Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[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.

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.

Yes a big black spot means they have started developing! If they hadn't you would not see anything inside. Now you can candle again to watch their development or just trust that the broody is taking care of them and will know when they are no longer viable. Yeah! Chicks growing! If you do candle again you should wait at least a week so you can see much larger blob and veins moving or pulsing inside.

 

[Skeetergirl]

Here is a great thread that shows photos, you can click the photos to enlarge them for a better view. I used it to gain knowlege of what to look for when my Silkie was broody. Enjoy the excitment and good luck!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...g-candling-pics-progression-though-incubation

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.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Thanks for sharing, that is so cool! Congrats! beautiful hen by the way.

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:

 

[Miss Lydia]

Precious!

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.

 

[meowmmy65]

Thanks! I think Lucy is beautiful, too. She is a Salmon Faverolle and has a great disposition. I've read they can be at the bottom of the pecking order, but in our flock, Lucy established herself as #1 early on. She is the smallest of our hens, but nobody messes with her.

This morning, these was a second baby. So that's 2, and they both look really healthy. Baby #1 (from the videos) is a French Blue Copper Maran. Baby #2 is an Easter Egger/Maran mix. (S)he must have hatched in the wee hours this morning, because she was still a little damp when we checked in at 8 a.m.
My daughter just came in and said another another egg is pipping! This is exciting.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks! I think Lucy is beautiful, too. She is a Salmon Faverolle and has a great disposition. I've read they can be at the bottom of the pecking order, but in our flock, Lucy established herself as #1 early on. She is the smallest of our hens, but nobody messes with her.

This morning, these was a second baby. So that's 2, and they both look really healthy. Baby #1 (from the videos) is a French Blue Copper Maran. Baby #2 is an Easter Egger/Maran mix. (S)he must have hatched in the wee hours this morning, because she was still a little damp when we checked in at 8 a.m.
My daughter just came in and said another another egg is pipping! This is exciting.

Yeah! Soooooo cute!

 

[stonykill]

Mama's hatch must still be going on. I hear the cheeping, but she hasn't been out with any fuzzy butts.



a good friend called last night to tell me a mountain lion lept from white line to white line in front of him last night into my yard. NYS DEC deny's we have them. I have another friend with pictures of one. DEC still denies we have them. Buttheads

 

[Miss Lydia]

Mama's hatch must still be going on. I hear the cheeping, but she hasn't been out with any fuzzy butts.



a good friend called last night to tell me a mountain lion lept from white line to white line in front of him last night into my yard. NYS DEC deny's we have them. I have another friend with pictures of one. DEC still denies we have them. Buttheads

they say the same thing here stony!

 

[Miss Lydia]

Yeah! Soooooo cute!

X2

 

[meowmmy65]

And we officially have three healthy babies! Two eggs in the nest have no action. I suspect they are both duds, but we will wait it out to make sure. Yay!!!