Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Fuffy]

Mrs. Feathers :

Hatch day Saturday and we are down one egg from 7 to 6

My hubby went to let the girls in and to check our broody. She had pushed an egg out of the nest and the shell was cracked open with a dead developed chick inside. I am hoping that the egg cracked in her nest and not that this is the start of something. She is still sitting constantly on the eggs. Would it be typical for her to push one out if it was damaged?
Newbie at this broodie thing.
Thanks

Such a shame!

Yes, sometimes momma will eliminate an egg that isn't viable.

Good luck with the rest!

 

[Fuffy]

they'reHISchickens :

How many of you have your broodies repeat year after year? We have had broodies for the past 4 years and NEVER had a repeat. Each has been broody in its first year only. All have been successful and we even kept one hoping she'd repeat but none of them do.
What's your experiences with ages of broodies and repetition the next year?

Edited to add.. they have been 4 different breeds so it is not breed related.

My 2 year old silkie cross goes broody 2 to 3 times in a summer. Effectively she comes out of it, lays 10 or so eggs and then goes broody again. Regular as a little clockwork hen!

I got 2 mutt pullets this year as layers and they have both gone broody! Will see what happens next year and whether my silkie cross carries on going into mamma mode

 

[DAFox]

Quote:
I'd move her as soon as possible after hatch. One of my first broodies had eggs in an elevated nest. A chick fell out before the hatch was complete. Now, all my nest boxes are ground level.
When I move a broody, I do it at night. I lock her in the box for the night. If she acts upset the next day, I just coax her back to the nest. I haven't had a move fail, yet.
Dale-Ann

 

[Lyssa]

Mrs. Feathers :

Hatch day Saturday and we are down one egg from 7 to 6

My hubby went to let the girls in and to check our broody. She had pushed an egg out of the nest and the shell was cracked open with a dead developed chick inside. I am hoping that the egg cracked in her nest and not that this is the start of something. She is still sitting constantly on the eggs. Would it be typical for her to push one out if it was damaged?
Newbie at this broodie thing.
Thanks

Sorry to hear about the loss. I'd say that she probably knew something that you can't tell by just looking at the egg. Maybe the chick had already died, or something. There was a really interesting post a few weeks ago, here it is:
"The article is titled, Psych 101 by Carol Ekarius
"When a hen is brooding eggs, itis very desirable for the hatching of those eggs to be synchronized," says Dr. Mench. "There is communication going on between the hen and the chicks (or chick embryos at this point) that ultimately leads to the eggs development either speeding up or slowing down so that they hatch around the same time. Scientists have discovered (using tiny microphones connected to eggs and placed in the nest) that the hen hears vocal responses from the embryos to her vocalizations. These responses give her clues as to how the embryos are developing compared to each other. Based on that communication, she turns the eggs at different rates, moving one that is maturing a little more quickly out to the edge of the pile to cool off and slow down, while moving one that is maturing more slowly to the center of the nest to speed development."

My guess is that the chick may have stopped talking back or was making the wrong sound and knew there was a problem.​

 

[Majestic Lane Poultry]

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[Cindilou]

There is one egg left and I do not see a pip mark. Should I take it away? The first chick hatched on Sunday, 2 on Monday, 2 Tuesday.

 

[kannna]

When was day 21? you may want to wait to day 25 and then call it a dud. It may be a late bloomer.

 

[Cindilou]

Yesterday was day 21. Set them under her on June 1. Or wait, does that make today day 21?

 

[shellyga]

today is day 21.. although I always seem to miscount with my broodies as I wait till they are "serious"..lol

Shelly

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
I'm thinking today is day 21, but if she hatched the first on Sunday I'd say she will want to take them out to start training [so to speak]

by tomorrow probably.
might want to set some food and water close by if your going to keep her on the egg longer.