Thought I would share.
My 8 year old daughter and I have six year old hens, Black Star and Rhode Island Red.
Lately, a black star hen has been inhabiting the nest box. We pick the eggs out from under her and they are warm. Shey'll stay in there even if there is just the golf ball. I think the golf ball gets warm too.
She has as much chance of hatching the eggs as she does the golf ball, as we have no rooster.
But I have ceased to think of this as a problem, and am instead thinking of separating her into a separate chain link enclosure, putting some nesting material in a little tote box, and then slipping some eggs under her that would hatch.
Based on my limited research, it's possible up to 12 chicken eggs could fit under her, or maybe 6 turkey eggs. If I am lucky enough to find some valley quail eggs, would she hatch these okay or would she squish them?
Any other advice I should keep in mind? It's my first time having a broody hen, and I'll be reading up.
Anyone on this board live near Portland Oregon and have some eggs I should put under her? I'd prefer a good egg laying chicken breed, a heritage breed turkey, or valley quail.
Nathan
My 8 year old daughter and I have six year old hens, Black Star and Rhode Island Red.
Lately, a black star hen has been inhabiting the nest box. We pick the eggs out from under her and they are warm. Shey'll stay in there even if there is just the golf ball. I think the golf ball gets warm too.
She has as much chance of hatching the eggs as she does the golf ball, as we have no rooster.
But I have ceased to think of this as a problem, and am instead thinking of separating her into a separate chain link enclosure, putting some nesting material in a little tote box, and then slipping some eggs under her that would hatch.
Based on my limited research, it's possible up to 12 chicken eggs could fit under her, or maybe 6 turkey eggs. If I am lucky enough to find some valley quail eggs, would she hatch these okay or would she squish them?
Any other advice I should keep in mind? It's my first time having a broody hen, and I'll be reading up.
Anyone on this board live near Portland Oregon and have some eggs I should put under her? I'd prefer a good egg laying chicken breed, a heritage breed turkey, or valley quail.
Nathan