Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

Good luck!

 

[HHandbasket]

My broody has had 10 eggs under her, and today is day 21. I just lifted her and took a quick peek (she was none too happy about it). I count SIX chicks and as far as I can see, at least 2 more are already zipped and working their way out. Don't know what's up with the others, but only time will tell.

Three of eggs were large fowl & the rest banties. In looking at the chicks, it is quite obvious that all 3 of the large fowl eggs have successfully hatched.

Yay for broodies! Good job, Olga.

 

[kuntrygirl]

This is one of my broody hens. I placed 8 eggs under her. I call her the Queen of Mean (Leona Helmsley). I talked about her on another thread and this is how I described her.

It's the start of "broody season" and I have the Queen of Mean (Hen Leona Helmsley) who has decided to go broody. I love her to death but she is the meanest chicken that I have ever seen on the face of this planet. She is not friendly at all. She is usually off to herself and has no friends. I try not to have any eye contact with her when I go into the chicken yard for fear of turning into a pillar of salt. I hate to see when she goes broody because I know what I am faced with. I have to dress in complete armor when I open her brooder to give her fresh food and water and to tidy up the place. I have to wear a helmet, steel gloves, bullet proof vest and goggles. As soon as she hears the latch unlatch, she gets in position and then attacks. I have no idea how I became so fortunate to have been bleesed with this little gem but something out there in the universe has played a dirty trick on me and now I have to live with it for eternity. And to top it all off, she tends to go broody at least 3 times a year.

Just a warning, if you all don't hear from me in awhile, please send out the armed forces and tell them to look for me in the chicken yard at Brooder Apartment #3. That is her address for the next couple of months. I'm sure she will be responsible for whatever happens to me.

Introducing Leona................

 

[Miz Mary]

Silkie #1 will hatch a clutch on the 17th ..... a week after going broody, silkie #2 went broody ! I gave the #1 5 eggs, the #2, 2..... they decided to make nests on the floor of the coop next to each other !!! Of course they have switched nests ..... my questions .....
Is it too late to move the hens to thier own boxes, outside the coop ???

 

[Fuffy]

Miz Mary it depends how much you are willing to risk, really

Personally I wouldn't, having tried it last year and failed!

I leave her to go broody for a day or 2 with the other hens. Then once she is sitting good and tight on plastic eggs, I move her into her nursery still with the 'falsies'.

By which time my eggs are ordered. So it takes about a week between the onset of broodiness to her actually getting the correct eggs in the right place.

Good luck with your hatching

 

[ldrwnorman47]

To my suprise I think I have 2 more brodies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HELP ME !! I have 2 orps sitting and clucking at me the last few days. I am gonna run outta room to put them.
Do you think i should give them both some eggs to hatch or try to break them, that seems so harsh.

 

[jennifersmith326]

Quote:
Introducing Leona................
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/6612_queen_of_mean2011.jpg

 

[jennifersmith326]

I have a broody hen that refused to be broken and kept stealing eggs so I decided to put her in the broody pen and let her sit on some eggs.

We put them under her last night so looks like we will have chicks hatching the old fashioned way April 3rd

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Awwww, that's so sweet. I'm so glad that she will have chicks. She will be so happy. Please post pics of the babies when you can.

 

[HHandbasket]

When should I remove the unhatched eggs from under the broody? The rest of the eggs hatched Saturday & Sunday, and I think there are still 2 under her.