Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Ren2014]

Congrats on the little chick. Mine wait 1-2 days before leading the chicks away from the nest. I never hatched duck eggs, but i think they take longer than 21 days. If you started them at the same time, then you'll need to use an incubator.

Thank you. The duck egg is a few days older. I am hoping with the hen still sitting, that it will make it. Speaking of away from the nest... this is all so new too me but compared to having raised the hen in a draft free brooder and a her raising this one, is it OK for the little one to be out and about with out draft protection??

 

[usainpoult]

I think chicks with their 'moms' are fine, as they just snuggle up to them when they get too cold - or at least that's the impression I've had from reading other posts! However, I'm a newbie to BYC, based in England, so perhaps I just hope that's the case

I came back from holiday in August to find my sweet 7 month old RhodeRock (Black Rock/Mrs Pepperpot) brooding on a mixed clutch of 10 eggs, so I'm an accidental joiner to this thread

I 'think' they're due on around 8th Sept, but it depends when my broody started sitting (the eggs were already hot and she was sitting when I got back from holiday on the 20th Aug). All eggs (I hope) fertilised by my buff-laced Polish roo, Fluffernutter (an accidental addition to my flock of hens...see profile pic). So who knows what will result, as my hens are:
1 Splash Polish - 3 eggs
1 RhodeRock - 3 eggs
1 similar to ISA warren/brown-type ex-batt hen - 4 eggs

Beyond excited to see if our RhodeRock can hatch any little chicks

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Hello everyone. I just wanted to share my first hatching experience and ask a question. First I should say that two of our hens went broody AFTER we got rid of our roosters, lol. I read somewhere that a hen can still lay fertile eggs for weeks after a rooster is gone so I thought what the heck. We bought some fertile eggs (13) just to be sure though and added 2 duck eggs for a total of 20 set eggs. The girls were sharing a nest, we separated them, they got back together; I found that one of them was breaking eggs; kicked her out into the broody breaker pen; ended up with just 2 eggs (one chicken and one duck) making it the 21 days. The chicken started peeping on day 21 and hatched during the night. The duck egg is still intact and doesn't seem to be doing anything but the hen is still sitting on it. How long will a hen wait for other eggs to hatch once hatching begins? Here's a picture of 'Little Chicken.' Not a great first experience but at least one made it. My DH says it's probably a rooster, lol. e

What a little cutie! Duck eggs take 28 days, so one whole week longer than chicken eggs. Hens generally will sit on their clutch after their chicks start hatching until they feel that the remaining eggs are not viable. This sort of varies by hen, but I would expect her to wait 24-48 hours for the next egg to hatch. Hopefully the duck is developing well and momma gives it a chance. It could even be peeping from inside the egg and communicating to momma. Let's hope so at least! Please keep us posted. Congratulations to you. Broodies are so much fun.

 

[CHICKENFARMER22]

I have a question. My hen is broody but she keeps moving nest boxes and breaking eggs. What do I do?

 

[Ren2014]

What a little cutie!
Duck eggs take 28 days, so one whole week longer than chicken eggs. Hens generally will sit on their clutch after their chicks start hatching until they feel that the remaining eggs are not viable. This sort of varies by hen, but I would expect her to wait 24-48 hours for the next egg to hatch. Hopefully the duck is developing well and momma gives it a chance. It could even be peeping from inside the egg and communicating to momma. Let's hope so at least! Please keep us posted. Congratulations to you. Broodies are so much fun.

Thank you.
I think Momma had been communicating with it. I saw her pecking at the egg yesterday. Apparently she stopped sitting on it last night

I watched her all day and when she wasn't paying the egg any attention I decided to give it a little poke. I ended opening it up and the baby duck was dead

It was fully developed and the yolk seemed about 1/2 way absorbed. I'm going to post a picture in the duck thread to see if anyone can tell anything about it.

Little chicken is doing well and between Momma and me it will be one very protected chick

 

[Ren2014]

I think chicks with their 'moms' are fine, as they just snuggle up to them when they get too cold - or at least that's the impression I've had from reading other posts! However, I'm a newbie to BYC, based in England, so perhaps I just hope that's the case

I came back from holiday in August to find my sweet 7 month old RhodeRock (Black Rock/Mrs Pepperpot) brooding on a mixed clutch of 10 eggs, so I'm an accidental joiner to this thread

I 'think' they're due on around 8th Sept, but it depends when my broody started sitting (the eggs were already hot and she was sitting when I got back from holiday on the 20th Aug). All eggs (I hope) fertilised by my buff-laced Polish roo, Fluffernutter (an accidental addition to my flock of hens...see profile pic). So who knows what will result, as my hens are:
1 Splash Polish - 3 eggs
1 RhodeRock - 3 eggs
1 similar to ISA warren/brown-type ex-batt hen - 4 eggs

Beyond excited to see if our RhodeRock can hatch any little chicks

Welcome to BYC

and good luck with your eggs.

 

[kilby]

Thank you. The duck egg is a few days older. I am hoping with the hen still sitting, that it will make it. Speaking of away from the nest... this is all so new too me but compared to having raised the hen in a draft free brooder and a her raising this one, is it OK for the little one to be out and about with out draft protection??

what kind of duck egg. Muscovies take 35 days and you better get an incubator ready. Or make one. When I did the same thing and the duck eggs were due 14 days later I took the chick and raised it according to temp. requirements in a plastic tote using paper towels on the floor and a towel over the top spaces. I use a ceramic lamp heater since it does not throw off light so they can sleep.

 

[kilby]

I have a question. My hen is broody but she keeps moving nest boxes and breaking eggs. What do I do?

So she has fertilized eggs or what. If she has fertilized eggs to sit on separate her. Otherwise you want to break the broodiness.

 

[chicksurreal]

Not with my flock. I got a four year old WGSD (White German Sheperd) before the flock. They are innately trained to shepherd thus the name. She is very careful of protecting all I own. I can tell by how she feels when she bumps into things. Sorry, sorry, I will do better I promise, master. Rarely does damage. Another thing and I grew up with German Shepherds is they don't like anybody fighting even play fighting and they will try to break it up. happens around here with my three and sometimes more roosters. So waiting is not a worry.

I guess I'm talking about getting pups, not having a 4 year old adult dog who knows their business.

I wish I had a dog or two that knew what to do to protect our flocks before we got them, but we didn't. I'm dealing with trying to figure out the best breed and breeder to buy from at this point. Thanks for sharing your story, it helps me make a decision about which breed.

 

[kilby]

I guess I'm talking about getting pups, not having a 4 year old adult dog who knows their business.

I wish I had a dog or two that knew what to do to protect our flocks before we got them, but we didn't. I'm dealing with trying to figure out the best breed and breeder to buy from at this point. Thanks for sharing your story, it helps me make a decision about which breed.

I guess I was lucky with her. no training before or after and got her for nothing off craigslist. She has discipline problems which I equate to not dealing with her work dog genes. Such as not going for walks 3 hours a day. I think at later years because they are late to mature that this breed and more are trainable before puppies. Puppies though will probably listen better since you are her/ his guardian so young. Glad to help. bye