Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

My thought is she is done with any more sitting and I took the eggs away. The latest chicks would be a week younger then the four she hatched. Hen is continueing to take care of her four chicks...just appears to have lost interest in the eggs.
What you allowed to happen is called a staggered hatch. Its Not a good thing. It happens when a hen is setting on some eggs and other hens keep laying in her nest. The way to control that is to make sure you collect the eggs in EVERY nest daily---no matter if a hen is on that nest or not---still collect the eggs. If you want to set a Broody hen "You" should collect fresh eggs(not some that's she has been setting on for a day or two) mark these eggs and place ALL of them under her at the same time. Then every day you look under her and remove any un-marked eggs that have been added----Then All Her eggs will hatch around the same time---usually with in 24 hrs of each other. Then she does not have to Stress over making a decision to stay with the un-hatched eggs or take care of her already hatched chicks.

I always Move All my broody hens to private hatching pens from the beginning then I set her, I do not have to mark the eggs or look under her daily. She is not bothered by other chickens---no getting in her nest, etc, etc. I have set around 150 broodies in the last 3 years, All hatched their eggs within a day of each other---No problems----This is the best way to go in my opinion. Good Luck!
 
I can hear chirping coming from one egg my hen is sitting on. How long will it take to hatch? There are 5 total and only one is chirping. Do they all chirp before hatching? First time with a broody hen! So exciting!!
 
I tried checking on the eggs but my hen returned and pecked me... I suppose it is good that she is protecting her eggs.
I have another hen but she keeps ditching her eggs and only broody at night (7pm)...
Also, I have quite a big shed, if I stuff the floor with hay/wood shavings, and put mommy hen in with her chicks, water and food (does it need to be medicated?) Would that be ok? We have a bit of a history with predators and don't want to risk letting the chicks out into the garden/field.
And is it normal for my hen to be sitting on other hens eggs?? She's say in hers and two of the other chickens...?
Thanks!!
 
I can hear chirping coming from one egg my hen is sitting on. How long will it take to hatch? There are 5 total and only one is chirping. Do they all chirp before hatching? First time with a broody hen! So exciting!!

Some times it can take a day from pip to hatch. """""I"""" would just leave her along----no peeking under her---Totally hands Off till she leaves he nest----That's What "I" would Do!! I Have Great hatches, but I do not Touch her while she is hatching---Nor do I offer her or the chicks any Food Or Water while she is in the nest---that "could" mess things up. Good Luck
 
Thanks so much for the advise. It's so hard not to look! I will leave her be and hope for the best. Do you think the other eggs are viable even though I don't hear any peeps?
 
Hi! I'm too excited and in a rush to look through the forum to see if my questions are answered but here is my deal:

1. I have a hen separated in a shed in a dog kennel sitting on eggs that are just starting to hatch. She is in the general area that the other chickens are.
2. I have two others that have since gone broody and may potentially be hatching chicks as well in the chicken coop.
3. Now that I have the babies coming, I'm not sure if I let her lead them out into the pasture, or if I keep all of them in this shed for a while. In the meantime I may have other chicks too, remember.
4. If I let her free range with the others, where will she sleep? They can't go up the ladder I'm assuming?
5. I feel a strong pull to "let nature take its course" but I also want to do right by these babies!
6. She is off the eggs but must be sitting on a newly hatched chick because I hear the peep and see the empty shell. What does this tell me? Does she kick the newbies out of the nesting box to let the others hatch? Why would she abandon the other eggs?

HELP!

Thanks!
 
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Thanks so much for the advise. It's so hard not to look! I will leave her be and hope for the best. Do you think the other eggs are viable even though I don't hear any peeps?

Hey Deb, Now you know we can not even guess if they are or not viable---Hope they are!! It might not bother Nothing for you to pick up the hen, candle the eggs, etc, etc-----Then It Might. It will not hurt anything for you to leave her 100% alone-------just be Patient---LOL.
 
Thank you Riverman! That's what I'll do. Let nature take it's course! Hope it will be soon.
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