dance in the dark Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 So I currently have a buff orpington sitting in an eglu on some fertile silver laced wyandotte eggs. This is day three, but I am just wondering, how do you know she is doing everything correctly? She is very reluctant to leave the nest when I turf her out for an evening stroll. She eats a little, drinks a little, but doesn't seem to have attempted the famous broody poo! Plus I know she is supposed to regulate the temperature of the eggs and turns them and everything, is there anyway I can monitor this or do I just need to trust in her and wait and see? she has been broody before, but I have never let her have eggs so I am basically nervous about everything! Thanks, Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 She will do the necessary turning and temp control, don't worry all the time the eggs are under her! The things to watch out for in first timers are that a)she sits tight b) she isn't clumsy and c) she eats and drinks, they can lose a lot of condition. When the eggs hatch you must also be very vigilant as I'm sorry to say a few broodies will attack their chicks Its not common, but does happen. Its good she doesn't want to get off as this indicates she is serious. She may not be pooing much if she isn't eating much so keep an eye on that. I feed grain mostly to broodies as they like it and will usually tuck in, and it firms the poo, mine also have access to grass when out for a stroll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted May 1, 2012 Author Share Posted May 1, 2012 yes I have pretty much only been feeding her corn, and a couple of meal worms, as I know they have relatively high energy content. She is certainly committed to the nest, she was broody for about 6 days before she had any actual eggs to sit on. I just hope she knows what sh'es doing, I know that nature is strong in them, but I am just a concerned grandfather to be (hopefully) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 She will Orps are generally great mums, not 100% of the time of course, but they do generally do well. Is she a bant or a LF as the big girls can be clumsy and break eggs/squash chicks. If you think about it, chooks are creatures of very strong instinct. If you raise them artificially you generally show them where to drink/eat but you don't show them how to preen/have a dust bath/chase their siblings etc etc Nature is wonderful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirstie Posted May 1, 2012 Share Posted May 1, 2012 Hi Tim, You sound like you've got my first time broody nerves! My girl has been sitting on her eggs for 16 days now (amazingly!) and I've been on here asking so many questions, as everyone says hatching with a broody is a breeze and easier as the hen does everything, but for me it means trusting my broody who's not even a year old yet! how do I know she's read the right book? Well we are under a week away from hatch day and she's doing everything she needs to (she didn't do the broody poo the first week of sitting, but boy does she do them now!) to start with I had been getting her off the nest and she would drink, eat, drink a whole lot more then no more then 10mins later she went back in, but then I saw her do that herself so I've not been taking her off - but I have been watching her to make sure she does go out herself. You'll only know if she's doing everything right when you candle and then on hatch day xx We are close to lock down - I'm going to shut the house door at day 19 and give her limited access to outside! I hope she knows what to do if they hatch - see the next thing to worry about! Good luck with your eggs, please try not to stress and try to enjoy it - 21 days goes by incredibly fast ( it doesn't feel like the first week) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted May 7, 2012 Author Share Posted May 7, 2012 Thanks everyone, and Daphne, I know you are right really, it is just so nerve wracking! she is a large fowl girl, although she is not as huge as a lot of other orpington girls I have seen, I can tell she is a determined little mummy. She will tolerate being thwon out of the nest for about ten minutes before she stands next to the eglue door waiting to be let back in, peering through the vent holes to check her eggs are ok. Also, I know that people say for the last three days before hatching you should increase humidity and stop turning when hatching with an incubator, does that mean I should avoid turfing her off the nest, and just try and get her to hand feed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Just carry on as per usual, but be cautious around the actual hatching date when you can put food/drink close to her and leave her on the nest as chicks can come early although that isn't as common as arriving late. Try not to handle Mum around the due date - she may have a tiny wet chick under her which shouldn't get cold (can easily be fatal) and when they are fluffed up they still need her warmth. Also, they can be attached to her in all sorts of unexpected ways - tangled in her feathers! Mum will probably try to peck you as she will be in protective mode. Its human nature to want to see what is going on and if I manage to get a peek under her I take away any old broken egg shell at the same time. Let us know how things turn out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 I put mine into lockdown on day 18 with chick crumb and water then leave them to it just having a quick look in first thing in a morning tea time and at lock up depending on which broody it is they get a little stroke other than that I try to sit on my hands until I hear cheaping as for turning I think broodies still turn the eggs as and when they feel like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted May 10, 2012 Author Share Posted May 10, 2012 My goodness it is stressful. Also, I have heard that about day 18 it's a good idea to sort of "mist" the eggs with water? Is this true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 This is to bring the humidity up, so in theory it is a good idea if done with warm water. However, you try 'misting' a lady on her eggs Seriously, there is no need to do this - broodies have been doing this hatching lark for years with no interference from us! In the old days, broodies sat on upturned turves, the idea being that there is humidity in the grass, but I've always thought that 3 weeks of hot broody heat would leach any moisture out. If you want something to do - get your chick crumb sorted out, make sure you have enough bedding material, know what you are going to use as a drinker (chickies can drown, either use a chick 'tower' drinker or something very shallow with marbles/pebbles in), have a plan B in case Mum turns nasty (ie have a hatching 'box' and know where to borrow/buy a heat lamp although an anglepoise type will do in an emergency) and prepare to spend hours watching them play - there is something very special about watching chicks climb onto Mum and eventually slide off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dance in the dark Posted May 10, 2012 Author Share Posted May 10, 2012 Oh I have all the chick feeder and drinker, I even have an electric hen, just in case, I raised some chicks last year, but I didn't hatch them, or use a broody. I think mostly I am basically like the proverbial father know needs to go and get some towels and boil some water, and its only day 11!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 I think mostly I am basically like the proverbial father know needs to go and get some towels and boil some water, and its only day 11!!!! Oh no what are you going to be like by day 21 Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
