My first Broody BO 8mo

[Sarevan]

I have been ill for nearly 2weeks with severe bronchitis, a friend has been feeding watering them for me. She finally told me today the one hen has always been in the box and won't let her get eggs.

I go out to check and sure enough she is setting on eggs, growls when you touch her, indignant and puffy. My Friend got pecked hard when trying to check for eggs so just let her be. Now the question is how to tell how far along the eggs are, as some of the other girls may have still been laying eggs in the box with her. Candling to see anything? Is there a post somewhere that gives the egg development?

I'm not thinking totally straight yet from being so freaking ill and wouldn't mind a big ole arrow pointing me in the right direction. So happy that one of my 8mo Buff Orpingtons decided to be broody. No name for her other than green and blue leg bands. Oh she is setting on at least 10 mixed eggs, orp, california grey, welsummer, and Ee. Guess will find out if BO Dino the Roo has been doing his duties.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Congratulations on that first broody! Hope you get to feeling better.
There are some good articles in the Learning center you might like to check out. Two really nice ones on broody hens in general https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/guide-to-letting-broody-hens-hatch-and-raise-chicks and https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/broody-hens This one has great candling pics all through the incubation period that might help you figure out where you eggs are and if they are fertile. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/candling-pics-progression-through-incubation-of-chicken-eggs This one is a wonderful article that covers about everything https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/hatching-eggs-101
You might want to either block the other hens away from her nest so they can't lay more eggs in it (probably want to do that eventually anyhow since it can be a problem when the chicks start hatching) or mark the eggs she has now and remove any new ones every day. Hens will usually stay on the nest a day or two days or so after the first chick hatches. If you think you have a really split hatch with eggs that are spaced more than a day or two apart, you could take away the ones she has now, save eggs from your other hens for a day or two and give her the new ones on the same day. Otherwise, if you have a split hatch you can put the unhatched eggs or later eggs in an incubator if she leaves the nest before all the viable eggs have hatched.

 

[Sarevan]

Well I learned how to candle, even the EE and BO eggs can be hard to tell. But figured out the some that aren't fertile weren't dark like the fertile eggs. I also accidentally dropped one I thought was fertile and it was. Felt so bad seeing the yolk sac and the developing eyes.

I marked her eggs with pencil that appear good. She is setting on 10 a mix of BO, EE, welsummer, and california grey a mix of all our girls. She is a good momma so far, turns her eggs, rearranges the nest, appreciated the extra straw I added to make a more fluffy nest. Gets off the nest for short periods making the funniest clucking noises, and fluffing up. Eats and drink quickly then back on nest. Give her zucchini treat while on nest so she doesn't miss out.

As soon as I am better seperating an area for her and future chicks so they can forage and grow under mommas care.

Thank you for the info I'm a newbie this way yet, didn't think it would happen so soon. Was thinking more toward Spring. Thank you Kelsie2290.