Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[cat1994]

One of my EE hens, Ms. USA went broody for once when my Call ducks were laying so I put four eggs under her. Two hatched the other two weren't fertile. One is a Grey and the other a Blue Fawn
here are some pics sorry they aren't that good its hard to get nive ones when the broody hen doesn't want me around lol



This is a pic of Pip, my Grey Call drake the daddy duck lol

Here is a pic of the Call duck hen, Millie a Blue Fawn, who the eggs belonged to

 

[stonykill]

Ok, experts... Hatching has started! My first broody and I have a pip. Now the problem is I have a very large pip but the hen is up trotting around the yard. I'm a bit worried about the lack of cover on this egg. Anyone had this happen before?

it happens all of the time. Nothing to worry about

 

[stonykill]

i have had the same issue the last 2 hatches- i don't know if it is the heat? but i trust they know what they need to do- i always thought the last few days they didn't leave the nest, but these girls have and they hatched ok

my girls most always get up at 1st pip for an eat, drink ,poop before the sitting to hatch. Chickens can't tell time or read calenders. They go by instinct. Seriously, in the last year I've personally seen this happen at least 10 times. I've even had one zip and hatch (a late hatcher) while mom was breifly off the nest teaching her 3 newborns to eat and drink. She then returned to her nest to care for all 4! 9.9 times out of 10 a broody hen will know what to do better than we meer humans will

 

[Miss Lydia]

One of my EE hens, Ms. USA went broody for once when my Call ducks were laying so I put four eggs under her. Two hatched the other two weren't fertile. One is a Grey and the other a Blue Fawn
here are some pics sorry they aren't that good its hard to get nive ones when the broody hen doesn't want me around lol



This is a pic of Pip, my Grey Call drake the daddy duck lol

Here is a pic of the Call duck hen, Millie a Blue Fawn, who the eggs belonged to

Very pretty! Congrats

 

[stonykill]

Very pretty! Congrats

x2 beautiful!

 

[msmechanic58]

Would you say she has abandoned sitting on this egg?



These are the five new babies. We got 5 out of 8 eggs. A sixth one hatched but was snatched out of the nest the next morning. Another never made it out o the shell and the last one never even peeped at me from the shell. I assume it was not good.

 

[bufforphington]

um can the rooster be like a year or two old and still be able to mate with the hens?

 

[stonykill]

um can the rooster be like a year or two old and still be able to mate with the hens?

yes

 

[Miss Lydia]

Would you say she has abandoned sitting on this egg?



These are the five new babies. We got 5 out of 8 eggs. A sixth one hatched but was snatched out of the nest the next morning. Another never made it out o the shell and the last one never even peeped at me from the shell. I assume it was not good.

I'd say she is through,, what beautiful lil babies Congrats!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

yes

My rooster is going on 3 and he is still quite the ladies man