Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

When a hen goes in to lay an egg it takes them a little while.... If there are eggs in the nest they can warm up a bit. Sometimes when they are thinking about going broody they will linger in the nest a little longer and the eggs will warm up even more..... My hen sat on my back one day and I was surprised at how warm her feathers were! Just keep an eye on her .... once they decide to be broody they don't like to stay off the nest for too long!

It was quite warm for just being on for 10 mins tho!!

 

[Johnn]

That is the nest.
the orp:

 

[Aris]

Coming back after a short absence to check my two broody's I found dead 2 out of 3 chicks of broody no1 ,they seemed weak from day 1

father is taking a look on his offspring,

and broody no2 hatched only 1 chick


I think its boy and comes or from my 2 Black Sex Link hens either from 2 barred looking mutt hens , anyway I gave both chicks to broody no1 and even they had 4 days age difference she excepted it.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Oh no, I'm sorry for your loss. Good that you have the two chicks for the broody - she will be happy with them.

Coming back after a short absence to check my two broody's I found dead 2 out of 3 chicks of broody no1 ,they seemed weak from day 1

father is taking a look on his offspring,

and broody no2 hatched only 1 chick


I think its boy and comes or from my 2 Black Sex Link hens either from 2 barred looking mutt hens , anyway I gave both chicks to broody no1 and even they had 4 days age difference she excepted it.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

Aris- Sorry that happened to you. There see,s to be as much heartbreak as joy in hatching sometimes.


Question for those with experience. I candled last night (day 8); one LF egg looked like a possible quitter, a second LF egg looked well veined with a dark spot and a little movement and the Silkie egg was obviously veined and I could actually see the shadow/outline of the embryo with a really defined dark spot in the middle. The Silkie egg looked about 2 days ahead of the LF eggs. Is it just easier to see inside because they are smaller or is it possible they are already that much ahead?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Aris- Sorry that happened to you. There see,s to be as much heartbreak as joy in hatching sometimes.
Question for those with experience. I candled last night (day 8); one LF egg looked like a possible quitter, a second LF egg looked well veined with a dark spot and a little movement and the Silkie egg was obviously veined and I could actually see the shadow/outline of the embryo with a really defined dark spot in the middle. The Silkie egg looked about 2 days ahead of the LF eggs. Is it just easier to see inside because they are smaller or is it possible they are already that much ahead?

Did you put the eggs under her or did she gather them? It could be developing faster. Especially if it's hot there.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I gave them all to her at once. It has been averaging in the low 90s. I think the warmest day was 96. Coolest was 86 or 87.

 

[hannahransom]

Alright so my girl hatched out 5 of her 6 eggs so far. First one was yesterday morning. There is still one egg with no pip. Question: what are the ways I can tell if the remaining egg is any good? I would like to move her tonight after I get home from work (which will be about 11PM), so maybe if it's going to hatch it will have hatched by then, anyway, but I'm hoping that all chicks will be done hatching when I move her. Also, I will have to put them all in a different nest box when moved because I realized the one that she is in will not fit in the smaller door I gave the other coop. ALSO, what are ways to encourage the mom to take the babies out, if she doesn't seem to want to leave the nest? I doubt this will be a problem once they are moved, but you never know.

Anyone have any advice on the move to a new nest box? I don't feel like having the mom abandon them and having them under the brooder lamp.

They are SOOOO CUUTE. I want to die.

 

[hannahransom]

Ok, already moved due to other chickens wanting to get in on the next box action. Mom seems fine but one unforseen difficulty is she took a HUGE nasty poop almost right on her chick when I put her in the new nest box. Ha.
She still seems to want to sit on the egg that probably isn't good, and the other chicks are active and wanting to play so i am guessing momma will come out soon. I have her and the chicks in a cat carrier with hay and I put a bit of food in there, but they will have to come out for water. It's hot here so the chicks aren't worried about momma's warmth.

 

[aaggjg]

Ok, already moved due to other chickens wanting to get in on the next box action. Mom seems fine but one unforseen difficulty is she took a HUGE nasty poop almost right on her chick when I put her in the new nest box. Ha.
She still seems to want to sit on the egg that probably isn't good, and the other chicks are active and wanting to play so i am guessing momma will come out soon. I have her and the chicks in a cat carrier with hay and I put a bit of food in there, but they will have to come out for water. It's hot here so the chicks aren't worried about momma's warmth.

Don't worry about it .... They still eye eggs for a few days after the first chicks hatch. She will start to get up and show the chicks where the water & food is. She will sit on that egg for a few days but will abandon it as her chicks need her. Glad to hear the move went well! Enjoy your new chicks!