Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[hokankai]

Boo, tossed 2 clears, probably will toss a 3rd in a couple of days, and found 1 blood ring that I'm leaving for a couple of days. Violet's now down to 3 for sure growers.

 

[bobbieschicks]

 This is such a sad story.... 

My Grandfather called me this afternoon and said he was mowing hay in his back pasture when all of a sudden feathers went everywhere! 

It turns out he hit a poor momma turkey. She was sitting on 14 eggs.   I asked if the mother hen died and he said she wasnt dead but she had a broken wing and a hurt leg. I was going to get the eggs but his friend got there before I did and took them home and put them in his incubator. 

My Grandfather felt really bad about it. I could tell by the way his voice was. Its just really sad and I dont mean to bring anyone down just thought I would share in honor of how devoted this Turkey hen was! She sacrificed herself for her eggs! 

So sorry about your turkey. Glad your friend could save the eggs. Hope they hatch. She would have wanted that. M

 

[bobbieschicks]

I just cracked open a chicken egg that was on day 24, Mama pushed it out from under her and it was very cold.  I candled it and saw no movement so I thought it was a failed chick...I was wrong  

So sorry. It's no fun when that happens. I quit doing eggtopsy exams because I hated to see what was inside. I usually candle the left behinds and if no veins or movement I toss. If anything still looks alive I give it time in the bator. But usually there is a reason momma left it behind.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I opened the pop door for Issabelle today to see if she would come out, yep she did screaming like a banshe and while she was running around doing her thing I candled both eggs. they are full but didn't see any movement. Today is hatch day so I'll let her go till day 25 and hopefully they will hatch. I always feel so bad for broody when she sits for so long then nothing. so depending on what happens between now and day 25 I may give her more eggs if no chicks hatch. 

Too funny! Hope she's just running behind and you get some peeps today.

 

[Miss Lydia]

This is such a sad story....

My Grandfather called me this afternoon and said he was mowing hay in his back pasture when all of a sudden feathers went everywhere!

It turns out he hit a poor momma turkey. She was sitting on 14 eggs.

I asked if the mother hen died and he said she wasnt dead but she had a broken wing and a hurt leg. I was going to get the eggs but his friend got there before I did and took them home and put them in his incubator.

My Grandfather felt really bad about it. I could tell by the way his voice was. Its just really sad and I dont mean to bring anyone down just thought I would share in honor of how devoted this Turkey hen was! She sacrificed herself for her eggs!

Aww so sorry to hear this, did your granddad put her down. Hopefully the turkeys will b okay and hatch.

 

[stonykill]

This is such a sad story....

My Grandfather called me this afternoon and said he was mowing hay in his back pasture when all of a sudden feathers went everywhere!

It turns out he hit a poor momma turkey. She was sitting on 14 eggs.

I asked if the mother hen died and he said she wasnt dead but she had a broken wing and a hurt leg. I was going to get the eggs but his friend got there before I did and took them home and put them in his incubator.

My Grandfather felt really bad about it. I could tell by the way his voice was. Its just really sad and I dont mean to bring anyone down just thought I would share in honor of how devoted this Turkey hen was! She sacrificed herself for her eggs!

poor wild turkey. I would feel horrible if that happened to me.

 

[artsyrobin]

lea has hatched 2 of 3, the third she kept pushing out, put it in the bator just in case... here are the little ones...

 

[Miss Lydia]

Hi, everyone! I'm normally just a lurker, but my broody's been hatching right along with you all.

We're on day 18, due to hatch Friday, and I'm getting excited! Bertha has 11 eggs under her; I candled 3 on day 15, and all were doing great. I've seen a couple of posts on BYC about hens who got confused and left the nest for a while, and I guess I just need a little hand-holding and reassurance, or harsh reality if that's what my situation calls for. Ya see, my nest boxes are up high, so I tried to move my Bertha to a box on the ground yesterday. She moved right in with her eggs and was sitting on them when I closed the coop last night, but this afternoon at 4:30 she was back in her old nest on new eggs, and the eggs she'd been sitting on were pretty cold (it was 88 and muggy today). Should I candle them this close to the hatch date, or just wait and see? Also, I didn't want to separate her from the flock, but the nest is so high I can't imagine it would be safe for the chicks. I have a rabbit hutch adjacent to the coop that isn't yet inhabited but would allow plenty of room. Should I lock her in it with her eggs?

I'm SUCH a newbie, sorry if my questions have been covered elsewhere. Thanks for reading!



The Frugalist Papers: Sharing real money-saving wisdom with the spendthrift world.

Yes move her in the rabbit hutch and close the door make sure there is fresh food and water and this will be lock down. The eggs are probably okay with your temps that high. the box she is in now is not safe and when chicks start to hatch they can accidently fall out won't be able to get back to mama and most likely will die, so best to go ahead and get her settled before it starts.. All the best and let us know how it goes..

 

[Miss Lydia]

lea has hatched 2 of 3, the third she kept pushing out, put it in the bator just in case... here are the little ones...

So cute, Congrats Robin

 

[bobbieschicks]

lea has hatched 2 of 3, the third she kept pushing out, put it in the bator just in case... here are the little ones...

Awh so cute!