Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[ameliadanielle]

Both of the eggs hatched! One hatched last night and was dry when she got off the nest morning, the other just hatched this morning and was still wet. I held it to keep it warm until she got back on the nest after breakfast and then put it back under her. Today she actually got back in the nest to sit on her babies. She wasn't doing that yesterday. So maybe she knows they're younger and need another day in the nest at least.

 

[nchls school]

Touching base after not being on this thread for awhile....(double post with Broody Thread)
to my broody friends,

I finally have a co-brooding situation...the two Cochin sisters are on day 18 of 5 eggs which they have shared fairly equally.

4 of these will be Barnevelder roo over Gold Star hen (who lays a lovely terra cotta egg) and should be nice red laced utility layers...with I'm hoping a lovely deeper red egg (Barnie with the GS' color)

The other egg is a test run on my Splash Marans girl with Barnie roo...it should be a blue laced dark layer (if hen). This Splash Marans does not lay a deep color like she was supposed to (parents 7 on the scale), but it is a pretty deep red egg...hoping with Barnie genes to create another possible road for a deep cordovan brown/red egg

Hatch day, if all goes well, is Wednesday March 9th...and all looked to be developed last candling at day 16.

I think these Cochin girls will be nice about co-brooding chicks...we'll see. Cochins are pretty easy going and brooding so close together they most likely will co-parent well. My serama often co-parent when their chicks are of a similar age; usually they are not brooding eggs close either. I'll also see how well this little banty flock functions with the new chicks.

The Silkie's latest baby (Barnie/Cal grey backyard black sex link) is almost a strapping teen at 10 weeks of age...doing very nicely. Silkie raised 2 babies (lost one earlier on due to ???) with the Cochins aunties nicely, so I have every expectation that the Cochin mommas will do well with Auntie Silkie and "sibling" BSL in pen too.

Countdown approaching

LofMc

I try not to let my hens brood eggs near each other. All to often they started competing for chicks and eggs got damaged. Consider using a divider between the hens-low enough so the hens can see each other and both nests of eggs should they get off the nest for a break, but high enough to keep chicks and egg on one side or the other.

 

[fisherlady]

Touching base after not being on this thread for awhile....(double post with Broody Thread)
to my broody friends,

I finally have a co-brooding situation...the two Cochin sisters are on day 18 of 5 eggs which they have shared fairly equally.

4 of these will be Barnevelder roo over Gold Star hen (who lays a lovely terra cotta egg) and should be nice red laced utility layers...with I'm hoping a lovely deeper red egg (Barnie with the GS' color)

The other egg is a test run on my Splash Marans girl with Barnie roo...it should be a blue laced dark layer (if hen). This Splash Marans does not lay a deep color like she was supposed to (parents 7 on the scale), but it is a pretty deep red egg...hoping with Barnie genes to create another possible road for a deep cordovan brown/red egg

Hatch day, if all goes well, is Wednesday March 9th...and all looked to be developed last candling at day 16.

I think these Cochin girls will be nice about co-brooding chicks...we'll see. I'll also see how well this little banty flock functions with the new chicks.

The Silkie's latest baby (Barnie/Cal grey backyard black sex link) is almost a strapping teen at 10 weeks of age...doing very nicely. Silkie raised 2 babies (lost one earlier on due to ???) with the Cochins aunties nicely, so I have every expectation that the Cochin mommas will do well with Auntie Silkie and "sibling" BSL in pen too.

Countdown approaching

LofMc

Wonderful to have you back!! They look very determined.

 

[generaldsherman]

Is it common for broody hens to get up more than once a day? My father hooked up my webcam so I could watch my hen, and I've seen her get up 3 times since this morning. She only ever gets up for a brief amount of time and settles back down again. Will the eggs be ok if she gets up more than once a day?

 

[fisherlady]

Is it common for broody hens to get up more than once a day?  My father hooked up my webcam so I could watch my hen, and I've seen her get up 3 times since this morning.  She only ever gets up for a brief amount of time and settles back down again.  Will the eggs be ok if she gets up more than once a day?

They should be fine, I have some hens who are out twice a day, some are once every other day. If she isn't up long enough for the eggs to get cold then they should be ok.

 

[generaldsherman]

They should be fine, I have some hens who are out twice a day, some are once every other day. If she isn't up long enough for the eggs to get cold then they should be ok.

Ok- I just worry a lot. She seems like she's doing pretty good, although I swear she's looked strait at the camera a few times saying "what're YOU looking at?!" a couple times at least today.

 

[chickendreams24]

Lol well I forgot to post here but it's official we have two broodies and a couple of other ladies thinking about it. We have a silkie, named Lovey, who was set with eggs on Saturday, after a couple days with eggs getting swapped out. On Monday we admitted that we had a second broody silkie named Mary Anne and gave her eggs after she had been committed for two days. Today I found my black oegb pullet in the garage on 5 eggs she had amassed she laid another today but I discovered one was cracked and pulled it. I don't think she has started setting yet. May hang onto Minnie's eggs a couple of days to give to anyone else that may go broody. Will be candling them tonight regardless. Hadn't known Minnie was laying so these could very well be her first eggs although I'm not sure. If they are I of course know that their fertility is questionable as is their hatchability but I would still like to try. Sadly my incubator is pushing 48 and idk if I can fit any more in since I've already layed six along the side of the turner. Hmm what to do what to do....

 

[generaldsherman]

I wonder if my hen knows the eggs are getting close to hatching and if that's why she was up so long today, one last break before hatching day

 

[Violetsfeathers]

I wonder if my hen knows the eggs are getting close to hatching and if that's why she was up so long today, one last break before hatching day

They usually do take one long break before they sit for three days. My hen started getting excited right before they hatched like she couldn't wait!

 

[generaldsherman]

They usually do take one long break before they sit for three days. My hen started getting excited right before they hatched like she couldn't wait!

good news! I did she her nosing around investigating just before the break. Must've figured out her babies were on the way