Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Thats about all i do is just make sure they have fresh water, food and spray out thier nest with oxine when they go out to do their broody stuff. Serama, chicks are so tiny and cute..

 

[Alexander]

I have a broody turkey hen with 7-8 turkey eggs and 8 chicken eggs under her.They are supposed to hatch May 21.I am not new to chickens but new to hatching.

To be honest I am not really pessimistic about the turkey ones but i am sure about the chicken ones.That is because i originally had 9 chicken eggs but one broke

and i saw the embryo inside so i am pretty sure the others are ok too.

Let's wait and see.
Anyone want to join me?May 21?

 

[mommyofthreewithchicks]

I have two broody's setting on 30 eggs- 15 and 15. The one seems to get off more than the other but I am still hopeful that all will hatch. I am so excited about having them sit on the eggs and can't wait until they have babies!!! I so hope they are good mom's!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Well Alexander: I can't join you on the 21st. but my hens hatch date is the 19th, so it will be close, and i believe stonykill is right around there and probably several others,


mommy, Congrats and when is hatch day? 30 chicks wow

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
tomorrow the 16th for me.................

 

[Alexander]

Nice.How many eggs?

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
she started on 6, now there are 10. So the incubator is running to pick up where mama leaves off. So I'm expecting her to hatch 4 or 5. 6 if I'm real lucky. The rest I'll have to hatch....

I already have 9 little ones running around from 2 broody's.

 

[Alexander]

Happy hatching and let us know!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
only 3 with this hen but I already have 10 running around.

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Well, our silkie broodies are still dedicated and working hard. I have a couple of questions being a total newbie to hatching. The first set of eggs is due to hatch on the 19th and the second set on the 30th. Since our girls are working together in the same house, they have stolen and restolen each other's eggs so many times I don't know who is sitting on what anymore. I feel like I should move them into a safer area (stock tank brooder in garage) before hatch and am wondering when the best time to do that is. Also, the eggs are all mixed up now...
Sooo, my newbie brain is thinking this:
Option1- Move both hens now to garage brooder on their eggs/nest and wait and let them figure it out together?
Option2- Wait until hatch and try to shuffle chicks, eggs, and hens into garage brooder then?
Option 3- try to separate the two hatches and hens somehow now?

I really can't think of other options at this point. I am reluctant to leave them all out there in the broody house because we have cats, the flock has access them and I need to sell the chicks as pets, so people need to be able to see them easily and they should be handled etc.

Once the first set hatches will the hens likely abandon the second set?

Thank you broody experts! Your help is so appreciated. Having this thread has been great support for us!