Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[naturespace]

I have heard of some people putting fertile eggs from the grocery store under a broody or an incubator, so I would guess they could still hatch if you have a rooster. Oh and they eggs hatched!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Hello, My little silkie is broody she has beeen setting on her nest for 4 days now. The thing is I do not have any eggs to put under her to hatch they are all in the fridge and she was my only hen laying at the moment so what can I do. I have been getting her off the nest everyday to let her eat drink and get a treat and to walk around. but what do I do and what will happen when there are no eggs for her to set on there is nothing for her to set on she is just setting on the nest fluffed up and cackling at me. What do I do.

Do you have any neighbors that have chickens and roosters? Maybe they would let you have a couple eggs?

 

[Stacykins]

Three purebred Araucana chicks, my last of the year, were abandoned by their broody. She'd been broody for about a month, so I slipped her the chicks after dark last night. First thing this morning she was happy as a clam with her new babies. Same when I checked on her a few hours later and every few hours after, she was acting like a normal hen does with new chicks. So somewhere between 3pm and now, when I was out of the house, she decided to stop playing Mom and went back to brooding, albeit on a different nest than the one she brooded on for weeks (the one with the chicks!).

*sigh*

I wish I was home when she left them, I would have heard their 'cold' distress call to rescue them to a brooder before the they froze to death. One other broody did that this year, but it was a warm day and I heard them distressing, so they were good.

 

[Miss Lydia]

Three purebred Araucana chicks, my last of the year, were abandoned by their broody. She'd been broody for about a month, so I slipped her the chicks after dark last night. First thing this morning she was happy as a clam with her new babies. Same when I checked on her a few hours later and every few hours after, she was acting like a normal hen does with new chicks. So somewhere between 3pm and now, when I was out of the house, she decided to stop playing Mom and went back to brooding, albeit on a different nest than the one she brooded on for weeks (the one with the chicks!).

*sigh*

I wish I was home when she left them, I would have heard their 'cold' distress call to rescue them to a brooder before the they froze to death. One other broody did that this year, but it was a warm day and I heard them distressing, so they were good.

So sorry,

 

[crissycriss]

I'm so sorry about your loss.Poor chickies.

 

[Silkie Chicken]

Do you have any neighbors that have chickens and roosters? Maybe they would let you have a couple eggs?

Ok never mind I just got a friend from were I live to give me some silkie eggs. can you all tell me what I will need to do when she is broody and to prepare for the chicks. she is in with other silkie hens.

 

[Hennyhandler]

I have found that my two of my silkies that are broody have developed eggs under them.

I really didn't think they would be fertile or the hens would stay on them because they are so young. But they did and they have so now here are my questions. I know that a hen may take care of the chicks after they hatch but with two hens hatching will they keep the chicks seperated, tolerate each other and their chicks, and will both mother them? Having other silkie hens in with them will they leave the chicks alone? There are no roos in the pen at this time. Do I have to make a seperate place for them? I know that many seperate the broody from the rest as the set but mine have not been and have done fine. I am real excited as I have incubated myself but never had a broody do the work. I have to say this way is a LOT easier!!

When I candled I saw some weren't as developed as the others or not at all. The thing is I think that other hens are laying and then my broodies are adding those eggs to their clutch. I was thinking of not throwing away the ones that show no development just in case they are a later hatch date since I am not exactly sure what day the hatch is at.. Does this sound like a good idea? I hope how I explained didn't cause confusion.

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I have found that my two of my silkies that are broody have developed eggs under them.e I really didn't think they would be fertile or the hens would stay on them because they are so young. But they did and they have so now here are my questions. I know that a hen may take care of the chicks after they hatch but with two hens hatching will they keep the chicks seperated, tolerate each other and their chicks, and will both mother them?  Having other silkie hens in with them will they leave the chicks alone? There are no roos in the pen at this time. Do I have to make a seperate place for them? I know that many seperate the broody from the rest as the set but mine have not been and have done fine. I am real excited as I have incubated myself but never had a broody do the work. I have to say this way is a LOT easier!!

When I candled I saw some weren't as developed as the others or not at all. The thing is I think that other hens are laying and then my broodies are adding those eggs to their clutch. I was thinking of not throwing away the ones that show no development just in case they are a later hatch date since I am not exactly sure what day the hatch is at.. Does this sound like a good idea? I hope how I explained didn't cause confusion.

I have limited experience but everything I have read is that staggered hatches are Bad. Momma is going to want to get up within a few days of the first hatch and could quite possibly abandon developing eggs in favor of caring for the chicks that have hatched. Also, other hens laying with your broodies could damage the eggs that are developing. With my broody, I moved her into a dog crate in the coop so I could close the door and stop her egg scattering dominant sister from wrecking havoc.

And I have seen cases on here where hens brooded together and raised their chicks together. Seems fairly common. Good luck!

 

[naturespace]

I have a broody girl sitting on 7 eggs that are due on Tuesday. I just got a few new hens from a friend and one is very broody. She is now sitting on 2 wooden eggs. Do you think I should put some of the other eggs under her (that hatch on Tuesday) or let her sit on the wooden ones one give her a couple of chicks when they hatch under the other girl?
She has been sitting on wooden eggs at her old home too. Do you think I can fool her into thinking those are hers? She is a silver ameracauna.

Bump.

I'm thinking of letting the other girl hatch them all and then try to give her a couple chicks. She is not proven to be a mom yet, so maybe that would be better being she is new to our place and might break from being broody.

 

[Johnn]