Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[michaelinnc84]

Thanks lydia. I will give that a try. Lets hope it works I haven't had no luck this year. Do you candle your eggs or will the hen push the bad ones out?

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Bg how about your hen any more signs of broodiness coming on?

Not so far but it's really too early in the season here anyway. ALL the girls are acting like nuts. Laying like mad fools. Crowding into the nest boxes. Demanding attention from me. Even fighting over the cuddles.

I had one Ameraucana hen crowing this morning! 1st time, I wasn't sure what I was hearing but by her 3rd crow, I was convinced. She even stood tall like a roo and fanned out her neck feathers!!!! Crazy girl. She's a terrific layer. I've hatched one of her eggs so I know she's female. Friendliest bird in my coop.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks lydia. I will give that a try. Lets hope it works I haven't had no luck this year. Do you candle your eggs or will the hen push the bad ones out?

Last year I had a hen sitting on eggs and 2 hatched and the other 3 didn't so i candled them to see if there was any reason to hold out hope. There wasn't. I am not a good candler. my frizzle did push 2 of her last eggs out and i opened them and the chicks had quit, so maybe the more experienced ones will. She's going on 4.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Not so far but it's really too early in the season here anyway. ALL the girls are acting like nuts. Laying like mad fools. Crowding into the nest boxes. Demanding attention from me. Even fighting over the cuddles.

I had one Ameraucana hen crowing this morning! 1st time, I wasn't sure what I was hearing but by her 3rd crow, I was convinced. She even stood tall like a roo and fanned out her neck feathers!!!! Crazy girl. She's a terrific layer. I've hatched one of her eggs so I know she's female. Friendliest bird in my coop.

Too early here too, it's very cold and windy today but by first of the week suppose to moderate. That lil hen is still sitting tight. so we'll see.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Quote:
I spoke too soon!!!

Just got back from the coop and found her pressed flat on 5 eggs in there. Not happy at all when I collected them. She is still laying so it isn't happening yet but she is sure showing signs like she did last summer. If memory serves, she took about 2 weeks to commit. That should get us to more reasonable weather for her to pull it off - if she commits.

Heck, I may have a broody hen looking for a spot in the Easter hatch!

(I opened the coop door at noon - the ladies went out and promptly back in! Weather is COLD and windy here today too.)

 

[bobbieschicks]

I put the eggs in the bator into lockdown a few minutes ago. I candled them first, but it's hard to see through the Wellies so I'm not sure about those. I did see movement in at least two AMs so I am hopeful we will get chicks. When I checked on her, Smokey was still smooshed down flat a little bit ago and I moved her food even closer to her so she would be able to eat easily tonight before the lights go out. I couldn't tell if she had gotten up to eat yet today. We are due to hatch on Tuesday

 

[Miss Lydia]

I spoke too soon!!!

Just got back from the coop and found her pressed flat on 5 eggs in there. Not happy at all when I collected them. She is still laying so it isn't happening yet but she is sure showing signs like she did last summer. If memory serves, she took about 2 weeks to commit. That should get us to more reasonable weather for her to pull it off - if she commits.

Heck, I may have a broody hen looking for a spot in the Easter hatch!

(I opened the coop door at noon - the ladies went out and promptly back in! Weather is COLD and windy here today too.)

 

[Miss Lydia]

I put the eggs in the bator into lockdown a few minutes ago. I candled them first, but it's hard to see through the Wellies so I'm not sure about those. I did see movement in at least two AMs so I am hopeful we will get chicks. When I checked on her, Smokey was still smooshed down flat a little bit ago and I moved her food even closer to her so she would be able to eat easily tonight before the lights go out. I couldn't tell if she had gotten up to eat yet today. We are due to hatch on Tuesday

Tuesday, yippie...

baby pics.

 

[countrygirl5]

Forgot to say Congrats on a broody Brahma too!!

There you go showing off again with tha LG thingy. lol I have always left my broodys be with the rest of the flock, take a washable magic marker and mark her eggs that way if someone lays in her box you can take it out and hatch day will be good. I have 1 hen right now that is brooding in the most famous box we have but I've checked 2 times today and so far no other hen has laid an egg in it. and I have her eggs marked 1-3. You can also trim one wing if you would rather do that.

I have always been told NOT to leave them in the same coop because as the chicks hatch, the other non-broody hens will peck at them and usually kill them. Have you ever had this prob? I have an 8x8 coop with 6 nesting boxes, 12 hens and 1 rooster. I also have 1 very popular nesting box, but if I don't have to move my broodies I'll move them to the less used boxes, cause already the other hens just sit with the broody to hatch their eggs, (found out that our nesting boxes are big, I've found three hens in the same box at one time). But I'm kind of afraid to move her, cause as soon as I remove her from her eggs and she sees they'r gone, she leaves. She stays right by the nest squaking at me while I'm taking them, but then when they're gone, she leaves. I would want to move her, so I don't have to worry about the other hens trying to lay eggs after hers have hatched. Have you ever had these issue? First timmer here.

 

[lcw1995]

day 2 pics