????

A lot of us do, the advantages are many, do a search on broody, and you'll see what I mean. I just let a broody set on 13 eggs but I put the babies in a brooder.

Do you free range? Do you have a brooder etc in case she abandons? I do both for now because I'm still learning.

 

If your hen will hatch and raise her own babies, EXCELLENT!
Less stress on you

 

Plus she will teach them everything they need to know!

Tonya

 

I have a silkie who fosters eggs all the time. She hatched two a couple of weeks ago. It is only 20 degrees outside tonight and she watches them all day. Interesting - the hottest it gets out there is probably 40-50 and yet they are happily running around, eating and drinking. The ones in our brooder, I worry about when the temps hit 80. They might not be as friendly as any handraised, but they sure seem healthy.