What I learned

[kaitrob92]

I decided to post this because I was always searching for answers and had a hard time finding what I needed. I have 7 month old Wyandotte hens that became broody. We decided to let nature take its course and see what happens. I read that broodiness was contagious and that proved to be right. Maybe it's important to note that we live in South Texas (hot and humid) so maybe that's the difference. I thought these eggs were so delicate. Shockingly, the hens would leave their eggs for almost an entire day sometimes. Crazy thing, the eggs were fine. We actually had mothers who abandoned their nest completely and the chicks hatched without a hen being on them for the entire hatching. I think we underestimated how much these eggs could handle. My point is, nature knows what it is doing. Neither the chicks nor the eggs were as fragile as we were expecting. The only thing that I don't quite understand is that one mother had chicks hatch and then several days later, more began to hatch. The new ones, she killed immediately. We think that has to do with needing to take care of the original ones but we really aren't sure. I guess that's the only thing we're curious about. Currently, we removed the rest of her eggs and have them in the garage, waiting to see what happens. We were so sure they would just die but surprisingly, one has pipped and is hatching. They are not in an incubator, just under a heat lamp in a humid garage. The temperature gets up to 102 F during the day and down to the low 90s at night.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Here eggs would die if abandoned during most of the year. They would chill too much.

Every broody I'd different. Some will take everything, some will kill everything. Most will abandon the rest of the eggs two days after the first egg hatches. They bond during those last 2 days by talking through the egg. Those hatching later the hen wouldn't recognize as her own.

 

[kaitrob92]

Here eggs would die if abandoned during most of the year. They would chill too much.

Every broody I'd different. Some will take everything, some will kill everything. Most will abandon the rest of the eggs two days after the first egg hatches. They bond during those last 2 days by talking through the egg. Those hatching later the hen wouldn't recognize as her own.

Here eggs would die if abandoned during most of the year. They would chill too much.

Every broody I'd different. Some will take everything, some will kill everything. Most will abandon the rest of the eggs two days after the first egg hatches. They bond during those last 2 days by talking through the egg. Those hatching later the hen wouldn't recognize as her own.

That makes sense! We have had two chicks hatch in the garage so far. Is there a safe way to get them back to their mother? We have 3 mother's. So maybe try one of the other moms?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can try, but be very cautious. Stuff them under and observe them for a very long time. Sometimes the hens are fine until chicks come out than they attack them with the intent to kill. The hens need to be actively broody and setting to even try.