This is terrible. Maybe Im not cut out for it. Doing everything wrong.

[wbruder17]

So I gave my broody silkie some eggs, that turned out to be infertile, so I got her some fertile eggs. She has been settingover a month and due to hatch 4 eggs in the next couple of days. However, she has been sitting viciously and pooping in her nest.
Sometimes she moves around and shoves an egg or two out from under her and they've gotten cold.

But I kept stickong them back under her.
I've had to move her several times to clean her poop-smeared nest and tonite I accidently broke an egg.

I started with 6, and was down to 4, and I don't even really know if there's anything in them, because they are green and I can't tell. But now I broke another one on like, day 19, and I just want to cry. I didn't break the membrane, just cracked the shell a bit, so I put it back under her.

This is entirely too stressful. I think I should just stick with buying day old chickies. I've had much better luck with that.

Is there a chance any of them will make it? All she's ever wanted to do was set on eggs.

I've alreqdy decided to give her some chicks if these don't hatch. The feed store getts some biddies on the 9th, so hopefully she will hold on til then.

 

[perolane]

Broodys are the absolute best incubators!! Is this her first time? I just had a broody first-timer that wouldn't leave the nest for eating/drinking/pooping, so I picked her up & out of the nest twice a day for a few minutes. I think as newbies, they just don't know that they're allowed breaks!

Any eggs that she kept pushing away were more than likely not viable...they just know. She's been sitting OVER a month??? Then these eggs are 10 plus days overdue?? If so, you just may not have had fertile eggs to start with....or something just went wrong. It happens. I suggest pulling these eggs & tucking under her a few purchased chicks. This is best done at night.

Sorry this happened....hopefully next time will be easier for both her & you!!

 

[perolane]

Sorry...just re-read your post & see that the eggs she's currently sitting on are due shortly. Just wait it out. If no hatch by the 24th day, I'd still pull the eggs & replace with chicks. She's been setting quite awhile & in my opinion, it's time to be done.

 

[GreenGoddess]

Sorry you are having such a hard time but sometimes these things happen.. You cracked one egg but it can still hatch.. Make sure you take the broody o the nest at leas once a day as previously suggested and when you do, take the egg that you cracked and put a thin layer of candlewax on the crack.. Someimes a broody will move eggs out from under her to regulate the temp but mark them with a pencil and if it seems they are ALWAYS out from under her, they may not be viable and she is just making room for the ones that will hatch out... There are only a few days left... Take a deep breath and hope for the best... You already have a backup plan in place if i goes terribly wrong and even if only one hatches, you can still put a few more chicks under her...

Goddess

 

[josh]

I have a ? Why do you people worry so much about your broody hens? It is nature to them. You don't have to take them out of the nest to eat and drink. They will get out of the nest on their own. It is nature. Just because you don't see them dosen't mean they are not getting off. I now you are not setting there 24/7 watching them. Just because they don't do it while you are there. Not trying to be mean. But they know what they are doing. Also if a egg goes bad they will kick it out of the nest. This may be why those where not under her.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

If you think a broody is stressful, don't ever even think about trying an incubator!

Seriously... once those babies get hatched, you will want to do it again... and again... and again...! Good advice ^above^.

And if for some reason they don't hatch (just be sure to give them a couple of extra days), just get her a few babies, like you said.

Your broody will get better, it'll get easier for you both... and it is so much fun!

Enjoy your babies!

 

[HEChicken]

I kind of agree with Josh.....sorry this has been such a stressful time for you but.....a hands off approach with a broody is probably best. Usually when a broody kicks eggs out of a nest it is because she somehow senses they are duds. It *could* be an accident, so putting it back under her one time doesn't hurt but if the same egg ends up kicked out a second time, toss it. The hen knows its not going to hatch and she wants rid of it so it doesn't turn rotten, explode, and damage the rest of the eggs. Also, I just wouldn't handle eggs at all under a broody - that way there is no risk of dropping and cracking them. Silkies are great brooders and mamas - let her handle this one and it will be less stressful for you, and more successful for her. Good luck!

 

[perolane]

Quote:
I know when they haven't gotten off the nest.

Because my chickens cost a small fortune, I won't let an inexperienced hen sit for that amount of time without food & water....that's just the way I roll.

 

[wbruder17]

The reason I moved her was because she was not getting off the nest and was pooping huge, terribly smelly, very gross "you don't want to let it in there" kind of poops right where she was setting and so I had to move her to clean or else hzve her peck my hand to shreds. Otherwise I let the vicious thing alone.