Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[fisherlady]

If they are bantam eggs, 12 is not too many for most hens. 

Glad you were on the ball, I never thought to ask if they were large fowl or bantam eggs!

 

[arkansaschicks]

The eggs are 6 Welsummer and 6 BO eggs. I do not have an incubator and I just happened into these very good bloodline eggs that needed to get set immediately. Thank you so much for the information! what is good nesting material that you spoke about

 

[nchls school]

The eggs are 6 Welsummer and 6 BO eggs. I do not have an incubator and I just happened into these very good bloodline eggs that needed to get set immediately. Thank you so much for the information! what is good nesting material that you spoke about

If the eggs are large 12 is too many; 8 would be better for a good hatch. Do you have another broody hen? Fresh eggs remain viable for two weeks and then viability decreases. Better to set 8 eggs and have them hatch than to set the 12 and get next to nothing or nothing.

I have tried a number of materials and I think straw makes for a good nest that will hold its shape. Wood shavings are just the opposite. A nest that holds its shape will keep the eggs in place.

 

[arkansaschicks]

I set the eggs under her yesterday about 11 AM . Is it too late to take some out and hope that I might have another hen go broody soon

 

[arkansaschicks]

I guess if it's too late to take some out, it's a good thing because she is on a very well formed straw nest.

 

[Curnow]

1 chick hatched....9 eggs to go! This little one was earlier that I expected. Small black chick from a green shell is all I know so far. Broody still sitting tight so hope all goes well with the rest. Hope they were all fertile. She is sitting on Cuckoo Marans, Easter Egger, maybe a Light Brahma, and random other brown eggs from either sex links or Rhode Island Reds. Roosters are Cuckoo Marans, Silver Spangled Spitzhauben, and Sultan. I can't wait to see what happens and what the little ones will look like in the end. I'm so excited I can't stand it!

 

[PD-Riverman]

1 chick hatched....9 eggs to go! This little one was earlier that I expected. Small black chick from a green shell is all I know so far. Broody still sitting tight so hope all goes well with the rest. Hope they were all fertile. She is sitting on Cuckoo Marans, Easter Egger, maybe a Light Brahma, and random other brown eggs from either sex links or Rhode Island Reds. Roosters are Cuckoo Marans, Silver Spangled Spitzhauben, and Sultan. I can't wait to see what happens and what the little ones will look like in the end. I'm so excited I can't stand it!

Did you collect and put all these eggs under her at the same time/minute? Or did they just get layed in the nest at random?

 

[PD-Riverman]

I set the eggs under her yesterday about 11 AM . Is it too late to take some out and hope that I might have another hen go broody soon

Why would you want to take some out?? If she is covering them----she will be fine. Hoping another hen will go broody---Hmmm, if you got the Luck of the Irish---maybe!! lol

 

[rosie dc]

I have 2 polish bantam cockerels and 2 bantams which I hand readers and hatch last year, they are very tame and all get on so well, they are mating regularly, and the naked take such care with feeding the females.
Iv put 5 eggs from my little bantams in incubation 3 days now and all 5 are showing signs of development whe I candles them, one of my bantams has made a nest and keeps laying in it, I'd like her to go broody she shows signs but and I noticed this pm she when to bed on the eggs, but in the day she leaves them, but she is also use to being put in a separate run in the day or having the option to road free in my field,
Do you think she will in the next 15 days become broody? Should I keep her on her own in the night time hutch and run? As I would love her to raise my ones in incubation if I transfer them to her, or does anyone have any tips on how to tempt her to sit on the eggs? Sorry long for long message

 

[arkansaschicks]

Why would you want to take some out?? If she is covering them----she will be fine. Hoping another hen will go broody---Hmmm, if you got the Luck of the Irish---maybe!! lol

I don't want to take any out! these are in a way valuable eggs that were given to me. She is covering them somewhat ok. I do have a couple of hens that have gone broody on the same couple of weeks for 3 years now That time is coming up here real soon. Just hoping for a 4th year repeat. If I did want to take some out is it too late by now?