Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[vmdanielsen]

looks like another Sumatra hen has gone broody. I found her nest the other day, hidden well in the broody Sumatra shed. Thankfully many born in here, go broody here. She is a pretty dark blue hen, born last year at some point. I didn't have any dark blues until last year

. Last I looked she had 6 or 7 eggs stashed. If she sits, she is broody #9. Counting my beloved "Mama" twice of course

Just rub it in stony! just rub it in!!!!!!

PS I hope they all hatch!!!

 

[dlynne1123]

Ok, yikes! I posted that I was bummed that I had no chicks this am, at day 21. At lunch I came home to a slightly broken egg, thought maybe it got crushed, but something is moving inside! I think momma bird was starting to eat it! (gasp) sooo.....is there anything I can do to mimick a last minute incubator? I know to not remove any more shell, there's a little blood and the shell is broken inward now outward so someone pecked at it...


Suggestions! If this is the only viable egg I want to try to save it!

Ok, so I did some reading and wrapped the egg in a moist paper towel and am trying to maintain a temp of 100 degrees. It was moving around and the sac was staying moist but now (I think my temp dropped) its not moving anymore....sigh....I've got a better set up now, with a plastic tupperware so I can keep in the moisture and the heat and hopefully it'll come back....not sure what else to do

 

[Johnn]

Can chicks have apple cider vinegar?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Ok, so I did some reading and wrapped the egg in a moist paper towel and am trying to maintain a temp of 100 degrees.  It was moving around and the sac was staying moist but now (I think my temp dropped) its not moving anymore....sigh....I've got a better set up now, with a plastic tupperware so I can keep in the moisture and the heat and hopefully it'll come back....not sure what else to do

I hatched my first clutch in a bator and witnessed one of the chicks pecking furiously at another egg that had pipped. I was angry that the chick was trying to kill the unhatched one. All I could do was watch because I had several yet to hatch. Well in short time the one in the shell managed to get out. Seems the other one was helping it zip. Maybe that was what happened to your chick. Only the mom did it?

Hope the little one makes it.

.

 

[dlynne1123]

I hatched my first clutch in a bator and witnessed one of the chicks pecking furiously at another egg that had pipped. I was angry that the chick was trying to kill the unhatched one. All I could do was watch because I had several yet to hatch. Well in short time the one in the shell managed to get out. Seems the other one was helping it zip. Maybe that was what happened to your chick. Only the mom did it?
Hope the little one makes it.
.

I'm not sure what she was trying to do, but it has its yolk sac still. Its got to be a day or two early. Not having good luck maitaining a solid temperature so I may lose it. Hoping this means my others will still hatch ok though. I was thinking its day 21, time to give up!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I'm not sure what she was trying to do, but it has its yolk sac still.  Its got to be a day or two early.  Not having good luck maitaining a solid temperature so I may lose it.  Hoping this means my others will still hatch ok though.  I was thinking its day 21, time to give up!

No don't give up yet. My broody hatched hers on day 21 thru 23. Hang in there.

 

[prairie]

Stony, that is awesome! I have two broody's and counting the day til hatch!!

looks like another Sumatra hen has gone broody. I found her nest the other day, hidden well in the broody Sumatra shed. Thankfully many born in here, go broody here. She is a pretty dark blue hen, born last year at some point. I didn't have any dark blues until last year

. Last I looked she had 6 or 7 eggs stashed. If she sits, she is broody #9. Counting my beloved "Mama" twice of course

 

[dlynne1123]

The little one hasn't moved for an hour or so.....it was moving when I first found it. Does this confirm its dead? We've finally gotten an unknown humidity but a temp of 100 degrees for an hour now, stead, with a moist paper towel oround whats left of the egg. Again, no movement so not optimistic anymore. We've got it in a plastic baggie under a heat lamp....again, no incubator....

For a visual, its about 2/3rds of the egg shell, with the sac barely touched. Small amounts of bleeding, but nothing bad. So, the little thing barely has a shell to protect it but from what I see the sac is still in tact. I can see the beak, and I think a yolk sac, but no movement anymore.

 

[bobbieschicks]

The little one hasn't moved for an hour or so.....it was moving when I first found it.  Does this confirm its dead?  We've finally gotten an unknown humidity but a temp of 100 degrees for an hour now, stead, with a moist paper towel oround whats left of the egg.  Again, no movement so not optimistic anymore.  We've got it in a plastic baggie under a heat lamp....again, no incubator....

For a visual, its about 2/3rds of the egg shell, with the sac barely touched.  Small amounts of bleeding, but nothing bad.  So, the little thing barely has a shell to protect it but from what I see the sac is still in tact.  I can see the beak, and I think a yolk sac, but no movement anymore. 

It could be resting. I'd just watch it a little longer and see what happens.

Also you'll want to make sure it has air flow, so make sure the paper towel doesn't completely cover the egg.

 

[magsrags]

OK, my story goes. About 12 days ago my lf cochin goes broody and it's definate. Was hoping my silkie from last fall would do the job for me but hey......
So I go and order fertile eggs. Place 1/2 under her and another bunch in my incubator "just in case I need back-up"
She's doong a fine jiob and is hopused woth pnly 1 silkioe and a BLRW.
4 days after settloing in..... the silkie decided she wants to be broody as well and steals the nest first chanmce she hjad that morning. No problem...........I put back up eggs from bator onto coop and cochin takes them right over never skipping a beat. Meanwhile I'm pulling out infertile eggs from her stealing everypone elses!LOL

We are now 8 days in or so and my forlorn and lonely BLRW decided she wants in on the nesting game. She nopw steals the original cochin broody's new bunch of eggs. I've never had this on my hands before!

Cochin is screaming/clucking her silly head off. I ruin to bator and take remaining 6 eggs out and give her a batch to sit on. She went right in amd sat down like there was never any problem.

Soooooo......Now I have 3 broody ladies sittong on 17 fertile/purchased eggs and wondering what of anything I ought to do next but watch??

I believe I am going to leave well enough alone for now as the 3 all get along just fine.... and hope each hatches out some cuties due on my birthday weekend and everyone is happy!

Any advice welcomed. I've browsed the past posts and see it is entirely possible it'll work.....so got my fingers crossed they will raise a village together.