Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Im sorry if iv'e asked this before but i dont think i have (gosh i will be getting annoying if i have, i always forget things so just ask again..:/) how many eggs did each hen have? and what breeds?

Orginally Smokey had 4 eggs: 2 Blue Splash Maran eggs, 1 Lav Orp egg & 1 Blue egg.
She hatched the two marans, squashed the lav orp egg and had left from trying to hatch the blue egg. I moved to Topsy the squished Lav Orp egg and the blue egg.

Originaly Topsy had 3 eggs: 2 Blue Splash Maran eggs and 1 Lav Orp egg.
The squished Lav Orp egg was bad so I peeled it off her underside and tossed it away. The blue egg hatched into the beautiful white chick with hair on her legs - so she must be a EE/WL mixed with Silky chick. The Lav Orp egg that was under Topsy hatched and it's the black one - it has silkie feet so it must be a lav Orp/Silky mix chick. The two maran eggs haven't hatched yet.

Phew!

 

[Johnn]

Orginally Smokey had 4 eggs: 2 Blue Splash Maran eggs, 1 Lav Orp egg & 1 Blue egg.
She hatched the two marans, squashed the lav orp egg and had left from trying to hatch the blue egg. I moved to Topsy the squished Lav Orp egg and the blue egg.

Originaly Topsy had 3 eggs: 2 Blue Splash Maran eggs and 1 Lav Orp egg.
The squished Lav Orp egg was bad so I peeled it off her underside and tossed it away. The blue egg hatched into the beautiful white chick with hair on her legs - so she must be a EE/WL mixed with Silky chick. The Lav Orp egg that was under Topsy hatched and it's the black one - it has silkie feet so it must be a lav Orp/Silky mix chick. The two maran eggs haven't hatched yet.

Phew!

so they both have 2 chicks now??

 

[SmittenChicken]

I got 12 eggs total: 3 each of Easter Eggers, Speckled Sussex, Copper Marans (ordered black but they may substitute blue) and Blue Andalusian. I'm really excited, I lost 3 of 4 EEs and both my Speckled Sussex to the fox, and I've always wanted some dark brown and white egglayers but didn't want to deal with adding chickens to the flock. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good hatch rate and mostly hens (though I won't say no to a few roosters for the stockpot!). But trying hard not to count my chickens before they hatch (or before the eggs even arrive!)

For those of you who have ordered online, what kind of hatch rates do you have? (I ordered from Gabbard Farms, and the eggs should have a 2-3 day transit time.) Their website said to expect a 45-50% hatch rate, but from what I've read on BYC it seems like the hatch rate might be higher for a broody hen vs. an incubator.

 

[Johnn]

I got 12 eggs total: 3 each of Easter Eggers, Speckled Sussex, Copper Marans (ordered black but they may substitute blue) and Blue Andalusian. I'm really excited, I lost 3 of 4 EEs and both my Speckled Sussex to the fox, and I've always wanted some dark brown and white egglayers but didn't want to deal with adding chickens to the flock. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good hatch rate and mostly hens (though I won't say no to a few roosters for the stockpot!). But trying hard not to count my chickens before they hatch (or before the eggs even arrive!)

For those of you who have ordered online, what kind of hatch rates do you have? (I ordered from Gabbard Farms, and the eggs should have a 2-3 day transit time.) Their website said to expect a 45-50% hatch rate, but from what I've read on BYC it seems like the hatch rate might be higher for a broody hen vs. an incubator.

What a lovley selection, I baught some off a woman on facebook this year, so they went through the post 4/6 were fertile but only one hatched, due to the chick falling out the nest and the mother following it leaving the other eggs exposed

 

[stonykill]

yeah they should be point down i think it settles the yolk or something.

eggs are stored pointy end down to ensure the airsack settles, develops on the broad end of the egg. So the chick can breath when the time comes.

 

[SmittenChicken]

eggs are stored pointy end down to ensure the airsack settles, develops on the broad end of the egg. So the chick can breath when the time comes.

Thanks so much stonykill, that explains a lot!

Just put the other 2 hens to bed and checked on KP, who is happily settled on her golf balls for the night. I think she's glad to be in her own space away from the other chickens, who seem to be pretty curious about the new setup. Do other hens ever follow suit and go broody when one of their flockmates does? I also have an EE and a Light Brahma, and all 3 are on their 3rd summer. I'm hoping I don't end up with 3 broodies at once...

 

[stonykill]

Thanks so much stonykill, that explains a lot!

Just put the other 2 hens to bed and checked on KP, who is happily settled on her golf balls for the night. I think she's glad to be in her own space away from the other chickens, who seem to be pretty curious about the new setup. Do other hens ever follow suit and go broody when one of their flockmates does? I also have an EE and a Light Brahma, and all 3 are on their 3rd summer. I'm hoping I don't end up with 3 broodies at once...

yes they do. We joke broodiness is contagious but trust me it is. I stopped counting this year at 15 broody's and that was a lot of broody's ago. It can and does happen. I right now have 7 raising lil ones and 5 sitting on eggs.

 

[bobbieschicks]

I got 12 eggs total: 3 each of Easter Eggers, Speckled Sussex, Copper Marans (ordered black but they may substitute blue) and Blue Andalusian. I'm really excited, I lost 3 of 4 EEs and both my Speckled Sussex to the fox, and I've always wanted some dark brown and white egglayers but didn't want to deal with adding chickens to the flock. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good hatch rate and mostly hens (though I won't say no to a few roosters for the stockpot!). But trying hard not to count my chickens before they hatch (or before the eggs even arrive!)

For those of you who have ordered online, what kind of hatch rates do you have? (I ordered from Gabbard Farms, and the eggs should have a 2-3 day transit time.) Their website said to expect a 45-50% hatch rate, but from what I've read on BYC it seems like the hatch rate might be higher for a broody hen vs. an incubator.

 

My beautiful AC came from Gabbards. She was the only one to hatch out of 24+ eggs. I was pretty bummed, but glad AC survived. It was July shipped eggs and during the hottest week ever last year. Even with the ice pack they didn't stand a chance. I was using a bator back then, so much happier now with the broodies.

Sounds like you have a great assortment.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks so much stonykill, that explains a lot!

Just put the other 2 hens to bed and checked on KP, who is happily settled on her golf balls for the night. I think she's glad to be in her own space away from the other chickens, who seem to be pretty curious about the new setup. Do other hens ever follow suit and go broody when one of their flockmates does? I also have an EE and a Light Brahma, and all 3 are on their 3rd summer. I'm hoping I don't end up with 3 broodies at once...

Do they ever! And sometimes they act broody but don't go through with it. Those are the sneaky ones. I have two girls who keep going broody on about the same schedule. They are the two who are hatching now. Smokey and Topsy. An Arucana and a Silky.

 

[bobbieschicks]

so they both have 2 chicks now??

Yes. As of bedtime they both have two. I'll be heading out early to snatch up the roosters I'm selling before sunrise and I'll check to see if any new babies under Topsy.