Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Miss Lydia]

Has anybody ever had a broody go over 24 days? I have a buff orpington that I gave four eggs. One got broken and one wasn't fertilized, but the other two were growing well as of day 7. Now I'm about to give up on the other two. I haven't taken them from her to check, but I think I will today.

My lil frizzle was sitting on 2 eggs one hatched Tues. and I just had a feeling about the other just brought it in to candle i was right it was no good. Wait till day 25 and candle or go ahead and do it now. It's the only way your going to know with out breaking the eggs open.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Still praying for the maran eggs to hatch. So want to candle them. But it's too bright now and I don't want to hurt their chances.

I just took Ebbies last egg into the small closet where our hot water heater is it's very dark in there it wasn't any good. So at least she has 1 healthy chick.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Is it okay to pick the broody hen up to have a look underneath her on hatch day to see what is happening or should she be treated like an incubator in lockdown? I don't want to risk shrink wrapping chicks. But i havn't heard that mentioned about broodies before.

Just curious as i have chicks hatching on the 31st and it might be staggered so it would be good to see whats going on.

I always check under my broodies, can't help it. I wouldn't bother the daylights out of them but checking a couple times a day won't hurt.

 

[lisaequine1]

I was wanting to know how long to go before giving up on the chicks. She's on day 25 now and I just candled them, the eggs were completely dark, no movement (that I could see) and no sound. I'm guessing they are dead??? What really puzzles me is that we have another hen on day 23 and it seems that hers are also dead. Could it just be a bad coincidence that they both failed or could there be something else going on? Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[MuscovyMad]

I always check under my broodies, can't help it. I wouldn't bother the daylights out of them but checking a couple times a day won't hurt.

Even if it's hatch day?

I have been picking them up and tossing them outside for 10 minutes each day as one kept going to the toilet in the nest.

I always put them back again as they don't seem to have any intention of returning to their nests. But i don't know if it's just cause they figure the eggs can go longer than 10 minutes without being sat on.

How long do you let broodies off the nest for?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Hope for the 2 Moran eggs is fading. I'll candle them tonight before bedtime, but I think Topsy is about done sitting. . At leat she has her two babies.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Even if it's hatch day?

I have been picking them up and tossing them outside for 10 minutes each day as one kept going to the toilet in the nest.

I always put them back again as they don't seem to have any intention of returning to their nests. But i don't know if it's just cause they figure the eggs can go longer than 10 minutes without being sat on.

How long do you let broodies off the nest for?

I take the broodies off up until day 18 that's when I let them decide whether to get down. Usually they stay put the closer they are to hatching. Topsy got down the day her 1st silky hatched. So she must have really wanted a break.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Even if it's hatch day?

I have been picking them up and tossing them outside for 10 minutes each day as one kept going to the toilet in the nest.

I always put them back again as they don't seem to have any intention of returning to their nests. But i don't know if it's just cause they figure the eggs can go longer than 10 minutes without being sat on.

How long do you let broodies off the nest for?

I usually get mine out sit them on the ground and they usually stay off about 30 min. but even on hatch day i will go out pick them up or scoot the egg out from under them look at it listen to it and if I see or hear anything then i know we're on schedule after that i leave them alone till the next day when i look to see if all have hatched. Mine just naturally go back to the nest. maybe you should try to see if they will go back on their own.

 

[hannahransom]

Alright, I started reading this thread and haven't finished so I'm really sorry if this is somewhere in here, but I need the info now since it's happening now!

I have a chicken who is about 7 months that is going broody (Golden Laced Wyandotte), and I want her to! She was sitting in the next box for longer and longer periods until last night I found her in the next box instead of roosting. I wanted to move her because it would be a disaster if she stayed in there. Since it was the middle of the night and I wanted to get her moved that day (all of my chickens like to use that next box), I put her in a cat carrier with bedding and left it in the coop (I realize now I should have put it outside of the coop and kept it dark. ****). Anyway, she was standing up this morning and when I open the cat carrier door she hopped right out. The other chickens saw the 3 falsies in there and now looks like they are going to lay in there today. Wierdos. But anyway, this seems great because it's mobile and if my broody girl starts sitting in there again I can just pull it out of the coop, put a blanket mostly covering it, and set up a little outside area with some food and water.

She is now on and off sitting places, but I'd love to try to encourage the broody in her. Is it too risky since she is young? Is there any way to encourage her to sit in the mobile nest? 2 of the girls layed in there today and one layed in the old one. The broody (almost) didn't lay today.

 

[Tripp16]

Alright, I started reading this thread and haven't finished so I'm really sorry if this is somewhere in here, but I need the info now since it's happening now!

I have a chicken who is about 7 months that is going broody (Golden Laced Wyandotte), and I want her to! She was sitting in the next box for longer and longer periods until last night I found her in the next box instead of roosting. I wanted to move her because it would be a disaster if she stayed in there. Since it was the middle of the night and I wanted to get her moved that day (all of my chickens like to use that next box), I put her in a cat carrier with bedding and left it in the coop (I realize now I should have put it outside of the coop and kept it dark. ****). Anyway, she was standing up this morning and when I open the cat carrier door she hopped right out. The other chickens saw the 3 falsies in there and now looks like they are going to lay in there today. Wierdos. But anyway, this seems great because it's mobile and if my broody girl starts sitting in there again I can just pull it out of the coop, put a blanket mostly covering it, and set up a little outside area with some food and water.

She is now on and off sitting places, but I'd love to try to encourage the broody in her. Is it too risky since she is young? Is there any way to encourage her to sit in the mobile nest? 2 of the girls layed in there today and one layed in the old one. The broody (almost) didn't lay today.

I dont think shes to young. My little BB Red Bantam isnt even a year old yet actually when she went broody she was only 8 months old. My Barred Rock that has chicks now just turned a year old in April. Gracie (Bantam) was practically a baby herself she laid for a month then went broody.

your question on moving them, I have never had success but Bobbieschicks has and she knows all the information on that. Your right though, move her when it is dark and cover her head and you might get her to sit and stay in the new spot. I wouldnt put hatching eggs under her until you know she is serious on sitting in the new area. That way she doesnt abandon growing eggs.

Having a broody is so fun all the way up to when she leaves the chicks (Around 5 weeks old). It is so much fun to watch her mother the eggs then the chicks. Good luck!!