Hatching with a broody hen

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Hrtbrkr

Hrtbrkr

Hatching
May 27, 2015
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I have had chickens for several years but have never hatched any eggs. I have an over zealous broody hen at the moment so I thought why not and decided to give it a go. She currently has 11 eggs under her and they aLloyd seem to be at different stages of the cycle but not to far apart. I have separated her from the rest of the flock do that she can have some peace. The first egg hatched sometime last night or this morning but the chick didn't make it. Being my first time in a little panicked that she did it. She was also eating the shell when I went to her. Is that normal? I don't know what to do right now, kind of beside myself. I don't want to disturb her or the eggs but I don't want it to keep happening. Any advice would be great! I love my chickens and it just breaks my heart when something happens to them. I just want to know it isn't just me!
 
Yes, they will eat the chick and shell when it dies. Just good housekeeping, and good nourishment, which they need.

When a few chicks have hatched and she decides in a day or two that it is time to take them out to eat and drink and learn to forage, she will abandon the rest of the eggs. At that point you will need an incubator if you want the rest to hatch. Probably some people have had luck with temporary setups with things like a heating pad -- but if you draw it out too long, she may not accept them all as her chicks.
 
I have an existing flock so I will need to keep them separated for a bit which I am prepared to do. Just trying to get the hang of hatching them. She is currently contained in a nice size cage indoors due to our weather being unsettled. I'm hoping that the next to hatch survive or else I may just move them to an incubator! Thank you so much for your comment, nice to know that is "normal" behavior for them.
 

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