Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

It would be hard to see the development after only one day of sitting. Even with white eggshells it is hard to see day 3 development. When you candle you can see a spot and spidery veins going outward by day 3. And sometimes a hen will stay on her egg after laying it, but I don't count that as broody. We still eat those eggs. She has to stop laying eggs and stay on the nest at night for three nights before I consider her broody.

x2

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ugh! These silky chick babies are driving me crazy! I'll be so much more in love with them in two weeks when they figure out how to go up the ramp and I don't have to put them away myself.

They know how to go down the ramp they step and slide until close to the bottom. But it's going back up that they need practice with.

So far Topsy is easy to catch and her two babies are easy to catch too. But she hasn't tried to teach them to go up yet. So that's a problem, but maybe she will start soon.

Smokey keeps hunkering down under the coop where it is nearly impossible to reach her. Using a small rake and carefully suggesting a path out, I had my son help with retrieving her and babies. Between the two of us we managed to get them all inside but it took almost 15 minutes. Earlier it looked like she was going to get them inside without intervention because she kept going in and they acted like they wanted to follow, but then she gave up and came back to under the coop.

Oh well, this too shall pass. Soon they will be big enough to go up and down on their own.

 

[kizanne]

Ok could use some help. I have a broody that has went past 4 weeks. I gave her eggs 8 days ago hoping she'd make it to babies. However, I candled them today and not a one looked to be developing. I assume that was just an immature rooster. I saw some bulls eyes before I set them but... nothing but a few air sacs.

I worry cause she seems to be very determined. Should I just take her off the nest everytime I see her. Let her sit til she gives up? I have some 2 week old broilers but I don't think they'd go up under her, and if she didn't like it she might hurt them so....

What should I do? I can give her some fertile eggs but after 4 weeks would she really sit for 3 more? of course I'm worried she'll sit forever she seems very determined.

 

[stonykill]

Ok could use some help. I have a broody that has went past 4 weeks. I gave her eggs 8 days ago hoping she'd make it to babies. However, I candled them today and not a one looked to be developing. I assume that was just an immature rooster. I saw some bulls eyes before I set them but... nothing but a few air sacs.

I worry cause she seems to be very determined. Should I just take her off the nest everytime I see her. Let her sit til she gives up? I have some 2 week old broilers but I don't think they'd go up under her, and if she didn't like it she might hurt them so....

What should I do? I can give her some fertile eggs but after 4 weeks would she really sit for 3 more? of course I'm worried she'll sit forever she seems very determined.

I have done just this before and it was just fine! As long as you provide her with plenty of food and water she will sit just fine.

 

[JoshU]

Adorable. They look like they are eight weeks old? It's so much fun the first time the get outside and notice grass and bugs. Lol.

Nope they are just under 4 weeks old. They are fat tho because they were in the brooder with egglayers so they ate like egglayers. It is so funny how these birds can take on characteristics from other chicks and mothers. I had 2 layer chicks that my silkie hen and rooster raised and they were the same size as these two silkies and the same age. I hope that made sense. lol.

 

[ThePendragon]

ah ah ah hahahaHAHA! sorry got carried away. 9 of 9 eggs hatched I will post a pic tomorrow

 

[Achickenwrangler#1]

Thanks for the reply, exactly the info I needed!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah! Can't wait for pics.

ah ah ah hahahaHAHA! sorry got carried away. 9 of 9 eggs hatched I will post a pic tomorrow

 

[MuscovyMad]

I went out to check on the broodies and seems as it is a few days before hatch day i figured i'd just let them out one last time before the big day.

However on walking into the shed they were both cooing softly. So i picked one up and there is a little semi fluffed up chick and 1 pipped egg under one of the broodies and 2 pipped eggs under the other. I'll just have to see what comes of the other 12.

I'm hoping this isn't the begining of the staggered hatch i feared i might have as i didn't think the due date was until the 31st. I'll post pics once the rest are out.

Hmm quickly thinking to myself maybe it's best to move the 2 pipped eggs under the one with the chick. And move 2 that are not doing anything under the other one. What do you guys think?

 

[Miss Lydia]

ah ah ah hahahaHAHA! sorry got carried away. 9 of 9 eggs hatched I will post a pic tomorrow