Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[BlueCamas]

My Partridge Chantcler (sp?) is setting on 5 eggs. I'm not sure if she's really broody because she isn't protective of them, but She won't get off of them either. I have her isolated form the other chickens. Every day she has one big poop, and when I say big, I mean huge! Is this a broody thing? Also when she pooped today she pooped on one of the eggs, should I take it out and replace it or should I just leave it under her. She has been on the whole clutch for 3 days now, though I was experimenting with an eggs before to see if she was serious. So should I toss the egg or what?

 

[Fuffy]

I can't believe Hermione is broody again!!!!

Goes to show how screwed up our weather is this year!

She has never been broody in the winter before. I guess she'll just have to sit on thin air this time

 

[upcdayz]

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She's beautiful!

 

[Niss]

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Big broody poop is the norm.
My broodies would tolorate me lifting them to look, so don't worry if she's not uber protective.
Poopy eggs can hatch...a few pages back there are pics of super cute chicks from some nasty eggs (sorry I can't remember whos!)--so if she's only on 5 I would keep it.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Leave the egg, the humidity under mama will clean it somewhat. Best to just let them broodys do their thing and not interfer with them. and YES broody poop is big.
Congrats and updates please.

 

[Niss]

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Don't let her get any more eggs! Either mark them and take out the new ones each day or move her to a seccure location so other hens don't keep adding. That will lead to a staggered hatch and eventually she won't be able to keep all the eggs at the ideal temps.
I have had much better luck moving the family after the first ones have hatched, but my experiance is limited.
As to food, I keep my broody families in with everyone else, so I use unmedicated starter or grower and some boiled eggs a few times a week.

 

[Miss Lydia]

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Don't let her get any more eggs! Either mark them and take out the new ones each day or move her to a seccure location so other hens don't keep adding. That will lead to a staggered hatch and eventually she won't be able to keep all the eggs at the ideal temps.
I have had much better luck moving the family after the first ones have hatched, but my experiance is limited.
As to food, I keep my broody families in with everyone else, so I use unmedicated starter or grower and some boiled eggs a few times a week.

X2 all the above.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Ok, I need some advice ASAP. Got one egg half hatched with Mom pecking it. Is this normal?? Should I take it away from her? This is her first time, she is a white leghorn. Help!!

 

[BarnGoddess01]

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I am not the most experienced here but my advice with broodies would be - let them handle it. They are the ones that are going to have to raise the brood so if she's feels the egg needs pecking, let her have at it. What will be, will be. I messed with my first broody and it was a collosal disaster. Even when I hatch them in the incubator, I don't interfere.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

So Broody Red Sex Link Mama is now coming on 11 week old babies and still going strong with her 3 roo babies - once of which is crowing! Still clucking to her kids and running with the big, dropped, open wings whenever one calls. Now I'm starting to think once you turn a sex link on, you can't turn her off!!!!