Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[lswatson111304]

No little heads poking out yet. I can't take this wait. Will it hurt if I candle tonight?

 

[lswatson111304]

well, doesn't matter. I looked. LOL It took all of like 30 seconds. Still all eggs moving, all pressing up into aircell. Doesn't look like internal pips but look close. I hope its OK that I looked...OH man. I'm so bad at this part!

 

[TripTrapMtnHomestead]

I never candled with our broody, only when we incubated. There is nothing better than opening the coop door and hearing the peeping of freshly hatched chicks!!! So exciting, good luck with the waiting... it's the hardest part for sure.

 

[lswatson111304]

Well, the fact that this broody made it to today with all the bad aircells is amazing. My incubator surely killed all my last eggs. It makes me sad that the eggs I have in the incubator now can't be put under her too, but they were 2 weeks behind! LOL
I'm not sure I'll ever use an incubator again if these babies hatch. I will just have to wait till I have a broody! Considering I'm pretty sure I have 2 silkie pullets in my coop, as well as this mixed bantam and her sister...I should be set on broody hens when the time comes!

I'm hoping tomorrow is the day, if they are already pressing into the air cells I wonder how long till hatch? I'm soooo impatient. I'm sure it will be saturday night since that will officially be day 21. My bday is sunday and this is the best present ever...well if they all hatch healthy!

 

[silkie4]

Well, on my way home from work tonight my oldest daughter called and said she could hear the chick peeping inside the egg!!! I got home and can certainly hear peeping and there is a crack in the egg!

 

[EmAbTo48]

Great thread!

I have a question (not sure if its been asked) my broody hatched out one chick of her 4 eggs yesterday at 1pm. She still is sitting on the 3 remaining (I haven't candled just left it to her). The chick is healthy pops its head out all the time, today I pushed the food over to her and the hen ate some and the chick just watched and pecked at the food a little more trying to figure out what moms doing. My hen has not moved from her nest at all. ( I know this cause they are a dog kennel in our guest bedroom due to terrible negatives and winter storms.

If she doesn't move tomorrow it will be almost 72 hrs the chick has not been shown how to drink....if she just keeps sitting instead of showing the chick what to do should I remove it? I have no clue if the last 3 eggs are good or bad. But I thought she would be more up and moving since the chick is eager to go.

 

[silkie4]

Does it hurt the chick if you pull it out from under the hen once it has cracked (before I noticed it was cracked of course) then put it right back under her???? First hatch, I'm so nervous!!!!

 

[lswatson111304]

Does it hurt the chick if you pull it out from under the hen once it has cracked (before I noticed it was cracked of course) then put it right back under her???? First hatch, I'm so nervous!!!!

I have no idea! LOL In the incubator, this would be a yes. Although moving them when they are positioning themselves to hatch might not be a good thing. I hope its OK! And this made me want to not touch mine again since I have no idea when I'll find one pipped! LOL
keep us updated!

 

[silkie4]

I have no idea! LOL In the incubator, this would be a yes. Although moving them when they are positioning themselves to hatch might not be a good thing. I hope its OK! And this made me want to not touch mine again since I have no idea when I'll find one pipped! LOL
keep us updated!

LOL, I keep saying I will leave it alone but I just can't help myself!!! Curiosity gets the best of me.....

. I've got an 8 hour meeting tomorrow and it is going to be the longest day ever if that little chick has not hatched before I leave home in the morning!!!!!

 

[Fuffy]

ok, baby pic....

BO/EE chick, she has a little brown stripe going down her head to neck... the other 2 eggs haven't hatched yet

WANT!!!!! Soooo cute!!! xxx