1st timer - Set eggs under broody today - Need hatching buddy!

[PacsMan]

I also have a few questions.

"Midnight" our only black australorp, now has 13 buff orpington eggs under her.

I built out an extra 4x3 part of the coop for her, but she would have nothing to do with the eggs and a new nest box. So back in the old nest box she went. Then I chicken-wired off part of the coop so the others don't bother her, and she sat on them fine.

I'm ~hopeing~ they'll do ok.

Question. I ordered a dozen ("plus extras") and 13 eggs came just fine. Midnight doesn't seem to be able to keep all 13 under her at once. If I put the last couple in front of her, she pushes them under her, but then one or two slides out of the other end. Should I take away a couple of eggs?

Marty

 

[doublebow]

I am very new to all this but I did have some hens hatch out chicks this summer and I worried about the same thing but 3/4 of the eggs hatched fine although it was over 100 degrees outside while they were incubating. There always a few eggs poking out from under the hens.

 

[19Dawn76]

I am really not sure. I only gave my hens 6 eggs at a time to hatch but I have heard of hens hatching more than 13 eggs at a time.

 

[JewellFarm]

She really only needs what she can comfortably cover. Otherwise, several may not hatch or she may break some which could potentially contaminate some of the others. I would put some in the incubator and slip them back under her a day or two before hatching. Maybe that would give you an overall better chance of success.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

WOO HOO!! I just put 9 silkie eggs under my brody marans..I figure it I don't hatch any she will...

 

[KellyHM]

I would take a couple away so she can cover the ones she has. I just moved ANOTHER broody Silkie out of the Silkie pen and into the broody area (aka my carport).

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Put 11 B/B/S Orpington eggs under my broody Cochin Blondie yesterday. One day down, 20 to go.

 

[PacsMan]

I ~think~ I'm going to leave them all there and see what happens.

How often do I need to move her and check the eggs, or do I just leave her alone?

What do I look for (other than broken eggs) if I do check?

 

[acbear93]

I found my crazy Ameraucana with a nest of 15 eggs out in the grass...I switched them out with 11 fertile eggs. Bought 12 but the 12th one had a crack in it, so didnt set that one...Its funny because outside she can sit on that many, but when I had put her in a rabbit cage earlier this summer, she could barely cover 3....I guess her "natural" nest she made herself is better then anything I could provide to her....I guess you could have as many as she can comfortably cover.

 

[Freckle Face Farm]

Quote:
Ya just let here be!! She does all the work..I feed mine and make sure she has water so she doesn't have to get up...