Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PD-Riverman]

This gal hatched 9 all on her own two years ago from a nest she made in the yard with no help from me at all so I was thinking she'd be ok with the flock but I was mistaken.

Thank you so much!

In the yard she makes a nest and usually has it hid from the other hens or will put up a fuss if one comes near----so she will do good. Humans take them out the free-range yard and put them in a pen with many other hens/chickens----then when they set----there is only nest that everyone uses to set in----she can not control the others from laying in her nest so being We Humans put her in that confined place---we humans have to help so things go smoother-----marking the eggs and removing fresh layed eggs is one way.

I set 72 in the last year(150 in last 3 years) or so and ALL of them hatched Out About every fertile egg under them, Trouble free, I did not even have to mark the eggs or remove fresh layed eggs daily, Because "I" Move all my broodies to Private hatching pens----one nest and one broody per pen-------fixing up a broody pen/s and Learning how to properly move them(so they do not get upset) will make your Life less stressful. Good Luck

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have a peeper under my hen! So the heat did NOT kill them. At least one of them. I wasn't expecting any babies until tonight so someone hatched early. Crossing my fingers that the two EE eggs hatch.

Good Luck, Some people think if you set them at night they will hatch at night----Not so and has nothing to do with it. I always have alot of them to start hatching on day 20(chickens) and through the night and finish up on day 21.

 

[ameliadanielle]

It seems no matter what I do I have ONE lone early hatcher. We have one baby and a few pips. Everyone else seems to be moving on schedule. Hopefully we'll have more babies tonight. I'm having to sit and watch her. Her chick got out from under her and she was pecking at it. It couldn't figure out how to get back under her, (still wet and wobbly). She keeps moving and peeking under herself constantly. So I had to sacrifice a hand for the mean broody to chew on while I stuck the chick back under her. She seems fine when it's under her. I'm watching in case it comes out again to see her reaction. I'm sitting out here with her all the time the whole time she's been on the nest. We don't smoke in the house so when I get online on my phone I come out and sit and smoke. She should be used to me out here by now and she definitely knows I'm the one that brings the food. I'm a little worried my presence caused her reaction, but if not I'm worried if I hide out from her she may end up killing her chicks. She's evil.

 

[ameliadanielle]

She also pooped her nest. I'm scared to move her to clean it because it may make her more aggressive. I just wish they'd hurry and hatch so I can just move babies and mama to another clean nest box.

 

[ameliadanielle]

My sweet mamas never poop the nest. My mean ones do it seems. She is my 2nd MEAN broody and the 2nd to poop in the nest. Ugh.

 

[ObeyTheYeri]

Can these 21 day go any faster? We're barely on days 5,4, and 3. I'm already anxious for them to hatch. The fridge egg is looking good. I hope the higher percentage of my chicks are from my Easter Egger rooster rather than my Black Australorp rooster.

*ETA* The broody had 12 eggs and now she's down to 10. It is what it is I guess.

 

[h2oratt]

My golden campine hatched three chicks on sat. I did an eggtopsy on the other two. One was not fertile and one must have stopped on day 15. Goldie is a good mother. I have been adding chicks to her brood.. These are chicks I hatched in the incubator. She seems to be very accepting. I will graft a couple more tonight. I hatched some that are so tiny. Everyone is doing well. My Maran who hatched 5 weeks ago is laying already. Should I put her back with the main flock now?

 

[h2oratt]

My sweet mamas never poop the nest. My mean ones do it seems. She is my 2nd MEAN broody and the 2nd to poop in the nest. Ugh.

What do you mean by mean. Mean to you or mean to the chicks.

 

[AudreyB7]

I'm at a loss - hoping for guidance. I've got a broody on eggs right now that I thought should have begun to hatch over the past day or two. I stopped taking her eggs on May 16th. We were having a glorious spring until last week when the temps shot up 20 degrees overnight! We've been hovering around 115 degrees although today it's *only* 106. She's been such a trooper, I have her on the porch in a dog crate with a fan and ice in the crate. She successfully hatched 9 chicks two years ago so I have faith in her that she knows what she's doing. She's still on the nest but I'm concerned that the high temps may have killed the chicks. Would she be able to keep them cool in those conditions? I don't think she'll give up and it's just too hot to give her new eggs at this point, unless I brought her in the house.

I'm not sure what to do at this point so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Wanted to post an update! We've had three chicks hatch over the past week, one just yesterday. Definitely a staggered hatch - won't do that again - but it's working out ok. She's getting off the nest to care for the chicks but still wants to sit on the remaining eggs. I'll give her another day or two; it's been 22 days since we put her in the crate so she's almost done.

 

[PD-Riverman]

My Maran who hatched 5 weeks ago is laying already.

Put her in the Guinness Book Of World Records!! LOL