1 broody hen, how many eggs.

[horsechick]

Hi all,
How many eggs can one broody hen hatch at one time?
10-15-20?
What's the most you've heard of them hatching?

If the eggs die under them what do they do with them?
Push them out from under them?

So if we find an egg not under her can we assume it is dead?

CAn you incubate them til day 18 and then give a hen?

Sorry for all the Q's, we just got our first broody mama.
Thanks for all info,
Angela

 

[MissPrissy]

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The bigger the hen the more eggs she can brood.

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The most I know of is 23.

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Often hens will roll them out of the nest but there is a fair bit of hens who just keep sitting on them. There is always the possibbility of her sitting on a weeping, exploding egg. It is a real messy stink bomb.

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Candle it first. If it dead no reason to put it back.

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I would not do this. Some have done it with success but I am not willing to risk it. If you give her the eggs she might behave as if it is early in the incubation and not sit tight. The last 3 days a broody hen will not budge from her eggs. She knows to pluck her belly feathers and hold the eggs against her skin for warmth and humidity. You stand the risk of loosing them all. It is my opinion to either give her the eggs from the start or incubate them yourself.

 

[horsechick]

Hi,
Thanks so much for the insights!
We have a barred rock who has went broody, we were adding bantam cochin eggs and polish cross under her.
I guess we'll wait and see.
Right now she has 18 eggs under her and one grape.......
I'll have to get that from her! LOL!
Thanks again,
Angela