Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PD-Riverman]

I just moved three eggs under a broody today. She became broody yesterday morning. The three eggs were in the incubator and are on day 10. Will there be a problem if they hatch in 11 days? Could she reject them? She was broody last year in July and was a terrific mom. She took care of her chicks for 16 weeks.

Totally according to the hen!! Probably!! Good Luck!

 

[nchls school]

I just moved three eggs under a broody today. She became broody yesterday morning. The three eggs were in the incubator and are on day 10. Will there be a problem if they hatch in 11 days? Could she reject them? She was broody last year in July and was a terrific mom. She took care of her chicks for 16 weeks.

[quote name="butterfliesdoku"

Yes. There could be a problem. Eleven days is not long. However, I have done this successfully with a hen that had brooded just 7 days before hatching. I did the same thing with another hen and she killed the chick upon hatching.

 

[butterfliesdoku]

...

I guess it'll all depend on my girl then :/
I'll be keeping an extra eye on her then from lockdown to hatch.

 

[nchls school]

They were collected between last Monday and today. So some are a week old and some are from yesterday.

Eggs are good for two weeks, after that fertility goes down and viability is in question. I have hatched eggs well beyond two weeks, but not recommended.

 

[Kassaundra]

Okay guys, Miss Phyllis went broody, but that poses some logistic problems, how does a momma chicken keep her babies warm w/o feathers. The answer of course is a special maternity dress, like that wasn't obvious

This is prototype one. It is the leg of one of Gary's thermal undies and some wool scraps.

 

[fisherlady]

Okay guys, Miss Phyllis went broody, but that poses some logistic problems, how does a momma chicken keep her babies warm w/o feathers. The answer of course is a special maternity dress, like that wasn't obvious This is prototype one. It is the leg of one of Gary's thermal undies and some wool scraps.

Looks like the perfect solution and such the height of fashion!!! LOL

 

[h2oratt]

Why does she have no feathers?

 

[Kassaundra]

Why does she have no feathers?

She has a double hit of a recessive and very rare gene called scaleless, she genetically has no feather follicles or scales.

 

[chickendreams24]

Are you letting her hatch her own eggs? I would love to know if her chicks hatch out with her same condition.

I have a sebright pullet wanting to go broody. We are considering letting her as she has tried before and gotten picked on and kicked out. Being that it was 40 below at that time we weren't wanting her to then but now k think we would be okay with it. Except that we still have three broodies that are separate already.

 

[lwiese58]

I have a problem and need advice quickly. I have posted a few times in the last few days...first time broody hen that I was concerned may not be turning her eggs, wasn't getting out to eat or drink. We have learned this week she is turning them, and has gotten out a few times to eat and drink. Only in the last couple of days has she pooped but not much. Until just now. It has been about three hours since I checked in on her but just went down to the basement to check and she has had a major blow out. Her nest box is an old computer monitor that they've been using to lay eggs inside their coop, we moved it to our basement where she's been sitting for two weeks tomorrow. There is poop all over the inside of the monitor, up on the top OUTSIDE, and a big pile on the floor behind it. She looked up at me like she was pleading for help, 3 eggs only half covered by her wing. She's been so good at covering them all up, there is no telling what is under her. HELP!!! If the eggs are covered in poop, surely I can't wash them, can I?? How much cleaning up can I do of the hen without messing up the sitting? Would it be a bad idea to out her on something else to finish up with them? Wondering of o could move eggs and her to a round basket I have so I can hose off the monitor.