What's your average % of broody hatched eggs?

[wild chick]

Just curious, is it breed, environment, broody hen or is this about right? Last year I had two broody hens raise 2 clutches. I didn't know what I was doing and just let her steal eggs from the nest next to her & had no idea of the age of the eggs. I stopped her at 10 eggs put her & the 10 eggs in her own area and 6 hatched, one died within an hour, so there were 5, one disappeared on day 3, no sign of death, no upset hen, just pfft gone. So she raised up 4 from 10 eggs. The next hen I gave her 10 eggs laid in a spread of 3 days. 4 hatched, 1 died halfway through hatching so she raised 3 from 10 eggs. This year one of these hens went broody and I gathered 7 eggs from one day and started counting. On day 17 there were still 7 eggs; on day 20, 2 hatched. On day 22 she got up and I saw she'd pushed 2 over so I picked them up (cold) and she sat another day but gave up. There were only 2 eggs, they had turned cold also, but the other egg was gone. I can only speculate that it hatched & died and she ate it? No mess, no shell, no smell. I took the 4 cold eggs and broke them. 2 were just yolks, like they were not even fertile, 2 looked like they were within a few days of hatch when they died, feathers and all that, but still yolks attached. She's a wonderful mom, but I'm kinda bummed about 2 for 7. And last year 4 for 10 and 3 for 10.
If it matters, these are hatchery chickens, Gold & Silver Wyandottes, 2 years old. 1 rooster and 11 hens. What kind of % , live chicks to eggs is about average?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I have gotten 100% on my own eggs. I would expect under good circumstances to get 80-90% hatch rate.

Setting up your broody hens in their own area can help. When not separated oher birds will mess with their nests often adding eggs and breaking them. There's more risk of other hens killing chicks too when not separated. With my standard breeds it seem it's more important to separate out the setting hens.

My bantams have a higher hatch rate and there's more nest swapping, but no breakage. I always prefer my bantams to hatch if possible. There is usually a batch of them broody all at once.

 

[wild chick]

Hi @oldhenlikesdogs - The broody had her own pen from day one this year - and starting about day 7 last year. She seemed content and dedicated and never strayed away from the nest except to eat & poop. Do you think they didn't get the eggs set right when it was time to pip? And the two completely undeveloped yolks - why didn't she kick them out earlier than day 21? There won't be anymore hatches this year, but trying to learn so we do better next year. And I feel sorry for Gretchen. All that time & effort and last year 3 chicks and this year only 2.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

My broody pullet hatched 6 out of 6 eggs!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hi @oldhenlikesdogs - The broody had her own pen from day one this year - and starting about day 7 last year. She seemed content and dedicated and never strayed away from the nest except to eat & poop. Do you think they didn't get the eggs set right when it was time to pip? And the two completely undeveloped yolks - why didn't she kick them out earlier than day 21? There won't be anymore hatches this year, but trying to learn so we do better next year. And I feel sorry for Gretchen. All that time & effort and last year 3 chicks and this year only 2.

If eggs and chicks are disappearing from a separated hen than I would think something is snatching them. What type of pen is she in? Things like rats,, raccoons, weasel, crows, blue jays will grab what they can reach or get to.

Giving less eggs per hen can up the hatch rate. Most can comfortably cover and turn properly about 4-6. More than that and eggs don't get covered correctly nor turned correctly. So maybe try a smaller clutch next year, and see how it goes.

I gave a hen 10 eggs this year and only 2 hatched. So I got a poor rate from too many eggs too, but I was hopeful. I won't set so many under one hen anymore.

Not all hens kick out bad eggs, most just keep sitting on them.

 

[redranger209]

100 with fresh eggs and a broody who could fit them. I had a couple die because they where getting pushed out from under my broody, my fault I used a bantam Cochin for 9 large eggs. Still hatched seven cause she’s a super mom and only ate every other day.

 

[wild chick]

You guys with 100% is why I'm asking questions! Congratulations!

@oldhenlikesdogs - The pen is pretty much predator-proof. Sparrow size birds can get in, but the bottom 2 feet is 1/2" mesh so chicks can't get out and the top is covered. It's 10' x 5' and has a raised plastic dog house for a nest. Maybe a mouse or rat, or snake could make its way in. Three sides are covered with shade cloth so that discourages things too. I counted 7 eggs on day 17 and never saw Gretchen get off the nest again before the chicks hatched on day 20. When she finally got off to feed & water the chicks, I saw 2 eggs kicked to the side but she was still sitting on 2 so I left everything alone. I figured the other was kicked off and buried but when she gave up on the eggs and I cleaned the nest, there was no 7th egg. Yes - last year she and the other broody got 10 eggs each, from 3 days of lay. So I thought maybe less would be better and all exactly the same lay day. So I collected 7 eggs all laid the same day and put them under her. I guess I'm wondering why 2 died just short of pipping. If it's a pretty normal thing or if the hen doesn't know how to turn them properly. Thanks for your help!

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I'm hoping my hen goes broody, we shall see..... it's been about 4 days now since the first egg.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I hate broodies (not the chicken herself, but as a means of hatching/raising) Too many times has the broody killed her own eggs and chicks. The hatch was about 80%, but she killed them right after hatching, so it's safe to say in reality it's 0%.
The one broody, she didn't care for the chicks, she hatched them and then abandoned them overnight and they had died of cold by the next morning.

I've only ever had 1 good broody, she hatched 6 out of 12. But she raised them to be very flighty and she wouldn't let me near them. I wish I would've raised the chicks myself, they'd have been a lot tamer.
Late last winter I had a sizzle hatch out 12 eggs with several after hatch deaths, but I took the remaining chicks away after I discovered them. They are very tame since I've raised them, not a broody.

I am Pro-Incubator, YOU control the environment and chicks. I've had much better luck with them, plus it's super fun!
Don't feel bad about not getting good hatch/survival rates, it's not you. It happens to EVERYONE. I'm so sorry you're having a bad experience

ETA: I never let the same broody hatch again if I'm unsatisfied with the results.

 

[Molpet]

last year one broody hatched 12 of 12, this year she hatched 7 of 12
Other broodies this year hatched 1, 2, 3,5 and I just had one hatch 7 and the other 2 whose eggs were set at the same time hatched 0.. 4 more broodies to go, it has been hot so i don't have too much hope for those eggs.

Mine go broody when ever the hormones hit... I could leave eggs in the nests all day and no one goes broody when I want them to.. some go broody on nothing if they decide to set