mnwickens Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Three weeks ago I set a broody hen on 12 eggs. She kicked two out and after a few days of them being on the side I removed them. Today is day 21, but it was kind of late in the day so I am thinking tomorrow is the more likely hatch date. However, she moved around today and I saw that there were only 7-8 eggs there, so 3 or 4 have gone. The coop I am sure is secure so I don't anything has gotten in. I have read about broody hens eating their eggs, but would she have eaten the shell as well? Thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatsCube Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Yup shell as well Might be worth keeping a close eye on her during the hatch in case she eats any chicks. Does she have food and water next to her in her coop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnwickens Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 She has had food and water nearby the whole time I believe. Now, an update. A few minutes after posting this I went down to see what she was doing and she was off the eggs and they were chirping inside and a couple had been cracked. She was off for them a while but is now sat on them again. Is that normal? Will it suffocate the chicks? I have hatched once from an homemade incubator but this is the first time using a broody hen. She is less than a year old or is about one and has never hatched any before. Starting to be concerned she might be a cannibal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 She is doing her job properly. Don't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Chances are the eaten eggs were duds, chooks will eat them rather than have them go bad As Egluntyne says the broody is doing her job, the more she is disturbed the more likely the chances of upsetting her and causing problems, shut the coop pop hole, leave her in the dark to get on with it and try not to peep if you can possibly avoid it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnwickens Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 Well, no chicks yet but everything seems fine. I get the impression they'll be a lot of activity tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 any updates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnwickens Posted July 10, 2011 Author Share Posted July 10, 2011 Well, I bought 12. Two she rejected and I disposed of. Two she ate. Of the remaining eight only two have hatched from what I can see. I don't know if the coop she was in was not too good, or if because she's a first time broody she didn't do well. I guess there's still a few days before it's too late. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 I offered to candle some eggs for someone, went to have a look and there were no eggs under her! They may have been infertile, so she would have kicked them out. Don't think the coop would have anything to do with it, being a first time broody may be though. Hope you gets a couple more chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mnwickens Posted July 11, 2011 Author Share Posted July 11, 2011 Well. Much has happened today. Yesterday 1 more egg had started to hatch. By this morning it was noisy but no further along. In the mean time Honey and the two chicks hatched yesterday were out on the grass and enjoying the sun! I was amazed how quickly the chicks got going. When I used my incubator and brooder before they seemed to take forever to get fluffy and active. I guess mother-hen knows best. The one that had started was getting quieter and I did the unforgivable and gave it a helping hand... I left it a while and still not much was happening so eventually I helped a little more. Finally it got the rest of the way out on its own and sat in the direct sunlight as the lid was off the coop. I arranged it that way as Honey had no interest in the new chick. It wasn't doing so hot so I turned on my homemade incubator and got the chick in it. She warmed up, dry a little and then after a few hours in there I took her to Honey. Honey prodded her around a little but eventually the new chick got underneath and settled in. Honey was out in the run enjoying the grass with the two new chicks all day! When she went back to the coop the newest chick couldn't hop in so I lifted her and she went straight to Honey and settled in again. So.... I know I broke some of the rules, but I am certain she would have died in the egg if I hadn't helped. Here's a link to an album: https://picasaweb.google.com/112831622087672998881/BroodyHenHatch01_2011?authuser=0&feat=directlink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Congrats You should never help a chick to hatch ... but I had to help 2 last week aswell They were similar, had pipped 30 hours before and still not out, took it slowly and they are alright now Very cute that last photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
