Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

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NEED is not the operative word here with chickens!! LOL

 

[Tiss]

Hi y'all! I have my first two broodies- a Barred Rock who has been sitting since June 4 and a RSL who has been sitting since June 14.

"Red" decided she was going to set right next to "Gwen" and it took a bit of work on my part to convince her to move to another nest (I think because I only gave her 4 eggs when Gwen had 6). I had to give Red 2 more eggs today to get her to move. I hope she doesn't notice when I take them away tonight.

Red and Gwen are in the same coop with the rest of my flock (9 more hens and a roo). I have read a lot about separating them from the flock, but I don't really have another safe place to put them. Paranoid potential first-time mama here, but I hope it will all turn out alright.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My broody just hatched 2 chicks and is in with the rest of the flock, most of my 8 other broodys have been with the flock also, no problems.

 

[Chickangel79]

My broody chocolate orpington hatched two Bo chicks last week and took 3 day old surrogates today. Will check she still has them tomorrow. I have 5 jersey giants under a RIR. Due 1 July. I read RIR do not usually go broody, but mine do very often !!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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could be from hatching, I've seen blood from that as well. What I mean is if you see the hen drawing blood. you'll have to keep a close eye but probably all is well. if 1 hatched yesterday when are the rest due to hatch?

Great question!! I was expecting them to hatch today(6/18) so the one was early. I candled at 7 and 14 days and expecting that at most I'll have three chicks. I am new to this and at 14 days only saw movement in one egg. There were three others that were inconclusive to my untrained eye so I just left them to see what happens. They were darkened with an air sac at the end. Would you candle them at this point to see if it's worth waiting?
Thanks for the insights.

Did you candle? or have any more hatched? My hen hatched at day 19.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Congrats Chickangel79

 

[CayuseRanch]

Well everyone, looks like a staggered hatch it is. Even though they were all placed 21 days ago Friday night, two hatched this evening and one more is pipped. I am just so happy that she has more than one baby. Came home from fathers day BBQ to find this.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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What a sweet picture, and your hen is very pretty!! Congrats!!

 

[stonykill]

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What a sweet picture, and your hen is very pretty!! Congrats!!

she is a beautiful girl! Congrats!

 

[zebserema]

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i have never put a broody with the flock but i have only had one hen go broody her eggs are due to july 6th where do you put your hen and how do you get her to settle in ?