Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Moved my silkie into a kiddie pool so that they would all have a bit more room. She seems alot happier in there... maybe I should have had her in that all along. I had to bring in a hen with a sour crop last night and just the sight of her made my silkie FLIP OUT. It was crazy. I had to quickly cover her up. Its so interesting though because she doesnt make that sound when our dogs come around her. She is getting up more than she used to to eat and drink, not sure if its because her eggs are almost done and she doesnt need to tend to them as much??

Anyway I was just curious as to when you can tap on the egg and get a peep back... not sure if my silkie mama will let me get one to check, but it would be neat.

Also what do you do with the shells? Does the mama get rid of them, or do you just take them out?

I didn't tap on mine, I couldn't take out her eggs if I wanted to by that point. But the one in the bator will chirp from day 19 until born. As far as the eggshells go, I left them unless they were easy to pick up. Then when she was all done and had left the nest I cleaned up the remaining shells.

 

[bobbieschicks]

It's definately the stink eye. We had a cookout this afternoon with my family and about a dozen kids were running around. My sister's little boy went into the coop with a group of older kids. He is only 3 and I guess he tried to pet her and she pecked him. Poor baby, I think she scared him more than hurt him. She has been on her eggs for a little while now. I didn't keep up with the time as well as I should have. They are either due to hatch this Sunday or next Sunday. I also have a silkie that is broody too but I don't think her eggs are fertile.

Unless she was bred by a guinea?


Oh my goodness I have to tell yall a funny story. Well it's spring time and the chickens and guineas are breeding and I'm incubating eggs so my kids must pay more attention to things than I thought they did. We went to TCS last weekend and my kids got a stuffed rooster and a stuffed chick. We are driving down the road and I hear my 6 year old say "Okay I am the rooster" and then in a sweet mater of fact tone she says "would you like me to fertilize your eggs?"

Haha! Kids say the funniest things. I wish I would have recorded the day my two stinkers came into the living room while I was on the computer and told me they were the rooster and pullet. The rooster did the wing dance around the pullet, but thankfully didn't mount her. Then the pullet dropped a plastic Easter egg to the ground and they both left the room laughing. I thought it was pretty cute, but then they immediately returned and walked up to me clucking. I wondered what they would do that could be cuter. They clucked a few seconds then turned around and walked away tossing crumpled pieces of paper "poop" behind. I burst out laughing at that one.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Cricket and her adopted 2 babies... 2 eggs are still pipping...should be here by AM!




Here are the 3 so far...2 are pipping, NOT MUCH LONGER!

They are so cute, what breeds did you get? and I would love to see mama when she gets out of the box, her color is gorgeous.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's definately the stink eye. We had a cookout this afternoon with my family and about a dozen kids were running around. My sister's little boy went into the coop with a group of older kids. He is only 3 and I guess he tried to pet her and she pecked him. Poor baby, I think she scared him more than hurt him. She has been on her eggs for a little while now. I didn't keep up with the time as well as I should have. They are either due to hatch this Sunday or next Sunday. I also have a silkie that is broody too but I don't think her eggs are fertile.

Unless she was bred by a guinea?


Oh my goodness I have to tell yall a funny story. Well it's spring time and the chickens and guineas are breeding and I'm incubating eggs so my kids must pay more attention to things than I thought they did. We went to TCS last weekend and my kids got a stuffed rooster and a stuffed chick. We are driving down the road and I hear my 6 year old say "Okay I am the rooster" and then in a sweet mater of fact tone she says "would you like me to fertilize your eggs?"

Thats hilarious! and you need to get that silkie some fertile eggs woman, how'd you like it if for 9 months you were pregnant and when time to deliver nothing came out?

 

[Niss]

I checked them this am, and there was no sound. With today being 21, I guess that's bad, but it will make it easier to give mama feed store chicks. (Yes, Miss L, I'm waiting until next week so I can get, worst case scenario--EEs but hopefully Austrolorps or Sussex.)

I did do that last year when Wiggens eggs didn't hatch, swapped duds for new chicks. Wiggens looks broody again (she does an incredible pancake, I'll get some pics up), so I have to decided what to give her.

In the mean time thanks to all of you who are sharing the cuteness in your coops!

I didn't tap on mine, I couldn't take out her eggs if I wanted to by that point. But the one in the bator will chirp from day 19 until born. As far as the eggshells go, I left them unless they were easy to pick up. Then when she was all done and had left the nest I cleaned up the remaining shells.

 

[Stephanie739]

Oh I am so hoping my Brahma is going broody. She has been staying in the main coop for most of the last couple days. The day before yesterday she stayed in the shed which I am converting into a coop (many nest boxes and sometimes a hen will lay in there too) She isn't sitting on eggs though, just hanging around. My other thought is the that the roosters might be too much for her. They seem to be more interested in mating with her than the others. The couple of times I brought her out, they charged her. Is this another broody sign (intense male attraction) or is she just tired of them and hiding? What do you think?

 

[Niss]

Or houses! I'm glad my kid isn't the only one that pretends he's a rooster! Although he's never been quite that creative about it!

 

[thailand]

Hi Everyone,

It's my first time with a broody hen and she's now on day 20....I'm getting nervous that nothing is gonna hatch! Should I be worrying yet that nothing seems to be happening? She has refused to get off her nest for the last 3-4 days, is not eating/drinking or pooping. She won't let me near her and pecks me if I try to check on her eggs. She appears to be the picture of good health. Caught her turning the eggs over tonight. Other than examining the eggs forcibly (which I don't want to do) is there any other way to know that all is well? Will she turn them over right up till hatch day?

The broodiness has been contagious and two of my other hens are now sitting tight. One is on day 15, and the other is on day 6. All three girls are 6 month old Brahmas.

Patience is so hard to put into practice. I want those babies out now!

 

[stonykill]

chickens and eggs can't tell time or read a calender. The hatch happens anytime between day 19 and day 23 generally. She sounds like she knows exactly what she is doing!
Mine generally go on lockdown at the 1st pip. You may be there now!

Hi Everyone,

It's my first time with a broody hen and she's now on day 20....I'm getting nervous that nothing is gonna hatch! Should I be worrying yet that nothing seems to be happening? She has refused to get off her nest for the last 3-4 days, is not eating/drinking or pooping. She won't let me near her and pecks me if I try to check on her eggs. She appears to be the picture of good health. Caught her turning the eggs over tonight. Other than examining the eggs forcibly (which I don't want to do) is there any other way to know that all is well? Will she turn them over right up till hatch day?

The broodiness has been contagious and two of my other hens are now sitting tight. One is on day 15, and the other is on day 6. All three girls are 6 month old Brahmas.

Patience is so hard to put into practice. I want those babies out now!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi Everyone,

It's my first time with a broody hen and she's now on day 20....I'm getting nervous that nothing is gonna hatch! Should I be worrying yet that nothing seems to be happening? She has refused to get off her nest for the last 3-4 days, is not eating/drinking or pooping. She won't let me near her and pecks me if I try to check on her eggs. She appears to be the picture of good health. Caught her turning the eggs over tonight. Other than examining the eggs forcibly (which I don't want to do) is there any other way to know that all is well? Will she turn them over right up till hatch day?

The broodiness has been contagious and two of my other hens are now sitting tight. One is on day 15, and the other is on day 6. All three girls are 6 month old Brahmas.

Patience is so hard to put into practice. I want those babies out now!

I'd say only way it seems is when you hear the peeping if you can't look. I bet you have chicks today or tomorrow.. and congrats on your 2 new broodys... don't forget pics..