Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[PD-Riverman]

Quick question, and it's possible it's already been answered in the thousands of posts on this thread already.... Lol! Too much sifting!

Does anyone know about how long a hen will stay on her nest after hatching? Mine hasn't got up to do her "business" (like a week!), several chicks have hatched and she's still sitting tight (it's been maybe 30 hrs since hatch began). I'm fairly sure there are a few non-hatchers under her still but I'm reluctant to move her if she's got a few stragglers actually hatching.

So i guess, my question is, how long will she generally sit tight before taking the chicks "out"? First time with a broody here. Thanks!

If all the eggs she has under her were put under her at the same time----not over days------Just leave her alone and let her hatch. She will come off the nest when she is ready and the chicks are good without food or water for several days without a problem-----so do not put food or water at the nest.

Now if her eggs were added over days----that is not good and can create a lot of problems.

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

Hi, no i put fertile eggs under her all at the same time and none were added afterwards. Oooh it's hard waiting! I'm dying to know how many total hatched and what's going on under all those feathers!!! ;D

 

[vpatt]

I found one more egg with a live chick.....just the beak showing. But mamais off the nest doting on her eight chicks. Without an incubator is there anything i can do to save it?

 

[Molpet]

I found one more egg with a live chick.....just the beak showing. But mamais off the nest doting on her eight chicks. Without an incubator is there anything i can do to save it?

some people wrap a wet paper towel and put it on a heating pad in a box to keep humidity and warmth.... don't want it to dry out but you don't want to drown it either
ETA loosely wrap it or put around so chick can get out

 

[vpatt]

some people wrap a wet paper towel and put it on a heating pad in a box to keep humidity and warmth.... don't want it to dry out but you don't want to drown it either
ETA loosely wrap it or put around so chick can get out

Thank you, it is out of the shell on wet paper towel and heating pad. Peeping and wiggling, but i don't know....i think when it had its beak out for so many hours that it began drying out. It had a few stuck spots that i was able to release, but one wing (the one that was stuck) seems smaller than the other wing. I guess i will just keep it warm and see how it goes.

 

[Molpet]

Thank you, it is out of the shell on wet paper towel and heating pad. Peeping and wiggling, but i don't know....i think when it had its beak out for so many hours that it began drying out. It had a few stuck spots that i was able to release, but one wing (the one that was stuck) seems smaller than the other wing. I guess i will just keep it warm and see how it goes.

glad it is out

yeah they can get shrink wrapped if the membrane drys out.
I use the heating pad cave if you are not going to try and give it back to mamma
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/956958/mama-heating-pad-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thank you, it is out of the shell on wet paper towel and heating pad. Peeping and wiggling, but i don't know....i think when it had its beak out for so many hours that it began drying out. It had a few stuck spots that i was able to release, but one wing (the one that was stuck) seems smaller than the other wing. I guess i will just keep it warm and see how it goes.

Take it to the sink, let your hot/cold run together to about 100 degree's----take dawn(dish detergent) just a little and wash the chick other than its head-----working any stuck stuff off---under the warm water. When you get it clean blow dry gently/warm till dry. Put it in a warm spot/brooder---around 95 to 100 is best.
Good Luck

 

[vpatt]

Thanks, you all. It was peeping like crazy! So after getting him 'hatched' i gave him back to mama. I will see in the morning how he made it through the night. I'm sure i did some things wrong, but i did the best i could. I really dont think he would have made it without help because he was drying out in the shell. I hope he makes it but i know its a slim chance. Next time i will know better what to do.

 

[sjturner79]

Quick question, and it's possible it's already been answered in the thousands of posts on this thread already.... Lol! Too much sifting!

Does anyone know about how long a hen will stay on her nest after hatching? Mine hasn't got up to do her "business" (like a week!), several chicks have hatched and she's still sitting tight (it's been maybe 30 hrs since hatch began). I'm fairly sure there are a few non-hatchers under her still but I'm reluctant to move her if she's got a few stragglers actually hatching.

So i guess, my question is, how long will she generally sit tight before taking the chicks "out"? First time with a broody here. Thanks!

She should take them out 3 days after the first one hatched or the afternoon after the last one hatched. I have eggs set under a broody at the same time hatch over a period of 7 days .
The hen waited until the last one had hatched before moving so the first few wandered off out of the nest by themselves and died of cold.
I will generally put a chick safe food and water bowl about 3 feet from the nest 2 days after I notice hatching, and the mom usually brings the chicks to it within a few hours of that.

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

My hen finally got off her nest this afternoon, so maybe a day and a half after hatching started? And despite all the warnings, nothing can quite prepare you for your first giant broody poop! Amazing. Haha! Anyway, my first broody clutch and I got 4 healthy chicks out of 9 eggs. Not super, but better than none, right?! Looks like she's being a good mom, showing them the chick crumbles and the water and keeping them nestled into her. I moved them this evening out of the little dog crate into a little coop/run that should do them fine til mom kicks them out. So exciting! It's awesome not having to worry about stupid heat lamps and letting nature do it's thing.