Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[meowmmy65]

I managed to get videos of our first baby hatching today. Mamma was not too happy with the intrusion, but all is well. We first noticed pipping around 3:30 this afternoon and hatching was complete around 7ish. There are four more eggs, none pipping yet, and we have no idea whether they are viable. Based on what I've read, I'm assuming if there are no signs of hatching in the next 24 hours, they are not likely to hatch. We will wait and see.

Videos:

 

[bobbieschicks]

I managed to get videos of our first baby hatching today. Mamma was not too happy with the intrusion, but all is well. We first noticed pipping around 3:30 this afternoon and hatching was complete around 7ish. There are four more eggs, none pipping yet, and we have no idea whether they are viable. Based on what I've read, I'm assuming if there are no signs of hatching in the next 24 hours, they are not likely to hatch. We will wait and see.

Videos:

Yeah! Congrats!

 

[perchie.girl]

Hey I found a great article right here on BYC on hatchability problem analysis. Gives explanations for a bunch of reasons for eggs to quit or die early. Very interesting read

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatchability-problem-analysis

deb

 

[perchie.girl]

Ooh what a patient momma..... I saw em all.

deb

I managed to get videos of our first baby hatching today. Mamma was not too happy with the intrusion, but all is well. We first noticed pipping around 3:30 this afternoon and hatching was complete around 7ish. There are four more eggs, none pipping yet, and we have no idea whether they are viable. Based on what I've read, I'm assuming if there are no signs of hatching in the next 24 hours, they are not likely to hatch. We will wait and see.

Videos:

 

[karlamaria]

We candled eggs tonight, we have 2 definate fertile eggs growing, the other three we are not sure about. We are new to this and not sure what we saw in the other 3 but got better on the last 2 lol. All of them have large air sacks on the big end, is this good? We did see movement on 2 but again we rushed through 3 of them so not sure besides the large air sack what we saw as we rushed through so fast to keep them from getting cold or handled to much.
Where is there a photo of a egg that is not alive at 7 days being candled? She is doing so good, she refuses to leave the nest, we took her off again tonight to poop drink and eat and put her back in the nest with in 5 minutes.

 

[meowmmy65]

This was Lucy's very first hatch. We don't have a rooster, so the eggs came from a friend's farm. Lucy has been a fantastic mother so far! She hasn't pecked me once during this whole process, although you can tell from the videos that we were really stressing her out by watching. Poor thing. Here's our baby, about an hour after hatching.

 

[bobbieschicks]

We candled eggs tonight, we have 2 definate fertile eggs growing, the other three we are not sure about. We are new to this and not sure what we saw in the other 3 but got better on the last 2 lol. All of them have large air sacks on the big end, is this good? We did see movement on 2 but again we rushed through 3 of them so not sure besides the large air sack what we saw as we rushed through so fast to keep them from getting cold or handled to much.
Where is there a photo of a egg that is not alive at 7 days being candled? She is doing so good, she refuses to leave the nest, we took her off again tonight to poop drink and eat and put her back in the nest with in 5 minutes.

The only thing I candle for anymore is day 7 to see if they are clear or not. If clear I toss because those are not growing or are infertile. After that I assume growth until day 18 when I look for veins or movement before going into lockdown in a bator. But if they are under the broody I won't mess with them after day 7 until she gets off the nest to take care of her newly hatched babies. Then I would candle to see if I should move the remaining eggs to a bator. But most likely they won't be viable anymore. She has a way of hanging in to hatch the ones who will make it.

 

[bobbieschicks]

This was Lucy's very first hatch. We don't have a rooster, so the eggs came from a friend's farm. Lucy has been a fantastic mother so far! She hasn't pecked me once during this whole process, although you can tell from the videos that we were really stressing her out by watching. Poor thing. Here's our baby, about an hour after hatching.

Aawwwhhhh! So cute!

 

[karlamaria]

We candled eggs tonight, we have 2 definate fertile eggs growing, the other three we are not sure about. We are new to this and not sure what we saw in the other 3 but got better on the last 2 lol. All of them have large air sacks on the big end, is this good? We did see movement on 2 but again we rushed through 3 of them so not sure besides the large air sack what we saw as we rushed through so fast to keep them from getting cold or handled to much.
Where is there a photo of a egg that is not alive at 7 days being candled? She is doing so good, she refuses to leave the nest, we took her off again tonight to poop drink and eat and put her back in the nest with in 5 minutes.

The only thing I candle for anymore is day 7 to see if they are clear or not. If clear I toss because those are not growing or are infertile. After that I assume growth until day 18 when I look for veins or movement before going into lockdown in a bator. But if they are under the broody I won't mess with them after day 7 until she gets off the nest to take care of her newly hatched babies. Then I would candle to see if I should move the remaining eggs to a bator. But most likely they won't be viable anymore. She has a way of hanging in to hatch the ones who will make it.

the eggs were not clear, in fact there was a big black spot in each one,does this mean there ok? Today was day 7 and all eggs had a large dark spot, and a large air sack on the ends. You now give me hope! Thank you so much.

 

[karlamaria]

This was Lucy's very first hatch. We don't have a rooster, so the eggs came from a friend's farm. Lucy has been a fantastic mother so far! She hasn't pecked me once during this whole process, although you can tell from the videos that we were really stressing her out by watching. Poor thing. Here's our baby, about an hour after hatching.

Aawwwhhhh! So cute!

Awww sooo adorable, I can not wait!