Pros and cons: Broody vs. incubator

[bobbi-j]

My personal observations, here. The pros of using a broody to hatch eggs is that the temp and humidity are always correct, and you don't have to worry about turning eggs.

The one disadvantage is that I can't see through the darn chicken to watch the eggs hatch!!

I set my broody 3 weeks ago tonight. So far I haven't heard anything positive, but MAYBE some tapping this evening. She's been much more protective the past couple of days. I have to be gone tomorrow and part of the day Fri. Probably a good thing. When I checked on her this evening, I practically had to sit on my hands to keep from reaching under her to see if anything was happening... Sigh. Going to check before I leave in the morning, then right away when I get home on Friday. Happy hatching, everyone!

 

[rancher hicks]

Ok here I go again. Leave the poor girl alone. When she's done she'll get up and then you'll know she's done. Why oh why do people think it's necessary to pester the poor broody hen? She doesn't need your help.

 

[Why and Dotte]

I hatched my first batch with a broody, I felt like I did nothing it was so easy. Like you said you can't see through the chicken, and when she's done hatching, shes done and thats really bad when you don't have a bator!

 

[babsbag]

I picked my broody up to look for chicks. She was a sweetheart and didn't seem to care. I actually saw pipped eggs and no chicks but at least I knew they were on the way. That was on day 22.

 

[Why and Dotte]

I don't see anything wrong with it, my broody stands up for me just like she would when I'd collect eggs, after they hatched she is more protective though.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Really - I wasn't feeling the need to "help". I just like to watch them hatch when I use an incubator!

I've been known to sit up all night and watch them hatch. Pestering? I guess if making sure that her waterer and feeder are filled, and cleaning up the straw where she's poohed, I'm bad. No, the food and water aren't right next to her. They're in the other end of the 7' long old water tank that is currently her home. So that when SHE decided to get up to eat and drink, she'd have room to stretch her legs. By "checking" I was referring to listening for peeping in the morning, and hoping to catch a glimpse... It was meant to be a humorous post.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
I don't want to bother her, so I won't pick her up. But the curiosity is killing me! I've hatched out chicks before, both with broodies and incubators. It's the anticipation, I guess. Wondering how many, pullets or cockrels... Kinda like Christmas!

 

[bobbi-j]

Sigh - Day 22 and only one egg of 7 with a small pip. I'm going to give her 2 more days and if nothing changes, I'm going to buy some babies to slip under her during the night and hope that she'll take them. My broody is a bantam cochin and the eggs are standard. It looked like she's had them covered at all times, but who knows? Settling in to wait a little longer.......