Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah! See - now leave it alone so it can hatch and momma will take care of it.

this first time granmas. lol

 

[Miss Lydia]

The ones that quit on her were definitely dead. Looks like they had a bit of room left to grow. The one I did open had a lot of yolk still not absorbed.
My hens are healthy, and happy, so I know it's not their fault. IT has to be that whole mishap with the egg breaking and me not knowing enough to leave it alone. I actually put them under water warmer than the eggs. That was at week one, and they still developed to at least day 19-20.
Live and learn I guess

On another note, I have a buff orpington that has decided she will hatch a golf ball. I don't have time for her to hatch, as I'm moving my flock April 14th (or the weekend after). I will be getting an incubator as backup, because when I lift her off the nest to do her nasty broody poop, she stays out for over an hour before going back in. I don't know how reliable she would be. Though she is MASSIVE and would cover 300 eggs I'm sure

We make fun of her.. We keep saying she is nagging on her man to bring her a cheeseburger.

ETA: Oh and I candled last night. This one is really full, has not internally pipped, but I thought I saw movement. I can't be sure though. I am scared to take it out and candle it. I just lift her up a tad and candle it quickly under her. She does not get angry at me. I have a very nice broody

Thats a big girls, I'd at least give her to day 25 like stony said they don't have a calender.

 

[aoxa]

Thats a big girls, I'd at least give her to day 25 like stony said they don't have a calender.

 

We just checked under her and NO EGG. What the heck?! Where would it have gone? Could she have eaten it?

 

[stonykill]

We just checked under her and NO EGG. What the heck?! Where would it have gone? Could she have eaten it?

I had one do that. YUK! Maybe she pushed it out and buried it?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Are you sure it's not lost under all that MOMMA! She's BIG! At least you know you can fit a whole mess of eggs under her for the future. I doubt she would eat it - most likely it got buried or knocked somewhere if she jumped down. Look and see if someone else borrowed it for their nest?

We just checked under her and NO EGG. What the heck?! Where would it have gone? Could she have eaten it?

 

[stonykill]

Now mama is yelling at everyone, puffed up, and taking a dust bath. I wonder if tonight is the night....

 

[bobbieschicks]

Good job! You'll have a broody soon.

my best broody "mama" spent 4.5 hours on the nest today. It won't be long now!

 

[stonykill]

Good job! You'll have a broody soon.

this will get the ball rolling. Last year I had 10 sumatra hens and 14 broody Sumatra hens. This year a LOT more Sumatra hens. Once 1 sits, it's on

 

[bobbieschicks]

Went to gather my "one white egg a day" from the nest boxes and found two Lavender Orpingtons hanging out - noticed that Ariel seemed to be tucking the pingpong ball under herself. Technically I am now starting to get 1-2 little brown pullet eggs a day as well

My 1st thought was "oh, no! Smokey just finished being broody and she hasn't started laying again yet. And now these two just started laying - and already they are going broody!" Thankfully they both laid their eggs and hopped down. But I suppose I will have to keep an eye on these LOs as they like to linger in the boxes.

 

[aoxa]

Are you sure it's not lost under all that MOMMA!  She's BIG!  At least you know you can fit a whole mess of eggs under her for the future.  I doubt she would eat it - most likely it got buried or knocked somewhere if she jumped down.  Look and see if someone else borrowed it for their nest?


 

She is in a huge blue crate that I open for her to use the bathroom once a day right now. No way could it have been knocked out. We checked her all over, checked the shavings and NOTHING. I am really grossed out. That was a fully developed baby (it must have died, but she didn't eat the others she kicked out of the nest!)

It wasn't me that checked the nest (I'm at work). If you want something done right, do it yourself, right? I will check her over once I get home. I didn't think the baby would hatch, but to be eaten?! EW!