how long till my hen has CHICKS

[jakiee10]

I have a laying hen and 2 other hens who have not began to lay and a rooster. I bought them all as day old chicks and the rooster has for a about a month began to initiate mating with the laying hen. I really want baby chicks and just anxious to see when she will go broody. Can anyone give me an estimate of when this will happen?)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Maybe never. What breed and is it from a hatchery or breeder?
The bulk of breeds are no longer setters but an individual of any breed can get the urge to raise a family. First time broodies don't always do a good job. I usually discourage first timers.
Orpingtons are known as broody breeds. Half of mine did set on eggs, the other half never did. Leghorns are not setters but I had a black one raise several broods for me. You just never know.

Here's 2 breed charts I like that list a breed's tendency to be setters.

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf 8th column.

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html second last column

The presence of a rooster should make the eggs fertile. However, if a hen is prone to be a setter, she'll do so whether or not the eggs are fertile or even if there are any eggs at all in the nest.

 

[jakiee10]

Maybe never. What breed and is it from a hatchery or breeder?
The bulk of breeds are no longer setters but an individual of any breed can get the urge to raise a family. First time broodies don't always do a good job. I usually discourage first timers.
Orpingtons are known as broody breeds. Half of mine did set on eggs, the other half never did. Leghorns are not setters but I had a black one raise several broods for me. You just never know.

Here's 2 breed charts I like that list a breed's tendency to be setters.

http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf    8th column.

http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html   second last column

The presence of a rooster should make the eggs fertile. However, if a hen is prone to be a setter, she'll do so whether or not the eggs are fertile or even if there are any eggs at all in the nest.

Hen is a rhode island and got it from a hatchery so I'm guessing never but maybe if I isolate them so that the rooster could get a head start? is cnt have roosters in my neighborhood but I'm taking a gamble in hopes of having chicks but I guess ima have to get rid of the rooster then

 

[ChickenCanoe]

her eggs are probably fertile but unlikely she'll go broody.

Get a silkie, brahma, cochin or other broody prone hen to set on them.

 

[Chris09]

Hen is a rhode island and got it from a hatchery so I'm guessing never but maybe if I isolate them so that the rooster could get a head start? is cnt have roosters in my neighborhood but I'm taking a gamble in hopes of having chicks but I guess ima have to get rid of the rooster then

If you got them from a hatchery the chances are good that there not true Rhode Island Reds, but a Production Red. If they are Production Reds then they may never set.