About how many eggs can a broody cover?

[IggiMom]

Assuming your Broody is a big hen and the eggs are standard size eggs, about how many would you put under her?

Thanks

Catherine

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

Full size hens can handle 12 with ease but generally go 8 to 10.

 

[roche477]

My Cuckoo Maran has 12 under her which I am trying to regulate. Whenever I go to check there is another 1 or 2 under her.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
I mark the ones I want her to set with a Sharpie, then remove new ones.

 

[Debbienmousey]

I like to start my hens on 12 eggs. This is because when we take out the eggs that aren't fertile (Say 2), take out the eggs which died along the way (Say 2 more) you have 8 chicks. That is what I call a nice hatch.

But it depends on each hen and her size. We had a white banty mix go broody and I wanted to start her with 12 but she couldn't cover them enough so I brought her down to 9. I should still get a good hatch from her.

If a hen is going to sit on a nest for 20-21 days, I expect at least 50% hatch rate out of set eggs. I will not accept a hen hatching one chick and then leaving the rest of the good eggs, just because she had one baby. (Although normally we let our hens do the hatching in a confined box so she can't get out. I just have to check in on her during the hatch day so I know when she's ready to come off.)

Last hatch we did with a hen we set 11 eggs (She is a banty but covered them well), removed 1 that was infertile, and got 8 chicks. Not bad I would say. (We put the other to eggs in the incubator but they never hatched.)


Edit: I don't use Sharpies to mark my eggs. I use pencil. Don't Sharpies clog the pores?

 

[Dirt Road]

"I don't use Sharpies to mark my eggs. I use pencil. Don't Sharpies clog the pores?"

A pencil is graphite, which I think would also clog pores. I doubt that either will have much if any effect. I use sharpies. I know of some who use ball point pens.

Jim

 

[IggiMom]

Well, I have my Broody (Big Momma) in a place by herself so that no one can lay eggs in her nest.

Thank you so much all for the information, I think that is clear.

I am expecting some eggs tomorrow in the mail that I hope she will hatch for me. She is a Black New Jersey Giant, and I am getting Orpington Eggs so she should be big enough to hatch them. I am not sure how many I will get so perhaps I will try her on 10, as you said, and see how many hatch out.

Catherine

 

[roche477]

I use a marker. Pencil rubs off too easily and has to be remarked. The tip can also puncture the shell.

 

[walkswithdog]

Mine manage 12 with ease. They're Partridge Rocks. Yep usually about 2 eggs don't make it, leaving a hen with 10. Of course I hatched a few and also stuffed the hatchlings in with the broody groups, so now both of the broodies have 12/13. Some run from one hen to another - so sometimes one Momma may be sitting on 15.

My barred rocks did the same. Since these are free range - starting with higher numbers means each hen ends up with the strongest survivors, usually around 8 of ten, sometimes fewer.

I've got a turkey hen I'll let brood 10. She's begun to set hard so off we go again. Not that I don't also have seven in the bator... LOL

 

[Southern Chickens]

My Buff Orpington was on 32!