Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Mahonri]

These six chicks came from a Revolutionmama grab bag. Only 6 of the 17 shipped eggs hatched. Luckily I had this girl go broody right when Laree put the eggs in her bator.

(I'm still working on getting two roos decrowed.)

 

[stonykill]

Quote:
not yet..... getting a little concerned about 15 and her 2 eggs. She has been sitting a long time.


Mama in the shed came out briefly today to eat, shout, etc.

 

[lswatson111304]

how do you place your eggs under your broody? I wasn't exactly sure, and a little scared of her because the first egg I got close to her she pecked at. She doesn't sleep like a rock, so when I approach she is all eyes on me. LOL I was scared she broke it, but it looks fine. Anyway. So I put some right up against her and she nudged 2 under her. So I was like ok, lets get them all as close to her as possible, and let her rearrange them. Well, I walked away and came back and she looked like this.

You could see the eggs along her side exposed..its cold out, so I was assuming that wasn't a good thing. LOL
Sooo I tried to reach in and push them under her a little and she pecked me good. So I wrapped a towel around my arm and picked her up and placed the eggs all close to one another in a bit of a circle (8 eggs) and I put her on top. They were all covered that way. I'm sure she will still do a bit of arranging, so I'll have to look again in the morning.
Here she was after I rearranged them..

They all seem to be covered, so how do I know if she is good, or if I have too many under her?

 

[BlueCamas]

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X2 put the water and food up off the floor some Thats what I do. then I make a little step for them to get to it but it does help keep the bedding out some.

Today I just switched the coop from pine chips to sand. Now I can put their water closer to the floor and I won't waste so much food under the bedding

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
How many eggs are under her? and yes she'll arrange them to her likeing, just like a bator turns them she'll do the same and if there are too many she'll take care of that too. Hoping for a fantastic Hatch... Merry Christmas!

 

[lswatson111304]

She has 8 under her! Checked her again and there aren't any peeking out. Here's to hoping she is an awesome mama!

 

[Miss Lydia]

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8is a good number. can't wait to see the lil chicks..

 

[Moochie]

One has hatched out so far.. I was hoping for Christmas chickies but the others haven't pipped yet.. The biggest egg was a bad egg, turned out like the previous bad egg, red jelly and smelly yolk

I know for sure that the other 2 have got to hatch, I candled them last night and they both have air sacs at the round part of the egg.

Not sure if they have pipped yet, blue cochin pecks my fingers whenever I reach in there. I'll have to check at night. Here's a picture of the first chick..

Ya think I'm bugging her too much? She hasn't left the nest and I'm really hoping she doesn't poop in there! Last time I had a broody poop in the nest, an egg with a chick in it died because mama left the nest with the already hatched chicks. She left cuz of the smell I'm guessing. It was atrocious.

 

[Moochie]

My mom washes the eggs.. I read that you're not supposed to do that because of the protective layer called the bloom. Maybe that's why I keep getting these eggs with red jelly in them?

I'm guessing the red jelly was an embryo, bacteria got to it, and it turned into red jelly.

I have to tell my mom not to wash the eggs for broodies anymore.

 

[lswatson111304]

What a sweet baby and Mama!

Mine pooped in the nest. I'm not sure if she was confused on where to go since she camped out in the MIDDLE of the box I have her in. I found the huge thing when I placed the eggs under her and I chunked it out. I hope she doesn't do it again.
I looked at the calendar and if all goes well I'll have babies the day before my bday!!!!!!!