Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

the movement is fine. Chickens break all of the rules and hatch just fine. Besides I had 4 eggs hatch while the turner was on in the incubator once! So I label that a myth. My experience is they co raise the chicks.

xs2 - I saw my broodies move their eggs even up until and after they were pipping. The thing with the bator is more that you shouldn't be opening the lid because it reduces temps & humidity levels. I've read plenty of posts where they forgot to turn off the turner and still got hatches - there the risk is the chick will get caught in the turner as it rotates and not be able to get out of it.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Topsy got off her eggs to poop and eat/drink the day before her 1st one hatched - so no it's not true. They will stay hunkered down if they feel it's necessary otherwise they will get off the eggs as needed. Smokey stayed on her eggs the whole time during her winter hatch - I had to take her off the nest each day. Now that it's spring/summer weather - she got down off the nest more. Maybe it's a temperature thing.

Thank you so much.

Looking forward to the hatch on 5/31 or 6/1. Hopefully, the eggs we got were fertile. I would be so bummed if 3 chickens sat on duds. They look so pitiful. I took them water and some oats mixed with scrambled egg tonight. They wolfed it down.

Is it true that so close to hatch, they will not get off the eggs? Up till today, they would get off the eggs when we got home and opened the pen door so they could free-range with the other chickens. Today, though, they just stayed on post. Good little chicken moms!

 

[bobbieschicks]

Yeah! Congrats - post pics when you can.

Well, I had my very first broody hatch! Day 20 it pipped around noon, zipped and out around 7. I'm so proud of her and her little baby. I'm not sure if the second egg will hatch although I will give it until she abandons it. I can't believe how well she stuck to it, I only gave her 2 eggs since I thought she would give up... 4 days in the mid 90's outside and she sat like a champ. Wow.

 

[bobbieschicks]

haha, as long as its not the broody hen equivalent of the big "opening the bator during lockdown" no no! See, anyone else's hen, I'd be scared to death of getting my hand near it when its broody and guarding its eggs/chicks. But for whatever reason, MY hens' beaks don't intimidate me in the slightest. So I guess you could say I don't mind getting bit!

Wear gloves and peek - it's the coolest thing to see. And it's not like the bator because she will adjust everything once you leave her alone again. Congrats!

 

[msmechanic58]

haha, as long as its not the broody hen equivalent of the big "opening the bator during lockdown" no no! See, anyone else's hen, I'd be scared to death of getting my hand near it when its broody and guarding its eggs/chicks. But for whatever reason, MY hens' beaks don't intimidate me in the slightest. So I guess you could say I don't mind getting bit!

Mine never hurt me but she let me know she was protecting.

 

[stonykill]

xs2 - I saw my broodies move their eggs even up until and after they were pipping. The thing with the bator is more that you shouldn't be opening the lid because it reduces temps & humidity levels. I've read plenty of posts where they forgot to turn off the turner and still got hatches - there the risk is the chick will get caught in the turner as it rotates and not be able to get out of it.

a turner moves a little every couple of hours so while the risk is there, it is extremely low

 

[Tripp16]

After almost 2 weeks ( this saturday.) Mrs. Henrietta finally brought the chicks outside and was done scratching around in the coop. I didnt rush her because of what happened with the roo. But I let the rooster out "free range" and a few minutes later out popped mommas head and falling in behind her was her 7 little naughty chicks.

I say naughty because they get out somehow every single day! Then they cant get back with mom. Gracies chicks NEVER got out!

They all have their little wings and they think they are the stuff!

I love broodies!

 

[kizanne]

Ok so now things are going wrong. I have two chicks dead that looked like they may have been squished. two dead that were not squished. I think it may be the heat. The coop is warm as it is very hot here. I took 4 externally pipped eggs and threw them in the bator. I left her 3 eggs that had not pipped yet. Should I leave those, steal them. Do you think it is the heat or the hen?

 

[MuscovyMad]

Here is one of my broodies with some of her brood. She's an old English game bantam crossed with a pekin and the chicks are 3/4 OEGB and 1/4 pekin. Just looking at the second photo do you think the chick on the right is a cockerel due to the size of it's feet compared to it's sister?

ps the other broody and it's chicks are a bit camera shy at the moment. Hopefully i'll get some better photos when they are a bit more active.

To update on my last post all 16 / 16 eggs hatched

. There are 4 brown, 1 grey and 11 black ones. I'm surprised there is any variation seems as both mum and dad are black.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Here is one of my broodies with some of her brood. She's an old English game bantam crossed with a pekin and the chicks are 3/4 OEGB and 1/4 pekin. Just looking at the second photo do you think the chick on the right is a cockerel due to the size of it's feet compared to it's sister? ps the other broody and it's chicks are a bit camera shy at the moment. Hopefully i'll get some better photos when they are a bit more active. To update on my last post all 16 / 16 eggs hatched . There are 4 brown, 1 grey and 11 black ones. I'm surprised there is any variation seems as both mum and dad are black.

Awhhh so cute! I wouldn't use legs size as a determinate. I've had many big legged pullets. but sometimes you can guess by attitude when they are young. Not always though. I had a trio of pullets and we were sure two were roosters until they all began laying.