Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[sager:)silkies]

I am worried to move her because she is a bit nervous and jumpy.

I do need to get an egg from under her to see if they are even fertile!

Our rooster isnt the smoothest rooster out there...

Should I wait a few days to make sure she sits?

If I disturb her will she not sit?

what day u on if ur worried i would not candle till atleast day 6 or 8

 

[JakRat]

2 or 3

 

[artsyrobin]

i waited until yesterday to move my hen- every time i'd move her she run around and not sit the eggs- so today i began hearing peeping- she should have a couple out of this group- and i have another broody in the coop i need to find a place for...

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ahh that stinks. What type of bator do you have?

I have a Hovabator. One of the cheap styrofoam ones that temps and humidity fluctuate wildly in. I added a fan, but apparently I still screwed up on something with these little ones.

I saw a few wiggle a little and I could hear chirps early yesterday morning, but nothing since and no pips. So looks like they aren't making it. I'll wait until Thursday and then shut it down.

However I still consider this hatch a success thanks to Smokey. I hope I get to use a broody for all future hatches.

 

[JakRat]

Well I just went and checked on her and she is still on her eggs.

Her friend Opal (a butter colored serama) is hanging out wither her (most likely because there is food and water in the warm part of the coop). It is really cute though.

My husband was worried that she was dead (because apparently he knows everything), so I had him stick his hand near her and she went BOOM and attacked his hand... it was hilarious to see him jump.

Should I put some eggs and yogurt near her too? I am worried about nutrition for her during this exciting time!

I swear its one thing after another with these ladies. In the past three weeks I have had to deal with: possible Gapeworm, 2 sinus infections, a limping girl with a bloody nostril, sour crop and now a broody hen. I need a vacation from my chickens

 

[JakRat]

speaking of, does wazine or duramycin cause birth defects?

 

[bobbieschicks]

After I got back from the Y I went to check on Smokey and her babies - found another Welsummer had hatched - so she's up to 2 Welsummers and 1 Ameraucana! YEAH!

I couldn't get a good pic - trying to hold a flashlight, my iphone and keep feathers out of the way wasn't working so good. I'll check on her again later and keep trying for better pics.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Well I just went and checked on her and she is still on her eggs.

Her friend Opal (a butter colored serama) is hanging out wither her (most likely because there is food and water in the warm part of the coop). It is really cute though.

My husband was worried that she was dead (because apparently he knows everything), so I had him stick his hand near her and she went BOOM and attacked his hand... it was hilarious to see him jump.

Should I put some eggs and yogurt near her too? I am worried about nutrition for her during this exciting time!

I swear its one thing after another with these ladies. In the past three weeks I have had to deal with: possible Gapeworm, 2 sinus infections, a limping girl with a bloody nostril, sour crop and now a broody hen. I need a vacation from my chickens

It's my understanding that you should put food and water near but not too close - she needs to get up and get the food to have some time to eliminate - otherwise she'll just poop right there and boy you don't want that hanging around if you can help it.

I didn't think my Smokey was leaving the nest at all and since she's a 1st timer and so am I - I decided to move her one time a day to the water & make sure she got off the nest. It was probably not necessary - but it helped me to be able to clean up her dropping easier because she'd drink water and then shake her whole self and push out the most enormous stinky poop I've ever witnessed.

You can put a dish of treats near her - but she probably won't eat as much as she used to. I read that because they aren't laying they are instead absorbing their own eggs - don't know how true that is - but it makes sense to me.

Broody pullets are so cool - they just take care of everything!

 

[bobbieschicks]

i waited until yesterday to move my hen- every time i'd move her she run around and not sit the eggs- so today i began hearing peeping- she should have a couple out of this group- and i have another broody in the coop i need to find a place for...

Yeah! That's great. I was worried about my pullet abandoning her eggs when I moved Smokey - not once, but twice! But she's a good momma - she settled back down on her eggs without problems. Then when her eggs didn't hatch she took to the shipped eggs easily and is hatching them out right now. She's got 3 babies under her staying warm.

 

[JakRat]

It's my understanding that you should put food and water near but not too close - she needs to get up and get the food to have some time to eliminate - otherwise she'll just poop right there and boy you don't want that hanging around if you can help it.

I didn't think my Smokey was leaving the nest at all and since she's a 1st timer and so am I - I decided to move her one time a day to the water & make sure she got off the nest. It was probably not necessary - but it helped me to be able to clean up her dropping easier because she'd drink water and then shake her whole self and push out the most enormous stinky poop I've ever witnessed.

You can put a dish of treats near her - but she probably won't eat as much as she used to. I read that because they aren't laying they are instead absorbing their own eggs - don't know how true that is - but it makes sense to me.

Broody pullets are so cool - they just take care of everything!

I will move her food when I get home today. I wanted to keep it some what close because she is such a nervous hen that I didnt want her to have to travel to much for it.

Thanks!