleast one hatches for their sake. It's so EXCITING!!! I'll post some pictures if they have any luck. Here's my girls sitting tight

I would be afraid for the chicks after hatching. Can they out run the turkey. guess not.

 

[chickens galore]

Hi all my lavender wyandotte went broody in her breeding pen she is one of a trio, tried to break her but she was having none of it,I gave her some silkie eggs I had on day 14 in the incubator, she hatched 5 out of the 6, the other piped but she kicked it out, she took the babies out yesterday on day 3,I had to put her and the chicks in last night after dark as mum kept trying but the chicks didn't follow but instead just ran under the coop, she drew blood, now today she has them out again if I have to take them in tonight I will be wearing thick gloves

 

[Faraday40]

I have a hen who started strong broodiness a few days ago. (Will NOT leave the nest now matter how often we remove her!) DD's project is due July 20th, so we really don't have the time to let her incubate a 3rd trial for us. ......Also do not have fresh fertile eggs.

I'm thinking of slipping a few incubator eggs under her. They're due to hatch next Wed. Would a proven broody have a problem with eggs hatching too quickly? What's the best way to allow 2 broody's to raise chicks at the same time in the same flock? (Should I keep them apart to bond with chicks for a few days?)

 

[sjturner79]

I have a hen who started strong broodiness a few days ago. (Will NOT leave the nest now matter how often we remove her!)  DD's project is due July 20th, so we really don't have the time to let her incubate a 3rd trial for us. ......Also do not have fresh fertile eggs.

I'm thinking of slipping a few incubator eggs under her.  They're due to hatch next Wed.  Would a proven broody have a problem with eggs hatching too quickly?  What's the best way to allow 2 broody's to raise chicks at the same time in the same flock? (Should I keep them apart to bond with chicks for a few days?)

My hen went broody for here 6th time on day 18 of an incubation run I was doing. Gave her the the chicks and she was happy with that instead of staying in the nest, so I think a short run hatch for her should be fine

 

[graciesioix]

My

In my research for incubators and broody hens I thought it might be nice to have a centralized thread for people who are interested in hatching eggs using the broody hen method.  This thread is not meant to put down incubators, as they are a very useful tool, but to share knowledge and experience with each other on how to hatch eggs using a broody hen.


I will attempt to edit this post to include tips and FAQs on some of the best methods and tips to use when hatching eggs using a broody hen.  If you have any knowledge please share it.  If you know of anything that would be useful to add to the FAQs or tips please PM me.


We can also use this thread to share pics and hatching details with each other.

I am not sure how many people are interested in doing this but I thought it would be neat to see how many people use this method.
It would seem a lot of people are interested in using this method.  It allows for a more natural hatching and raising experience and helps provide a more sustainable flock.

Thanks to everyone for making this thread a success.  Sharing of knowledge is what we humans do best and the vast information in this thread is helping improve a lot of peoples flocks.

Please take a moment to review the FAQs below.

 

[graciesioix]

My

I have a hen setting on eggs that are due today i hear lots of peeps. Is it usual for her to stay right on top of them?

 

[fisherlady]

I have a hen setting on eggs that are due today i hear lots of peeps. Is it usual for her to stay right on top of them?

It is actually the norm...although they appear to be sitting right on them the hens are actually standing just ever so slightly so they keep the new chicks warm without crushing them. once in a while there are chicks which can be accidently smothered but it isn't often.

 

[graciesioix]

I moved my broody Elsa on the 3rd day it was105 degrees and she wouldn't get out of the box she was panting and no way to cool her down and her comb was almost white I didn't want to risk her dying I would rather she come out of her brood.
she didn't.! the first night every time I checked on her she was off of the eggs, which was discouraging .. but it had only been 3 days. the next morning she was back to serious business.
18 days later, I started hearing peeps from the eggs and this morning I have one healthy baby chick, one died, and 5left still waiting to hatch.
I wonder how long to wait for the others. I wonder if its possible they can be a few days apart? she seems to committed to seeing it through but how much longer should I give it?

 

[kilby]

short answer. as long as it takes, slower development may be the case if she was off them and they got below normal temp. When did you say she left and at what temp for how long? Did you date the eggs. I did not and I lost a beautiful americauna. Opened too early but I did not have a hen or incubator for it and forced it.

 

[TGRREZ]

I moved my broody Elsa on the 3rd day it was105 degrees and she wouldn't get out of the box she was panting and no way to cool her down and her comb was almost white I didn't want to risk her dying I would rather she come out of her brood. she didn't.! the first night every time I checked on her she was off of the eggs, which was discouraging .. but it had only been 3 days. the next morning she was back to serious business. 18 days later, I started hearing peeps from the eggs and this morning I have one healthy baby chick, one died, and 5left still waiting to hatch. I wonder how long to wait for the others. I wonder if its possible they can be a few days apart? she seems to committed to seeing it through but how much longer should I give it?

Mama knows best. My broody just hatched 9 last week, 1 hatched first, then 3 more at end of the day and the rest the following day. They were all set the same time and she was serious, she only got up 1x daily for less than 10 min. Then she left nest and called chicks down, at the end of 2nd day there was only 1 left. I checked and it never started development. If I were you I would wait till she has definitely left the nest and nesting with chicks on the ground. Then candle before you start opening up eggs.