Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Puddin Fluff]

Still waiting on the chicks day 21 tomorrow!

Oes

I have never removed them all, we have always left some for her to raise and let her hormones tell her when to be done. I would wait at least a couple of weeks though to reduce the chance of her going back into a 'I need to hatch babies' funk.

I'm sorry....

I'm not sure how you marked yours but we use a black sharpie and just draw a line the whole way around the center of the egg...it is visible no matter what position the egg is laying and doesn't rub off.

Ditto. So sorry.

We do the same with a marker. I've had pencil rub off too many times.

 

[karenerwin]

I'm sorry....

I'm not sure how you marked yours but we use a black sharpie and just draw a line the whole way around the center of the egg...it is visible no matter what position the egg is laying and doesn't rub off.

Ditto. So sorry.

We do the same with a marker. I've had pencil rub off too many times.

I used pencil because I had heard that sharpie could harm the developing embryo. I'll be using sharpie next time.

 

[fisherlady]

I used pencil because I had heard that sharp could harm the developing embryo. I'll be using sharpie next time.

I have heard the same, but never seen any proof, not even sure it could be actually proven when too many variables just can not be controlled...

And I can honestly tell you....we set 25-30+ broodies a year with sharpie marked eggs and we have never had a chick hatch with a tattoo yet!

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

Man, I feel horrible! I was cracking eggs to put in gallon ziploc bags ( I need 15 dozen for an event) and 1 of the eggs I cracked open had a very developed chick in it.  I had marked all of the eggs that the broody was sitting on, but the mark must have been covered by dirt, or rubbed off or I just plain didn't see it.  I'm so upset with myself. It has no chance anymore, it was an egg I collected on Friday night.  So it had been inside our air conditioned house all day today as well as all last night.  Hatch day was/is this weekend.  I know what is done is done, but still I feel super bad, mad & sad all at once.  I don't even know if either broody was will even hatch any eggs and I ruined 1 great possible hatcher.

aw, that sucks! I would be feeling the same Way. I was super nervous about cracking open my remaining un-hatched eggs for the same reason. ALthough my hen had left with the chicks for at least 24hrs, I still didn't want to crack open dead-in-shell chicks. Sorry for your mix up.

 

[Bukbuk Betty]

I have heard the same, but never seen any proof, not even sure it could be actually proven when too many variables just can not be controlled...

And I can honestly tell you....we set 25-30+ broodies a year with sharpie marked eggs and we have never had a chick hatch with a tattoo yet!

Sharpie is a good idea. I didn't need to mark mine on this round but will keep this in mind next time!

 

[oregonkat]

First little yellow puff of fluff today!!! I heard pipping yesterday but mom kept telling baby to hush so I couldnt be sure but this morning there she was with the first little bubbie!! This must be the first olive egger amd mom was proudly showing her (I hope) to the rest of the flock and teaching her where to find the food. Sooooooo Awesome!!! Thank you for all the advice and input. I love this site. I will post photos as soon as I can.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I have heard the same, but never seen any proof, not even sure it could be actually proven when too many variables just can not be controlled...

And I can honestly tell you....we set 25-30+ broodies a year with sharpie marked eggs and we have never had a chick hatch with a tattoo yet!

Yep. We do the ring around the egg so that when we check for added eggs, they are easy to spot, since our broodies stay in the "general Population".

 

[Puddin Fluff]

First little yellow puff of fluff today!!! I heard pipping yesterday but mom kept telling baby to hush so I couldnt be sure but this morning there she was with the first little bubbie!! This must be the first olive egger amd mom was proudly showing her (I hope) to the rest of the flock and teaching her where to find the food. Sooooooo Awesome!!! Thank you for all the advice and input. I love this site. I will post photos as soon as I can.

 

[oregonkat]

Been away from this thread for a while, but I thought I'd share my recent Sebright broody pics.
"Trouble" is too small to have fertile eggs by our big English Orp roo, but she was persistent. I ended up giving her a few orp eggs. She was a great mom & lovingly cared for her giant chicks.

Find the chickie

She also adopted a lonely only chick even though it was 4-5 days younger.


Sleeping got complicated around 3 weeks, but she still insisted on covering them

3.5 weeks
The smallest one is in front. I love the expression on Trouble's face and the chicks pancaked beneath her are also priceless.


By 4 weeks, they surpassed mama in size. She stayed with them for 7 weeks until she started laying again.

I love you my babies, no matter what, or who you are. I will feed you, keep you warm and tend to your every need. Wow, what a good mama, beautiful pics, beautiful birds. Thanks for sharing.

 

[oesdog]

OMG What a cutie pie! First out and 5 more to go????