Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

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Well my broody is still on so I'm 1/3 of the way there. And she is on week 4 1/2. She seems to really enjoy the mealworm treats, I'm giving her morning and night to make sure she stays healthy. Next time I won't wait so long to give her some eggs. Though the rooster is going bye-bye so I won't have any fertile eggs soon, but that's what they make auctions for right?

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you got it~ chicken math at it's finest.
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I took the wire down and the landscape fabric out. I left everything open and put in an empty cat litter container and cat carrier for hiding places if they need them. So far the worst tussles have been Smokey attacking Topsy. Topsy took her babies under the coop that was so cute to watch the little ones slide to each rung on the ramp. And Smokey has hers up in the main coop. Hoping everyone gets along and no babies get hurt.
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My little silkie, Honey, has been sitting on some eggs & today is day #20. I just looked under her, and one of her own eggs has hatched, and one of the d'uccle eggs is completely zipped & she's helping it out now.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE hatch day.

Our other broody's babies should hatch on Thursday or Friday.
 
My little silkie, Honey, has been sitting on some eggs & today is day #20. I just looked under her, and one of her own eggs has hatched, and one of the d'uccle eggs is completely zipped & she's helping it out now.

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE hatch day.

Our other broody's babies should hatch on Thursday or Friday.
Congrats, it's just amazing when you see that first chick, so exciting..
 
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Yesterday morning I found that my broody was sitting on 8 eggs ... and 6 more were out in the cold :-(. And when I check her sometimes she is on them all, and sometimes one or two are not quite under her. I took the 6 away - will feed them back to the chickens - but I've decided to just let her do her thing with the rest; she seems to be more settled with me not bugging her. I suppose though that I should plan on candling them at some point. I've never done that before; when is a good time to do that, after how many days?
 
Yesterday morning I found that my broody was sitting on 8 eggs ... and 6 more were out in the cold :-(.  And when I check her sometimes she is on them all, and sometimes one or two are not quite under her.  I took the 6 away - will feed them back to the chickens - but I've decided to just let her do her thing with the rest;  she seems to be more settled with me not bugging her.  I suppose though that I should plan on candling them at some point.  I've never done that before;  when is a good time to do that, after how many days?


For me it depends on the shell color. If its a white egg I can see it by day 5 clearly. If its a brown or green egg I like to wait until day 10 to see growth. If its very dark I usually keep them and then candle after they didn't hatch. But I also like to check how they are progressing. So usually ay 5, 10, 14, 17 and 25 (if they aren't hatching) are my choices for candling.
 

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