Hching eggs

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Coreenelane

Coreenelane

Songster
Feb 22, 2016
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OK, we are going to give it a try to hatch some eggs. Live in Ohio so won't start this project till May. Do all eggs take the same time to hatch? Would it be best to separate the broody hens in their own private quarters? Can I have more than one hen in the same area if they are both broody? This will be our first attempt and have only had chickens for a year. How do you check to make sure the eggs are fertile?
 
First off, you may be putting the cart before the horse. You have to have either a broody hen, or an incubator. Unfortunately, hens do not go broody when it's convenient for you! You can get answers to all of your questions, including the ones you have not thought to ask yet by doing some thread searches. Start with "hatching eggs 101" in the learning center. You should also be able to find some nice articles about managing a broody hen in the learning center also.
 
I have checked eggs and they are fertile but I don't want to let the hens sit before May because of Ohio weather, 25 hens use 5 nest boxes so I want to put the broody hens in a separate shed and keep the other chickens out. My roosters are cochin and hens are golden buff, leghorn, cochin and Wyandotte. I want to hatch a nest of eggs before my grandson tries to get a batch of meat chickens to hatch by 7/16/2016 for his 4 H project. My 3 broody hens have to be pushed out of the nest boxes daily. Have been reading a lot but still nit sure if I need to separate broody hens from the rest of the flock and get more nest boxes. Thanks for any input.
 
I think if I were facing the same set up, I'd set a few more boxes. I think you'll be glad that you separated the broodies from the rest of the flock. After hatch, if you let the broodies and their chicks back with the rest of the flock within the first couple of weeks, they'll take care of integrating the chicks into the flock.
 
Thanks so much. It sure helps to get info. from someone with more experience. I have a free supply of building wood so now to draw uo a good plan for a privat hen house for the broody hens. I was worried that the broody hens might argue over nesting boxes ! Thanks again.
 

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