Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Bookworm0124]

I've got a broody duck sitting. So much easier than fussing with an incubator first time with a broody. Candled the eggs and had 3 quitters today on day 6. Due to hatch July 5.

 

[Faraday40]

Just popping by to share some pics of my broody hens so far.

Here's an OEG with her orp baby:

This broody was sitting on rocks for 6 weeks. We had an incubator issue, so only 2 seramas hatched. I ended up buying her a 3rd chick.

I had 2 broody silkies waiting for our next batch of eggs. One got bored right after the chicks hatched, so now the remaining silkie has all 30 chicks!
Here are some of her chicks.

silkie x serama chicks

and some Orpingtons

 

[Perris]

And will it be a problem that some of the eggs got yoke and white on them if it dries?

Unfortunately she’s staying out in her tiny run, leaving the eggs inside the little house on the nest.

sorry I just discovered these; if it is not too late, it might be helpful for you to hear of something similar that happened to me in May. On issue 1, 1 egg got broken over the other 3 when the broody was startled and jumped up on day 1 incubation. I left her and eggs alone so as not to stress her more. She roosted off the nest that night, and spent the next few days only incubating part time. I did not expect any to hatch in the circumstances, but just left her to follow her instincts. Day 22, 2 of the 3 hatched, perfectly developed chicks , and I subsequently discovered that the 3rd had stopped developing about day 4 - maybe the broken egg had something to do with it but it was not in any way bad or smelly despite having been incubated for over 2 weeks after the chick had died inside.

 

[jeannedeaux]

Thanks to all for your advice. I've had to start over with Blanche-she apparently IS broody; she just would not accept the move. There are now 6 (marked) eggs under her in a nest box. I've tried even moving her to a nearby less used nest and she simply won't have it. So I guess I'll let her stay there (though it is prime real estate and the other hens yell at her all day long to get out) and when the chicks hatch, then move them all? Is that possible or will I hurt them?

 

[Molpet]

Thanks to all for your advice. I've had to start over with Blanche-she apparently IS broody; she just would not accept the move. There are now 6 (marked) eggs under her in a nest box. I've tried even moving her to a nearby less used nest and she simply won't have it. So I guess I'll let her stay there (though it is prime real estate and the other hens yell at her all day long to get out) and when the chicks hatch, then move them all? Is that possible or will I hurt them?

I have a hen like that. I block off the nest and let her out every day. Usually they leave the nest at the same time. When hatched she will take them out and usually find a spot on the coop floor. Sometimes I want to move them. I put the babies in a bucket and usually she will follow the bucket of chicks. I had one this year I had to carry her too

 

[Faraday40]

My hen "Cookie" will take over a nest box & is a bantam, who can get pushed out by the LF. I pin up a netting over the entry (mostly to keep the big girls out) and give her a daily bio break when I'm cleaning the coop. I put back in the nest before I leave.

The hen sits on the eggs & talks to her chicks for about a day after hatch. It's a bonding time. When I move her, I just take a box & put in all the chick & the mama. I like to keep them confined in a rabbit cage, large brooder, or some make-shift enclosure for a few days. It keeps the chicks safe & allows the other flock members to look but don't peck. The hen has no problem with the move b/c all she really wants is her chicks.

 

[jeannedeaux]

This is all great to know. This morning, she got up and actually went out into the yard for a few minutes (now that the rooster who harassed her is gone) and when she returned, settled on two eggs just laid in a different nest. I had to move her eggs over and am still waiting to get the fresh ones out. She’s a tough case! How long can the eggs stay without her on them and remain viable?

 

[Perris]

when she returned, settled on two eggs just laid in a different nest

How long can the eggs stay without her on them and remain viable?

both exactly what I had with mine described above, 3 times to wrong nest, off for over 5 hours on worst day. When she went to wrong nest I moved her, rather than the eggs. She settled down after the first week

 

[jeannedeaux]

So the egg can still hatch a chick after a five hour separation from momma hen??

 

[BullChick]

Yup!