Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[nchls school]

Ok tried again last night. She stayed all night and all day. I have her in a cat litter box with a hood. I have a dog pen around that so the other chickens don't bother her. I have a pail of water and layer pellets outside the cat litter box. I don't need to put them in the box do I? Doesn't she need to get out once a day and poop? I see no poop in the pen so I guess she hasn't gotten out today. That is a little concerning.

Set the food and water well away from the nest so she gets off the nest, gets some exercise, poops, and eats/drinks. Otherwise she will mess in the nest.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Nope. Just sitting about 5' away and quietly telling her what a good and pretty chicken she is. She doesn't seem upset. After a minute or two she starts preening her chest feathers. When she gets to her wing feathers she lifts up a bit and I can see it's still a whole egg. She settles back and I leave (in disappointment). Only 2 more hours till sunset and final check of the day.

Listen, she is your hen and you can treat/do any way you want----you have that right, As for me---I would not encourage her to lift----she really needs all the moisture to hatch the eggs---when she raises---moisture escapes---Its just like opening a incubator during the hatch in my opinion----that "CAN" (will in my location) mess up the hatch, shrink wrap etc. I really encourage all my friends to be hands off during the last 3 days-----I guess I am going to have to suggest they are "voice" off too!!! LOL Good Luck!

 

[h2oratt]

So. Set 7 eggs for my hen. They are hers and the EE. THEY WILL BE DUE TO HATCH ON CINCO DE MAYO. THIS IS MY FIRST BROODY. SO EXCITED.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I check mine three times a day with a quick lift of the breast during hatch. I believe it pays to be vigilant. I have saved a number of chicks by doing so. We each do what works for us.

Note-I have a hen hatching this weekend. Very fearful and nervous. Getting near her would be a disaster. This one is strictly hands off.

A couple questions if I may ask---its opinions----your and mine---nothing to argue over. I am not saying I am right and you are wrong or vise versa----You say you have saved chicks by lifting----I am curious as to how you " really" know that your previous lifting did not cause a problem or how you know for sure if the one you save wouldn't have hatched anyway if left alone. All I am saying is I leave mine alone completely during the last 3 days, I do not lift/tilt, etc. All my hens hatch all their eggs that are good---Good meaning I do not candle so when I break a egg that might be left in the nest after she leaves---its is clear. I can recall 1 egg in hundreds that was pipped that was dead but it was a some what crushed shell. So to sum it up----if you lift/check and have to help some and have a 80/90% hatch, and I do not lift/check and have a 99.9% hatch rate and I do not have to help Period----with these results I personally will leave mine alone---I do not want to do anything that might cause me to have to help.

 

[Catandherchicks]

Listen, she is your hen and you can treat/do any way you want----you have that right, As for me---I would not encourage her to lift----she really needs all the moisture to hatch the eggs---when she raises---moisture escapes---Its just like opening a incubator during the hatch in my opinion----that "CAN" (will in my location) mess up the hatch, shrink wrap etc. I really encourage all my friends to be hands off during the last 3 days-----I guess I am going to have to suggest they are "voice" off too!!! LOL Good Luck!

Thanks! I REALLY appreciate all the information I can get. I've only had the hens (first ever) for a year and this is my first ever attempt at hatching eggs. I read a lot about raising chickens before I got them, but since I can't have roosters, I didn't even look into hatching stuff. So I know squat. BYC is the most amazing group of knowledgeable and helpful folks. I'll look in on her in the morning, quickly, then leave her alone for the day. I'll say a little prayer tonight that I'll hear peeping in the morning. I thought this would be fun and easy.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thanks! I REALLY appreciate all the information I can get. I've only had the hens (first ever) for a year and this is my first ever attempt at hatching eggs. I read a lot about raising chickens before I got them, but since I can't have roosters, I didn't even look into hatching stuff. So I know squat. BYC is the most amazing group of knowledgeable and helpful folks. I'll look in on her in the morning, quickly, then leave her alone for the day. I'll say a little prayer tonight that I'll hear peeping in the morning. I thought this would be fun and easy.

I love trying to help--I came on this forum to offer help/answer questions 1000 post ago. Some take it the wrong way, some might think I am a butt. I do not mean any harm. I feel we will have less problems if we do not do things to create problems. I just try to share some of those problems---no one has to take my advise. I do not say My Way is THE Way, I just tell people how I do it and that I hatch almost 100% in my incubators and my broodies----let them decide if they think my advise is any good. I am not after a Pat on the back----I get that when someone I offer help to has a Great Hatch!! I wish you the best!!

 

[fisherlady]

Ok, I must have missed part of the question, then, I was thinking that by "checking" it meant just looking in on her. Our broody is in our basement and I go in there several times a day and look to be sure she's alright. I haven't seen her up or out of the nest box at all yet, though. Being her first time I'm so concerned she is just sitting there, not turning them or stretching her legs at all. I have put a small bowl of water in with her which she does seem to be drinking a little of, and she has eaten a few grapes and a bit of scratch mixed with dry oatmeal. I'm wondering this, will she stop being broody after 21 days or, if the chicks don't hatch, will we have to break her of it?

Now I don't remember who stated they were able to see their broody hen turn the eggs by putting a camera nearby. Does anyone have a suggestion as to recommended cams? I'd like to order one.

I told you about the camera systems.
The ones we bought are Unidens, they came with 2 cameras and a 5" monitor screen. They were clearanced at WalMart and we stumbled across them
I think they still make them, you can search 'nursery camera' or 'nanny cam' on Amazon.com and probably find a variety of them. Some allow sound transmission also. We love having them. We have 2 hens with chicks right now and 3 more setting on eggs...having cameras helps our peace of mind when we can check in on them and see all is well.

 

[lwiese58]

I told you about the camera systems.
The ones we bought are Unidens, they came with 2 cameras and a 5" monitor screen. They were clearanced at WalMart and we stumbled across them
I think they still make them, you can search 'nursery camera' or 'nanny cam' on Amazon.com and probably find a variety of them. Some allow sound transmission also. We love having them. We have 2 hens with chicks right now and 3 more setting on eggs...having cameras helps our peace of mind when we can check in on them and see all is well.

Thank you!

 

[nchls school]

A couple questions if I may ask---its opinions----your and mine---nothing to argue over. I am not saying I am right and you are wrong or vise versa----You say you have saved chicks by lifting----I am curious as to how you " really" know that your previous lifting did not cause a problem My hens are used to frequent handling (on a daily basis). The few that show any distress, I do not check. My Japanese bantam is hatching today (I hope). To get anywhere near her would/could be disasterous. or how you know for sure if the one you save wouldn't have hatched anyway if left alone. I have lost chicks in the past when a pipped egg was crushed and chicks when a piece of shell has fit over an unhatched egg. All I am saying is I leave mine alone completely during the last 3 days, I do not lift/tilt, etc. All my hens hatch all their eggs that are good---Good meaning I do not candle so when I break a egg that might be left in the nest after she leaves---its is clear. I can recall 1 egg in hundreds that was pipped that was dead but it was a some what crushed shell. So to sum it up----if you lift/check and have to help some and have a 80/90% hatch, and I do not lift/check and have a 99.9% hatch rate and I do not have to help Period----with these results I personally will leave mine alone---I do not want to do anything that might cause me to have to help. I do not assist otherwise. I believe if a chick is unable to hatch on its own, it probably won't survive. I do not use this philosophy when using an incubator (which I dislike). Since it is an unnatural method, I assist when I can.

 

[h2oratt]

My broody is brooding. I have not seen any big piles of poop, but she ate all the food I had in her bowl.