Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PD-Riverman]

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?

Well, if they been under her for a couple days, Incubation has started, even if it was not to late----you can not hold eggs for weeks for incubating.

 

[arkansaschicks]

Well, if they been under her for a couple days, Incubation has started, even if it was not to late----you can not hold eggs for weeks for incubating.

That is true! These eggs needed to be set ASAP anyway so whatever happens happens. My hen is doing a great job,she hasn't left the nest since I put them under her and she has spread out about as far as she can go I think she knows she has a BIG job to do

 

[Curnow]

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?

Yes, they were all collected and set on the 16th of March. Not all in the same minute, but on the same day within a few hours apart. She was sitting on brown eggs, so I added to the clutch some green, blue, and what I think may be a light brahma egg and took out several from the original brown eggs in the nest. I marked all the eggs. We pick up eggs once a day in the evening, so anything she had was from some point in that day.

Another hatched around 7 pm, and I think I can hear more faint chirping.

Knowing me, I probably had the day of the week wrong when I looked at the calendar and marked the date....lol! I work odd hours and rotating shifts, so am not always on track with the right day of the week.

Sounding good so far though!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Yes, they were all collected and set on the 16th of March. Not all in the same minute, but on the same day within a few hours apart. She was sitting on brown eggs, so I added to the clutch some green, blue, and what I think may be a light brahma egg and took out several from the original brown eggs in the nest. I marked all the eggs. We pick up eggs once a day in the evening, so anything she had was from some point in that day.

Another hatched around 7 pm, and I think I can hear more faint chirping.

Knowing me, I probably had the day of the week wrong when I looked at the calendar and marked the date....lol! I work odd hours and rotating shifts, so am not always on track with the right day of the week.

Sounding good so far though!!

Sounds like everything is working, don't get to excited and start looking under her----tilting her to see under and for sure don't pick her up, this causes the moisture under her to escape----this moisture is important for her hatch. Good Luck!

 

[Curnow]

So hard to not look...I watched her for what seemed like hours through a small gap in the boards. UGH! I know the first one came from a green egg because there was bits of shell near the front of her in the nest when I went in to check food and water.. That first little one was dry and peeking out from under mama's breast at the end of the day. It appears black with brownish red head. The only green egg laying Easter Egger I have is black with gold head and neck. The chick seemed alert, and I think I saw puffy cheeks! Yay!

I did happen to notice yesterday that my 4 Cuckoo Marans hens all have extremely pristine feathers. I got to thinking...I have never witnessed the roosters doing roosterly things with them. Hmmm! So maybe the Marans eggs under her were not fertile. Time will tell. We didn't candle any of the eggs. I did a smell test when we moved her about 2 weeks in, and didn't smell anything alarming at that time. Just have to hope for the best. I pretty happy so far! Now if the sun would just come up and things get moving so I could do a morning check.

I got a kick out of my husband last night. We are building a house this year (hope to start in July) and were scoping out the spot it will go which is fairly close to the coops. He walked over and started talking about a coop addition that will join the 2 existing chicken houses and have an additional entry door and better set up for brooding. Oh, and putting in water to the coops when we do the water line for the new house. He is really getting into the chicken thing. I love it!

 

[nchls school]

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.

It's pretty easy to tell if she is covering the eggs correctly. Hold each egg in your hand and if it is warm your probably OK. If any of the eggs feel cool or cold consider removing them; if left, in time, all the eggs will have a time when they become chilled and not hatch.

 

[vpatt]

My little Cochin has been setting and i think if the eggs dont hatch today or tomorrow that they are not going to. I will give them until the middle of next week. It seems she is my only hen now interested in being broody so i am going to the swap next week and see what is there.i miss seeing those little ones!!

 

[Catandherchicks]

I am happy to report there's a big glob of broody poop in the shop! I neglected to update that there were signs that the broody was actually eating and drinking last week. Thanks to the reassurances of y'all knowledgeable folks, I relaxed and just checked once a day. She's still sitting tight; started mid-day March 23rd, so hopefully there will be two new chicks in the world in the next few days. Thanks again for easing my mind and to the entire BYC community for sharing information in all things chicken.

 

[fisherlady]

I am happy to report there's a big glob of broody poop in the shop! I neglected to update that there were signs that the broody was actually eating and drinking last week. Thanks to the reassurances of y'all knowledgeable folks, I relaxed and just checked once a day. She's still sitting tight; started mid-day March 23rd, so hopefully there will be two new chicks in the world in the next few days. Thanks again for easing my mind and to the entire BYC community for sharing information in all things chicken.

That is great to hear! Look forward to seeing pictures soon!!

 

[fisherlady]

Our latest broody, Laverne, hatched a few days ago, she has 6 barnyard mixes and 3 silver pencil rock chicks.