Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[stonykill]

do hens no to turn the eggs? every time i look at the nests i want to turn the eggs incase the hen hasn't but then i think what if shes just did it before she got of?!, and also how do hens control humidity? but in incubators we have to do it?

yes of course they do or chickens would have been extinct 10,000 years ago

. Trust me, chickens know how to be chickens better than humans know how to be chickens. Trust your broody. I've had 24 in the last 12 months, they know how to do this

 

[bobbieschicks]

yes of course they do or chickens would have been extinct 10,000 years ago  . Trust me, chickens know how to be chickens better than humans know how to be chickens. Trust your broody. I've had 24 in the last 12 months, they know how to do this 

Too funny

 

[stonykill]

do hens no to turn the eggs? every time i look at the nests i want to turn the eggs incase the hen hasn't but then i think what if shes just did it before she got of?!, and also how do hens control humidity? but in incubators we have to do it?

I just noticed I only answered part of the question. Hens control humidity by picking their breast feathers and rotating the eggs from the center of the pile to the edges and sometimes not sitting on one at all. Hens do everything we try to do in incubators, but better, and naturally

 

[prairie]

I, too, have been worried about my 2 broodies-- although our chicken house is large and gets quite a breeze through there but I can't imagine those eggs aren't fried.

The broodies hardly ever get off the nests! Think I will give them some scrambled eggs tomorrow. Suppose to be rain tonight which will help but by Sunday it will be 96 degrees again and the broodies won't hatch until July 4 and 7th.

But as Stony said --- they know what to do or else they would be extinct by now!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Ivyblaze]

I just noticed I only answered part of the question. Hens control humidity by picking their breast feathers and rotating the eggs from the center of the pile to the edges and sometimes not sitting on one at all. Hens do everything we try to do in incubators, but better, and naturally

I have a first time broody still in with my flock are they trustworthy too? I went out today and somehow two eggs were in a nest box next to her still warm and one was beside her and she was sitting the rest plus two not marked and one was ate by someone I think...I have never done this before I am so lost I want her to do well.

 

[Ivyblaze]

Forgot to say she has been broody for two weeks but didn't give her the fertilized eggs until yesterday. She just wasn't giving it up. I have heard that BA's are like that.

 

[stonykill]

I have a first time broody still in with my flock are they trustworthy too? I went out today and somehow two eggs were in a nest box next to her still warm and one was beside her and she was sitting the rest plus two not marked and one was ate by someone I think...I have never done this before I am so lost I want her to do well.

I just had a RIR hatch in the coop with 8 other large foul hens. She took them out for the 1st today and all seems pretty good. No one bothered her on her nest. What you might want to try is a barracade of some type to seperate her from the rest of the flock.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

I, too, have been worried about my 2 broodies-- although our chicken house is large and gets quite a breeze through there but I can't imagine those eggs aren't fried.

The broodies hardly ever get off the nests! Think I will give them some scrambled eggs tomorrow. Suppose to be rain tonight which will help but by Sunday it will be 96 degrees again and the broodies won't hatch until July 4 and 7th.

But as Stony said --- they know what to do or else they would be extinct by now!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I know what stony said but there is NOTHING natural about "coops" and I know Stony's birds aren't cooped.

His birds are as close to natural as it comes. So I fear I interfere too much. I'm not worried so much about rolling eggs or humidity or even the temperature my hen keeps her eggs at. I have complete confidence that she has that part under control. I'm just worried that a cooped broody might have her instincts warped by an overzealous human keeper.

 

[bobbieschicks]

For me, the hardest part about using a broody is trusting her instincts. I know what she's supposed to do, but I don't necessarily trust she will do it. But when I make the decision to accept the outcome, whatever it may be, I am free to let the broody do her thing and marvel in what she does instinctively.

I'm not sure why, but broodies and their babies are so comforting to watch. Like chicken soup for the soul.

 

[Ivyblaze]

I just had a RIR hatch in the coop with 8 other large foul hens. She took them out for the 1st today and all seems pretty good. No one bothered her on her nest. What you might want to try is a barracade of some type to seperate her from the rest of the flock.

My DH brought up a point that might be valid..I got the fertilized eggs from a friend because I don't currently have a roo. He said maybe the eggs smelled different and that's why and it might take a couple of days for them to smell like her. I dunno...but I do know it has been in the high 80's low 90's here so I am not as worried if one slips out from under her.