Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Faraday40]

It's started one chick so far!

Glad it's happening for you.

 

[fisherlady]

She has shuffled all the shavings out from under her / the eggs so they are sat directly on the plastic nest box bottom - that isn't a problem is it? I tried a few times to replace it but it just kept getting wiggled out.

It's started one chick so far!

Our hens frequently dig down to bare floor in their nests, I don't worry too much about it anymore, they have proven me wrong too many times, lol
I don't worry till day 22 or 23, especially during colder weather...
You may be able to hear faint cheeping the day before hatching, usually the hen begins 'talking' softly to the eggs with purring and soft cooing sounds also. Mindy usually lets us know when hatching is imminent...She has better ears than us silly humans, so when she tries to get stick her nose under hens I know to listen up.

 

[fisherlady]

It's started one chick so far!

Congrats!
looking forward to the pictures!

 

[PouleChick]

Our hens frequently dig down to bare floor in their nests, I don't worry too much about it anymore, they have proven me wrong too many times, lol

that is good to know - at least one chick has managed anyway

I don't worry till day 22 or 23, especially during colder weather...

Not cold here - we had a hugely hot week last week and now it is still about 18/20c in the day. Day 21 today.

You may be able to hear faint cheeping the day before hatching

I was trying to listen yesterday and earlier but we have lots of trees with lots of birds cheeping like mad (I didn't actually realise that until I was trying to hear the chicks )

Mindy usually lets us know when hatching is imminent...She has better ears than us silly humans, so when she tries to get stick her nose under hens I know to listen up.

She is adorable!

looking forward to the pictures!

She tucked the chick straight back in after s/he'd got that far. A while later I saw this little face but from the stripes I'm thinking the same chick.

How sweet is that little face? Do you think Aracuana?

I'm now end of day 21 but hoping I'll see more before dark! My little guy is home from school so we are heading down to check again!

 

[fisherlady]

that is good to know - at least one chick has managed anyway

Not cold here - we had a hugely hot week last week and now it is still about 18/20c in the day. Day 21 today.

I was trying to listen yesterday and earlier but we have lots of trees with lots of birds cheeping like mad (I didn't actually realise that until I was trying to hear the chicks )
She is adorable!

She tucked the chick straight back in after s/he'd got that far. A while later I saw this little face but from the stripes I'm thinking the same chick.

How sweet is that little face? Do you think Aracuana?

I'm now end of day 21 but hoping I'll see more before dark! My little guy is home from school so we are heading down to check again!

So cute!

Looks like your hen will be rewarded for her dedication, and you and your little guy will have many hours of watching fun!
But be warned...watching broodies and babies is a very addictive habit!

 

[PouleChick]

We have 4 chicks - 2 aracuanas and 2 others. One of the aracuanas had made a little hole but passed away.
The worrying thing is that I found her off the nest yesterday morning (day 22) as one of the chicks had got stuck behind the feeder. I cleaned up and put her and the chicks back and she is still sitting but the eggs were cool and I'm not sure if we have lost the rest. What do you think?

I don't worry till day 22 or 23, especially during colder weather...

I'm now the morning of day 23 (they didnt' get put in until late afternoon though so in one way not day 23 until then???) and I don't know if I should give up hope of any of the others making it?

 

[fisherlady]

We're all eggs set the same day? If they were then I would candle them to check for viability. If you don't know when they were laid I would still candle for viability but also plan a back up incubator to finish them in. She has live chicks to tend, she won't stay on the nest for late hatcher.

 

[fisherlady]

9 eggs can be a lot under a silkie, though not as bad when weather is warm. When a hen has a lot of eggs then some around the edges aren't covered quite as well, leaving them habitually a bit cooler than the ones directly under her, then when she shuffles them around they get warmed up again. This can delay hatching, and sometimes can cause death in the shell or sluggish hatching.
My preference on egg numbers is to give the hens a small clutch initially. Usually start with 4 for Bantams, 8 for average size and 10 for larger hens. Then add one egg at a time and let her shuffle it under her. Check after each additional egg to see if all are still completely covered and if she had trouble getting it positioned. At any point she has trouble getting it positioned or you notice an egg not covered completely then she is maxed out . I then remove the maxed egg and one other to allow her a comfortable clutch.
Over time you will learn each hens' capabilities and be able to adjust for weather also. Remember, in cold weather a hen may be able to hatch out 8 eggs but not tend 8 chicks after they are a couple weeks old so accommodations may need made, and some hens aren't good with large groups. Only way to know that is through experience though. I always keep clutches for first timers smaller and try to have another hen hatch at same time to act as back up if needed. If you aren't lucky enough to have a back up hen you should still have a back up plan... an incubator and set up brooder should be organized in case anything odd happens.

 

[PouleChick]

Sorry I realised that it is the middle of the night in the states!

I've just been doing some searching and found these comments so I still have a little hope!

I wouldn't lose all hope until end of day 25.

it seems that most chicks that don't hatch by day 23, for whatever reason, really won't do well anyway.

We're all eggs set the same day? If they were then I would candle them to check for viability. If you don't know when they were laid I would still candle for viability but also plan a back up incubator to finish them in. She has live chicks to tend, she won't stay on the nest for late hatcher.

Yes they were all set the same day. i believe they were all laid the day before that (or afternoon previous), I had them within 24 hours either way, I rested them 24 hours then put them under her in the evening (and actually does that mean I'm not actually day 23 until that time??). They were all under her within 48 hours of lay. I'll text my neighbour to see if I can borrow her incubator and I'll go from there.

 

[PouleChick]

9 eggs can be a lot under a silkie, though not as bad when weather is warm.

She seemed fine with them, they were all covered the whole time (although I notice that there is one now that is out a bit - I wonder if she has pushded it out - I'll add a pic in a sec.). I'm thinking that European Silkies are also a bit bigger than American ones from what I read?

My preference on egg numbers is to give the hens a small clutch initially.

I then remove the maxed egg and one other to allow her a comfortable clutch.

Eek maybe I have been over enthusiastic!

If you aren't lucky enough to have a back up hen you should still have a back up plan

I have another Silkie who has gone broody about 5 days ago - would she be able to be used? I have access to an incubator.